Heritage Days in Freeman: Heritage Hall Museum & Archives and the Prairie Arboretum team up for a three-day Heritage Days run (July 30- Aug. 1) with kids’ activities, evening programs, and a full Saturday slate—one ticket/wristband covers all events. Dark skies in the Black Hills: Badlands National Park earns International Dark Sky Park status after years of cutting light pollution, boosting wildlife-friendly lighting, and expanding stargazing programs. Local education, made visual: SDSU librarian Annisija Hunter wins a Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries Innovation Grant to build a graphic medicine collection and host “Comic Relief: Healing Through Graphic Medicine.” Kindergarten prep, Rapid City style: Rapid City Public Library launches a kindergarten readiness program with story times, crafts, and parent tips; next session is Aug. 1. Custer savings accounts: Trailhead Scholars opens $500 529 college savings accounts for Custer School District kindergartners who qualify for free/reduced meals. Arts for families: Storybook Land Theatre brings “Pete the Cat” to multiple northeastern SD stops in August with free performances. State culture & civic art: Pierre’s Trail of Governors will unveil a life-size Kristi Noem statue Aug. 7 in downtown Pierre. Sports & youth: A new Rapid City Medicaid DME spending snapshot shows $348,771 billed in 2024, while local sports notes keep rolling.