AGP Executive Report

Triathlon & Community Sports: Colorado Mesa University’s women’s triathlon team heads to Hot Springs for the Southern Hills Collegiate Cup on Saturday, with a 375-meter swim, 10-kilometer bike, and 1.55-mile run, plus super sprint, Olympic, age group sprint, and youth races. Mental Health Awareness: Yankton’s 10th annual Step Forward to Prevent Suicide Walk returns Sept. 12 at Riverside Park, with registration starting 8:15 a.m. and a remembrance ceremony at 9 a.m. Local College Sports: South Dakota women’s soccer fell 1-0 to Idaho Thursday, and the Coyotes host Drake Sunday for Senior Day. Politics & History: U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds and challenger Brian Bengs clash over whether Wounded Knee Medal of Honor awards “should not stand,” with Rounds urging more facts. Culture & Heritage Grants: The Deadwood Fund grant application deadline is Oct. 1 for historic preservation work starting no earlier than Jan. 1, 2027. Dark Matter Science (SURF): A new LUX-ZEPLIN analysis from the Sanford Underground Research Facility reports a hard-to-explain event that’s not yet a confirmed discovery. Severe Weather Impact: Tuesday’s storms hit southeast South Dakota hard, including major hail damage reported around Pickstown.

PUC Showdown: South Dakota’s Public Utilities Commission race is turning into a fight over hyperscale AI data centers, with Democrat Frank Kloucek pushing a one-year moratorium and Republican Don Haggar arguing new state rules already require utilities and water providers to study impacts and require reimbursement. Education & Skills: SDSU is expanding career-ready learning through its Coursera partnership, giving students access to online courses and professional certificates, including AI-focused classes tied to real-world goals. Tech in the Classroom: SDSU also announced new degrees in AI Engineering, aiming to train engineers to apply AI across precision agriculture and healthcare. Local Arts Fundraiser: Rapid City’s Dahl Arts Center is gearing up for the 7th Street Art Auction on Oct. 3, a major community event meant to keep local arts programming strong. Community Spotlight: Wagner’s 126th Labor Day Celebration returns with a packed weekend of rodeo, parade, carnival, car show, and more. Sports & School Spirit: South Dakota college sports keep rolling with SDSU hosting big matchups and local athletes landing on rosters across the region.

Volleyball Spotlight: SDSU drew a sellout crowd and set a South Dakota volleyball attendance record, hosting No. 1 Nebraska in Brookings—SDSU fought hard but fell 3-0. Women’s Sports Roundup: USD women and men both landed fourth in the Summit League preseason cross country poll, with key runners to watch for the Coyotes. Local Health Care: Yankton’s ZoeCare Pregnancy Center earned AAAHC accreditation, highlighting updated safety training and quality improvements. Youth & Community: Kinship care in South Dakota is getting attention for keeping kids connected to culture and familiar people, while Sioux Falls also mapped a timeline for a possible Renberg Elementary closure. Public Safety Tech: License-plate readers helped recover a 15-year-old abducted from Wyoming after a rapid stop near Plankinton. Outdoor Healing: Wings of Valor continues pairing disabled veterans with pheasant hunts and community support for PTSD recovery. Education & Youth Livestock: Gettysburg-area 4-H and FFA programs are letting non-farm youth raise pigs through school partnerships. Missing & Murdered Indigenous People: Crow Creek tribal member Marlys Big Eagle was named South Dakota’s next MMI​P liaison, bringing decades of victim-support experience.

Local History Mystery: A missing chalice tied to All Saints Parish in Eagle Butte was rediscovered after a Rapid City parish found it while cleaning a closet, reconnecting families to a long-lost piece of church heritage. Public Safety Tech & Privacy: South Dakota law enforcement is pulling back on Flock cameras (ALPR), while AG Marty Jackley drafts limits that would be among the first of their kind in the state. Education & Workforce: Gov. Larry Rhoden announced 618 students are receiving Build Dakota Scholarships for 2026-27, continuing the program’s push to keep graduates working in South Dakota. Community Support: Feeding South Dakota says more than 130,000 people face food insecurity, and it’s gearing up for Hunger Action Month with a statewide volunteer-a-thon. STEM & Culture: SDSU opened a Center for AI Innovation and Emergent Technologies to help students learn how to use AI responsibly across majors. Arts & Heritage: The Oahe Chapel Pie Social returns with music and local history programming at the historic Oahe Chapel.

Women’s Health & Golf: Clark native Kim Kaufman is back on tour after beating breast cancer, using her comeback to push women to prioritize screenings. Local Sports Spotlight: Sioux Falls City FC is pausing operations after the sudden death of co-owner Eric Thomas, with the club’s mission continuing through its foundation. Community Activism: Clay County residents are collecting signatures to refer a new sales tax ordinance to a public vote, after a 3-2 commission decision. Volleyball Culture: South Dakota State will host No. 1 Nebraska in Brookings, with student tickets selling out fast and the program’s Division I journey in the spotlight. Agriculture Leadership: Jerry Schmitz of Vermillion is honored as a 2026 Eminent Leader in agriculture, family, and community. Women’s Recognition: Spirit of Dakota’s 40th anniversary banquet in Huron names 13 nominees celebrating local leadership. Faith & Family Events: River City Assembly’s Family Fest returns Sept. 6 with games, baptisms, and Christian singer Rhett Walker. Public Safety: Rapid City schools and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office urge backpack checks after an airsoft gun incident at East Middle School. Reentry & Jobs: Pennington County’s IGNITE program is helping low-level offenders build job skills through community work at the Central States Fairgrounds. State Government Move: Labor and Regulation Secretary Marcia Hultman is set to become a senior advisor in Gov. Larry Rhoden’s administration. Crime Prevention Tech: AG Marty Jackley credits license-plate reader technology for helping locate and arrest a suspect in a youth abduction case, with the victim recovered safely.

Women’s Aviation & Community: The Ninety-Nines’ 2026 Northwest Section fall meeting brought women aviators, scholarship recipients, and pilots from across the region to Teton Valley, celebrating flight, mentorship, and the group’s nearly century-old legacy. Public Health & Local Support: Feeding South Dakota says 130,340 South Dakotans are food insecure (including one in five children), and it’s kicking off Hunger Action Month with matched donations and a first volunteer-a-thon in Pierre, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls. Education & Safety: Rapid City Area Schools warned families after a student brought an airsoft gun to campus, stressing that even look-alikes are prohibited and urging kids to report concerning items. Arts & Culture: Short Grass Arts Council’s “One for Fun” community concert turned two backyards into a grassroots showcase for South Dakota musicians of all ages, raising money for local arts. Health Care (Regional Impact): Sanford Health and North Memorial Health say their merger is complete, aiming to preserve Robbinsdale Hospital services while building a more connected care network. Fitness & Lifestyle: SDSU Extension launched its free Fall into Fitness virtual challenge for October, counting any kind of movement from gardening to strength training.

Ag Debate: South Dakota gubernatorial candidates Larry Rhoden and Dan Ahlers will face mostly agriculture-focused questions at the South Dakota State Fair’s Freedom Tent on Sept. 5. Food & Health: A new South Dakota Food Landscape Assessment finds affordability and access gaps, with 30% of people most likely to face food insecurity saying they skip meals; it points to ideas like produce prescriptions. Native Culture: JJ Kent debunks Hollywood myths about Lakota spirituality and explains the sacred pipe’s real origins at Deadwood’s History on the Lawn. Community Care: Emily’s Hope held a candlelight vigil for International Overdose Awareness Day, including a memorial reading and 54 empty shoes for overdose deaths in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties since 2025. Public Safety: Rapid City narcotics officers warn of a rise in pure fentanyl powder, which can be hard to spot and is especially dangerous for first responders. Local Learning: SDSU Extension’s Specialty Crop Field Day in Brookings (Sept. 15) invites farmers and gardeners to tour research plots and learn about disease prevention, soil management, and heat reduction. Politics & Parenting: Meta’s record $52.6M settlement share for South Dakota is headed toward child-safety requirements, with lawmakers deciding how to use the money.

Local Politics & Education: Rapid City-area Rep. Nicole Uhre-Balk, an educator running for reelection in House District 32, says she’s focused on strong public schools, affordable communities, and protecting the Black Hills and water. Community & Health: A Hamlin County farming accident near Castlewood killed a man after he was trapped under a hay-bine being pulled by a tractor; the incident is under investigation. Sports & Community Pride: South Dakota State volleyball is set to host No. 1 Nebraska on Sept. 2 at First Bank & Trust Arena—sold out and expected to be the most-attended volleyball match in the state’s history. Culture & Arts: Points North Institute announced 2026 Artist Programs and its Points North Forum ahead of the Camden International Film Festival, supporting documentary teams led by filmmakers of color and women/non-binary creators. Food & Safety: A sprouts recall was expanded after salmonella/E. coli concerns, with illnesses reported including in South Dakota. Local Events: The Social Sioux Falls is planning a Dolly Parton tribute night on Sept. 16, featuring local performers and Dolly-inspired food and photos.

International Education: A new study says the U.S. could lose $3.4 billion and nearly 40,000 jobs after 111,000 fewer international students arrive this fall, with the hit compounding for years as visa cuts ripple through undergraduate and graduate programs. Local Sports & Community: Sioux Falls hosted the State Farm Women’s Volleyball Showcase, where South Dakota fans packed the Sanford Pentagon for nationally ranked teams, including Creighton’s 3-1 win over USC (and a strong showing from local commits). College Soccer: The University of Sioux Falls women’s soccer earned its first 2026 win, shutting out Dakota State 3-0 in the home opener. Relocation Culture Shock: A guide for out-of-staters moving to South Dakota highlights “South Dakota nice,” early closings, and the reality of winter driving. Family & Daily Life: September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, with Huron Public Library pushing new cards, renewals, and a community bingo tied to local businesses. Weather: Expect hot, humid 90s early in the week, with stronger storms Tuesday through Thursday.

Childcare & Family Costs: Sioux Falls after-school coordinator says a state childcare assistance payment change left some families paying hundreds less—so much that parents are considering quitting work. Public Safety & Law: A new explainer breaks down why South Dakota seatbelt tickets depend on whether you’re an adult or a child in the car, and whether there’s another reason for the stop. Native Communities & Justice: The FBI is raising minimum rewards for dozens of unsolved Native American cases to $25,000, aiming to spur fresh leads. Education & Health Workforce: Lake Area Technical College’s new dental hygiene program received initial accreditation and welcomed its first students Aug. 24. Local Culture & Community: De Smet’s long-running effort to build a community event and wellness center is revisited through the story of how close it came to falling short. Sports (Local Spotlight): Creighton bounced back at the State Farm Women’s Volleyball Showcase with a four-set win over USC in Sioux Falls. Health Spending Watch: Medicaid billing spikes show up across multiple South Dakota towns, including big jumps in dental services, pathology/lab work, and medicine/surgery categories.

Native Culture Spotlight: Levitt at the Falls hosted the fourth annual “All My Relatives” festival, bringing Native musicians, art, and community planning to the stage with Smithsonian support. Arts & Learning: Sheridan College art students are building careers through internships and partnerships with museums, theaters, and galleries across northern Wyoming. Community Building: A new grassroots push in Box Elder is planning the first-ever children’s museum West River, aiming for hands-on play and local early learning. Education Updates: Genesis Classical Academy welcomed eight new teachers, while Blue Earth Area added 13 new staff for the 2026-27 school year. Campus Life: Black Hills State University’s president highlighted enrollment momentum, new degrees (including American Indian Studies), and upgrades like the renovated Woodburn Theatre. Lifestyle & Food: South Dakotans say chislic is the most nostalgic summer food, with kuchen and walleye fry close behind. Outdoor Fun: Travel South Dakota launched “Cycle the 605,” a Strava-based challenge encouraging 605 minutes of activity through Sept. 4. Health & Safety: The FDA upgraded a pistachio butter recall to Class I, warning it could cause serious illness or death.

Education & Community Service: Douglas School District board member Amy McGovern received the Associated School Boards of South Dakota’s Distinguished Service Award for six years of service. Outdoor Lifestyle: Travel South Dakota launched “Cycle the 605,” a Strava-based challenge to log 605 minutes of cycling and other activities through Sept. 4, with a chance to win a cycling getaway. Food & Local Pride: A South Dakota survey found chislic is the state’s most nostalgic summer food, ahead of walleye fry and kuchen. Health & Caregiving: SDSU Extension will host a free Sept. 1 webinar on “Organize This!” to help people prepare for caregiving and end-of-life decisions. Faith & Community Loss: The Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls says St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wessington Springs will not be rebuilt after a Dec. 26 fire. Arts & Family Fun: Central States Fair is spotlighting quilters of all ages, including a kids’ “make and take” quilt workshop. Sports & School-Year Energy: Sioux Falls police and school officials reminded drivers to slow down and stay alert as school zones ramp up for the first day. Health Care Watch: Minnesota approved a 10-year oversight agreement for Sanford’s acquisition of North Memorial Health, including long-term commitments to emergency and safety-net services.

Accessibility at the Fair: The South Dakota State Fair is bringing back its Sensory Friendly Experience on Sept. 2 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.), with reduced noise and lights, a calming cottage, gentle animal interactions, hands-on activities, and a modified carnival time. Community Safety & Planning: Central States Fair officials say families should pick a meeting spot before arriving, since lost children often mean a lost parent in the busy final days. Local Learning + Environment: Union County Electric and SDSU Extension wrapped up the Prairie Roots 4-H project by transplanting native wildflowers beneath solar arrays, building pollinator habitat while teaching kids the science behind it. Affordable Housing + Skills: Habitat for Humanity of Clay & Yankton Counties received a $15,000 FNBO Impact Grant to support a student-built CTE house in Yankton and neighborhood repair work. Workforce + AI: South Dakota’s Workforce Development Council is weighing essential skills and new CTE standards as AI threatens entry-level hiring—urging apprenticeships to evolve instead of disappear. Health Care Watch: Sanford Health’s proposed acquisition of North Memorial Health moves forward after a 10-year Minnesota oversight agreement, including long-term commitments for Robbinsdale services. Food + Culture: Mitchell Tech culinary student Jake Toben won a $20,000 US Foods Scholars Award and hopes to share Filipino-American flavors through his future food truck. Sports Spotlight: Sioux Falls Washington opened with a 28-0 shutout over Rapid City Central, while SDSU’s Matt Vitzthum era begins Saturday vs. Central Connecticut State.

Politics & Economy: President Trump endorsed South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden for re-election after the GOP runoff, setting up a November matchup with Democrat Dan Ahlers. Public Health: The South Dakota Department of Health reports a slight HIV uptick tied to injecting drug use, with homelessness and housing instability among those most affected—plus a reminder that early testing matters. Arts & Community: Sioux Falls State Theatre adds a Dolly Parton film to its fall lineup (Sept. 11–13), with ticket sales supporting Imagination Library book gifting. Local Culture & Lifestyle: A Rapid City comedy show at the Dahl Arts Center tackles addiction and recovery with Second Chance Comedy’s “We’re All Doing Great … and other lies.” Education & Campus: The Board of Regents is seeking funds to upgrade SDSU’s economics program and relocate part of USD’s medical program to Sioux Falls. Environment & Outdoors: DANR warns harmful algal blooms can develop fast on South Dakota lakes—“When in Doubt, Stay Out.” Sports: Sioux Falls Skyforce unveiled the 2026–27 NBA G League schedule, including a Nov. 20–21 home doubleheader.

South Dakota State vs. Western Illinois: The Jackrabbits opened with an early goal and cruised to a 5-0 win over the Leathernecks in women’s soccer, setting the tone for SDSU’s non-conference push. Youth & community: The Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains is expanding across eastern South Dakota, serving 4,500+ youth and families and launching a fundraising campaign to grow programs and meals. Local government: Clay County approved the second reading of a sales tax ordinance aimed at offsetting property taxes on owner-occupied homes, despite public pushback. Native culture for kids: Lifescape hosted a wacipi to help children connect with Native heritage through music, drumming, and community celebration. Education & arts: The National Music Museum kicked off its “NMM Live!” season with Emmy-winning songwriter Jack Norton bringing old-time blues and folk to Vermillion. Health & safety: DANR warned of harmful algal blooms on South Dakota lakes—“When in Doubt, Stay Out!” Sports spotlight: Mitchell Christian swept individual titles at the Mitchell Invitational cross country meet, including freshman Laura Nemec winning the girls’ race. Everyday life: The Red Cross is urging blood and platelet donations in September, with a Hello Kitty incentive for donors.

Meta Settlement for Kids: South Dakota is set to receive about $52 million over the next decade from a landmark $17.1 billion multistate Meta deal over claims Instagram and Facebook were designed to be addictive and harmful to children; the money will go into the state Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Fund, with details on spending still pending. Big-Tech Safety Rules: The settlement also requires sweeping new child-safety changes on Instagram and Facebook, including stricter daily time limits and “productive pauses,” nighttime access blocks, and tighter age verification. Governor Race Buzz: President Donald Trump endorsed Gov. Larry Rhoden for re-election, boosting the Republican ticket ahead of the Nov. 3 election against Democrat Dan Ahlers. Sioux Falls Court Case: An Iowa man accused in a downtown Sioux Falls parking-lot shooting pleaded not guilty to upgraded attempted-murder charges. Community & Learning: Siouxland Libraries announced a five-week toddler-and-parent workshop series in Sioux Falls, plus a free living-history program at Wind Cave featuring a Theodore Roosevelt impersonator. Local Sports: South Dakota women’s basketball released its 2026-27 non-conference schedule, mixing familiar opponents with first-time matchups.