AGP Executive Report

B-21 Raider Milestone: The Air Force says operational and developmental test pilots flew together in the B-21 cockpit for the first time, a major step toward faster fielding. Sioux Falls Community & Arts: A full replay of the Sioux Falls mayoral runoff debate is available, with candidates Christine Erickson and Jamie Smith answering questions shaped by local groups including the Sioux Falls Arts Council and neighborhood associations. Local Food Keepsake: After a fire destroyed PINZ in Dell Rapids, residents are invited to submit family recipes for a community cookbook honoring owner Casey McCoy—proceeds will support his rebuild. Youth Leadership in Fort Thompson: Tokata Youth Center in Fort Thompson is building future leaders by hiring local Native teens and pairing daily responsibilities with mentorship, meals, and consistent boundaries. Rural Health Access: New funding expands pediatric behavioral and mental health support for rural and frontier South Dakota families through BEAM-SD, boosting screening and provider connections. Ag & Education: South Dakota Mines is running STEM and athletic summer camps in Rapid City, while the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association hosts a Sioux Falls Region Roundup with BQA training and producer-focused programming. Election Culture Note: Anti-tech and hand-counted ballot themes are shaping the secretary of state nomination fight, as Monae Johnson faces challenger Heather Baxter at the GOP convention.

Local Politics & Community Life: Sioux Falls mayoral candidates Christine Erickson and Jamie Smith face off in a free, 60-minute runoff debate at Carnegie Town Hall (doors 4 p.m., debate 4:30 p.m.), hosted by Sioux Falls Simplified, SiouxFallsLive.com and The Dakota Scout with the League of Women Voters, with neighborhood and advocacy groups shaping the questions. Health & Family Support: New funding expands pediatric behavioral and mental health support for rural South Dakota families, boosting early screening, provider education, and no-cost consultations through BEAM-SD and the AAP South Dakota chapter. Culture & Learning: South Dakota Humanities Council’s One Book South Dakota tour brings author Matthew Davis to seven communities late June, including Sioux Falls and Rapid City, with events focused on Mount Rushmore, land, identity, and public monuments. Faith & Community Spaces: Reflection Park’s large-scale religious sculptures draw visitors who say the Rosary-centered site helps them feel “like you are walking with Jesus.” STEM & Youth Development: South Dakota Mines offers summer STEM and athletic camps in Rapid City, while FFA advisors earn tribute scholarships for students heading to leadership retreats. Sports Spotlight: South Dakota native Simeon Birnbaum wins the NCAA men’s 1,500 title in Eugene; local athletes also place at NCAA events, including TCA’s Jordan Wenger finishing fourth in the high jump.

Native Community & Wildlife: A bull bison involved in a fatal May attack in Custer State Park has been handed over to a Rosebud Sioux Tribe entity, with the tribe saying it will be relocated and “NOT be euthanized.” Education & Culture: South Dakota’s Summer Library Program kicks off with a “Unearth a Story” theme, inviting kids and families to explore dinosaurs, paleontology and archaeology through local libraries. Arts & Music Education: Rapid City’s Discovery of Strings brings free music lessons to students, using playful “unicorns and lollipops” metaphors and professional musicians from across the country. Local History: The Mead Museum received the 2026 Governor’s Award for History, honoring its restoration work and new exhibit “A Dakota Story.” Sports: USD pole vaulter Anna Willis set a program record and finished third at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, with teammate Marleen Mülla placing 12th. Community Events: Brookings opened “The Wall That Heals” Vietnam memorial replica for free public visits, and Rapid City is pushing final registration for its America 250 Birthday Parade July 2.

Sports Spotlight: South Dakota’s Anna Willis cleared 4.64 meters to take third at the NCAA women’s pole vault in Eugene, setting a new Coyote program record and earning All-American honors again this season. Local History & Museums: The Mead Museum received the 2026 Governor’s Award for History, recognizing its restoration work and new exhibit plans. Music Education: Rapid City’s Discovery of Strings brings free, hands-on music lessons to kids using playful “unicorns and lollipops” teaching tools, with professional musicians lined up through July. Community & Faith: Trinity Eco Prayer Park marks 10 years of native habitat restoration and stormwater runoff cleanup, with food trucks and a performance by Rowan Grace. STEM & Careers: SDSU engineering students won their category at NASA’s RASC-AL competition for a lunar sample return concept, and 18 ag undergrads received research grants. Culture & Community Events: Rapid City is in its final week of registration for the America 250 Birthday Parade, followed by a drone show and a full downtown festival lineup. Health & Access: A USD Sanford School of Medicine student was honored for a rural pregnancy loss project in Mobridge, focused on education, clinical care, and community support.

Local Arts & Education: Sheldon High School Summer Theatre invites the community to “Murder on the Rerun,” a comedic murder mystery running as a fundraiser for student fine arts work. Community Care: Sioux Falls’ Scooter’s coffee shops are holding a “Day of Giving,” donating 100% of Wednesday sales to foster-care agencies, with organizers reporting $47,000 raised by day’s end. Faith & Food Security: Bishop Dudley House in Sioux Falls is asking for help stocking cupboards for summer, listing needed items from coffee and noodles to toiletries and paper goods. Tribal Health Leadership: The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe unanimously backed Mark Cruz’s nomination to lead the Indian Health Service, citing treaty and sovereignty priorities. Youth Sports: Tea soccer players earned spots to represent South Dakota in major national tournaments, including the President’s Cup and U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships. STEM for Kids: Main Street Square Splash Lab returns weekly with free hands-on STEM activities, including ocean-themed sensory bottle making for World Oceans Day. Higher Ed Pride: SDSU announced spring 2026 dean’s list honors, recognizing 3,941 students statewide and beyond. Public Safety Through Design: Rapid City’s Star Village celebrated repaired streetlights with “Light the Night,” aiming to boost visibility and neighborhood connections.

Community Lighting & Safety: Rapid City’s Star Village celebrated “Light the Night” after Black Hills Energy repaired seven long-unlit light poles, with the city covering costs and residents adding porch lamps through Fountain Springs Church’s “Love Your Neighbor” week. STEM for Kids: Main Street Square Splash Lab returns Tuesdays with free, hands-on STEM—this week’s World Oceans Day sensory bottles are part of a nine-week summer lineup. Foster Care Fundraising: Scooter’s in Sioux Falls held a “Day of Giving,” donating 100% of Wednesday sales (about $47,000 raised) to Foster Network, Sioux Falls CASA, Royal Family Kids Camp, and Family Visitation. Land Back, Black Hills Focus: All nine South Dakota tribes passed resolutions backing federal land return legislation for the Black Hills, emphasizing public lands and protection from extractive activity. Indigenous Leadership: Two Pine Ridge leaders—Jessica “Jesse” Big Crow and Elyssa Sierra Her Many Horses—were named 2026 Bush Foundation Fellows for community-focused leadership plans. Education & Equity: SDPB reports South Dakota lawmakers approved a rules package increasing TANF payments, while a separate federal update says the Education Department violated a court order in Title IX cases tied to gender identity and sexual orientation. Sports & School Pride: SDSU named Guy Duray of De Witt, Iowa, to its spring 2026 Dean’s List; and USD football hired Kyle Keeton as director of player personnel and NFL liaison.

Arts & Community Loss: SDPB mourns the passing of beloved longtime host Karl Gehrke, a fixture for more than three decades through shows like Dakota Midday and Jazz Nightly. Local Culture Event: Fort Sisseton Historical Festival drew about 11,000 visitors for its 49th year, with Indigenous workshops, food and craft vendors, and rodeo action. Indigenous Land Rights: All nine South Dakota tribes backed a push to return federal lands in the Black Hills to the Great Sioux Nation, aiming to protect sacred sites and water while preserving private property. Sports & Pride: Spearfish junior Peyton VanDeest swept four state track titles at the State Track Meet, while USD’s pole vaulters and other Summit League athletes earned academic honors. Community Calendar: Yankton’s big June weekend ramps up with Ribfest plus a new Chislic Fest, alongside Homestead Day and Young Eagles. Public Safety/Justice: A Nigerian man was sentenced in federal court for using stolen identity and fraudulent documents to secure a job tied to Rapid City. Health Watch: A moringa supplement-linked Salmonella outbreak expanded to 119 cases across 36 states, including South Dakota.

NCAA & Sports Spotlight: South Dakota athletes keep stacking honors at the NCAA level, from Peyton VanDeest’s four-win State Track Meet run to USD’s Academic all-Summit League standouts and three Coyotes heading to Eugene for NCAA pole vault action. Community Events: Yankton is gearing up for a big June weekend with Ribfest plus a new Chislic Fest, while Egan’s Flag Day/America 250 celebration brings church, food, a kids’ parade, and a patriotic vehicle show. Local Culture & Learning: Mitchell Tech is nearing completion on an amphitheater remodel, and the school is also sending students to national SkillsUSA competitions with medal results. Health & Safety: The FDA approved a new sunscreen ingredient (bemotrizinol), and a national Salmonella outbreak tied to moringa supplements has expanded to 119 cases across 36 states. Parenting & Digital Life: Internet Safety Awareness Month spotlights how kids’ gaming apps can expose them to predators beyond “traditional” social media. Policy & Debate: Nine governors urge the NCAA to overhaul transgender student athlete participation rules, while South Dakota’s runoff election logistics are already taking shape for the July 28 GOP matchup. Weather Watch: Eastern South Dakota faces a heat-and-storm threat, with advisories warning about heat risk for kids and vulnerable residents.

FDA & Health: The FDA just approved bemotrizinol as a new over-the-counter sunscreen active ingredient—the first update to its sunscreen rules in more than 20 years—aimed at giving Americans more UVA/UVB protection options for adults and kids 6 months and older. Local Housing & Health Care: In Hot Springs, Fall River Health Services is funding an employee housing subdivision to tackle a worker shortage driven by lack of affordable homes near the hospital. Community Events: Rapid City is still recruiting volunteers for its America 250 “Real America Birthday Bash” (July 1–5), with help needed for parade support, guest services, Kids Zone, and crowd logistics. Remembering 1972: Rapid City marks the 54th anniversary of the devastating 1972 flood, with new and ongoing exhibits at City Hall, Journey Museum, and the public library. Arts & Music: Sioux Falls is hosting saxophonist Grace Kelly for a free, interactive workshop tied to summer reading, while the Sibyl Center in Stanley is rolling out a big summer/fall lineup. Education & Policy: South Dakota’s school boards and districts are weighing new state-driven policy updates and budgets, including preliminary planning and staffing impacts.

Riverboat Days Music: Yankton’s Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival lines up headliners The Dweebs (family party), Minority Falls (rock), and country duo Lakeview, with shows Aug. 21-23 at Riverside Park. Local Arts: Sioux Falls opens the Carver Gallery at City Hall, featuring works by 12 local artists as part of the city’s 2026-2036 arts plan. Community Memory: Rapid City marks the 54th anniversary of the 1972 flood with new City Hall exhibits and reminders to share survivor stories. Education & Policy: Aberdeen School Board reviews policy changes tied to 2026 state legislation, including elections, executive sessions, minutes, insurance, curriculum, and student behavior. Health & Access: USD confirms the Yankton clinical campus training won’t be cut even as most Sanford School of Medicine training shifts toward Sioux Falls. Civic Life: Sioux Falls mayoral runoff debate spotlights different plans on child care and data centers, with Christine Erickson and Jamie Smith facing off June 23. Sports & Youth: Castlewood wins another state softball title, while Dawson-Boyd’s girls golf team aims for a third straight state championship. Legal & Rights: AGs back religious students’ right to state scholarships in a federal court fight over religion-based exclusions. Public Safety: Turner County sheriff’s GOP primary heads to a recount after a razor-thin margin.

Democratic Spotlight: Former President Joe Biden energized South Dakota Democrats at the McGovern Day Dinner in Sioux Falls, urging supporters to “get up and fight” ahead of the midterms. Community & Inclusion: Rapid City’s Pride Parade brought rainbow flags, floats, and families downtown, with organizers emphasizing visibility and belonging for LGBTQ+ residents. Health Leadership: Monument Health announced executive leadership changes, promoting Paula McInerney-Hall to General Counsel and naming Ross McKie Vice President of Philanthropy. Native Culture & Literacy: St. Joseph’s Indian School bookmobile is bringing free books to Watertown and Sisseton, continuing a statewide push to boost access to reading. STEM in Action: Fifth-graders from Rapid City are headed to Washington, D.C., as national finalists in the Presidential AI Challenge for an AI project tackling cafeteria food waste. Civic Learning: “250+ Years of American Civics and News” events are rolling through South Dakota libraries, pairing civics with how people find trusted news. Black Hills Land Defense: Nine tribes sued the federal government to halt exploratory graphite drilling near a sacred Black Hills meadow used for ceremonies and youth camps.

Juneteenth in Rapid City: A free Juneteenth celebration is set for Saturday, June 13, with educational displays, a community quilt square, and a performance spotlighting local history. STEM & Youth: Rapid City fifth-graders are headed to Washington, D.C., as national finalists in the Presidential AI Challenge for an AI project tackling cafeteria food waste. Education & Community: Mitchell’s First Fridays on Main honored local teachers and faculty as “hometown heroes,” pairing meals and donations with a message of support for educators. Native Culture & Wellness: The Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board hosted a two-day lacrosse camp focused on healing, suicide prevention, and traditional teachings through the “medicine game.” Black Hills History in the Making: An archaeological dig near Fort Meade continues at Soap Suds Row, uncovering stories tied to U.S. Army laundresses and inviting the public to watch daily. Local Arts & Remembrance: “Violins of Hope” brings restored Holocaust-era instruments and music-based remembrance to Sioux Falls. Community Recognition: Elevate Rapid City’s Elevate Business Awards Night is June 9 at The Monument, honoring businesses and nonprofits shaping the region.

Sioux Falls Schools & Community Planning: A Sioux Falls School District task force ranked replacing Whittier Middle School and building a new west-side elementary school as top facility needs, setting the stage for a possible April 2027 bond vote. Native Land & Environmental Fight: Nine Native American tribes sued the federal government to stop exploratory graphite drilling near Pe’Sla, a sacred Black Hills meadow used for ceremonies, prayer, and youth camps. Democrats in the Spotlight: Former President Joe Biden told South Dakota Democrats at the McGovern Day Dinner that he’s living with stage 4 prostate cancer, while Jill Biden later said he’ll have to live with it for life and has slowed down. Holocaust Remembrance Through Music: “Violins of Hope” comes to Sioux Falls at Augustana University, pairing restored Holocaust-era instruments with poetry and education. Health Workforce Milestone: West River Health Science Center graduated 122 registered nurses in its first full year, strengthening the regional pipeline into Monument Health. Indigenous Culture in the Black Hills: Crazy Horse Memorial hosted its 40th annual Volksmarch, tied to the AVA’s 50th anniversary, with more education and cultural programming planned. Public Safety & Training: Mayville Fire and Rescue is raising funds for a regional firefighter training facility aimed at reducing travel costs and expanding hands-on instruction for departments across the region. Local Politics: Sturgis will reconvene its municipal canvassing board to review discrepancies from a June 2 special election before deciding whether to certify results.

Cancer Care & Equity: Walking Forward, a long-running cancer navigation and screening program for Native communities, is returning to Monument Health after decades serving western South Dakota, with plans to expand screening and education for multiple cancers. Health Workforce: West River Health Science Center marked its first full year by graduating 122 registered nurses, building a regional pipeline tied to Monument Health scholarships and earlier CNA training. Community Health & Safety: Black Hills Life Flight celebrated 20 years of emergency air medical service across western South Dakota, highlighting how fast transport can be lifesaving. Indigenous Culture: Crazy Horse Memorial hosted its 40th annual Volksmarch, also marking 50 years of the American Volkssport Association, with more educational programming planned. Local Governance: Sturgis will reconvene its canvassing board Monday to review election discrepancies before deciding whether to certify results. Civic Life: Mitchell voters approved term limits for mayor and City Council, setting up a shakeup for 2027. Sports & Youth: The South Dakota High School Senior Bowl wrapped with a Blue team 14-8 win, while local athletes and schools also kept momentum in track and softball. Public Safety Watch: A New World screwworm detection in Texas has South Dakota livestock officials urging ranchers to step up herd inspections. Politics & Community: Sioux Falls mayoral runoff endorsements are heating up, with new cross-campaign support and pushback.

Local Politics: Mitchell voters approved term limits for mayor and City Council, setting up a reshuffle in 2027 after a 72% yes vote. Runoff Watch: Sioux Falls mayoral politics are heating up as endorsements collide in the runoff, with former candidates backing Jamie Smith and GOP frontrunner Toby Doeden pushing Christine Erickson. Health & Community: A Yankton County Drug & DUI Court graduation is set for June 10, highlighting treatment-court support and recovery work. Arts & Culture: John Kellen brings his “Water is Life” Dakota blessing–tied photography exhibition to Minnesota, spotlighting Indigenous storytelling through art. Sports & Pride: South Dakota Mines joined 605 Day to boost scholarships and expand access for future “hard rockers.” Civic Life: Watertown police are seeking help after a trailer and nine DPS motorcycles were stolen, disrupting rider education efforts. Public Safety & Lifestyle: A fundraiser and silent auction are planned for a Spearfish Marine battling stage four prostate cancer.

Community Giving: Caring For The Kids Car Raffle tickets are now on sale, with a chance to win a new 2026 Subaru Outback Limited benefiting Children’s Home Society. Local Courts: Yankton County Drug & DUI Court will hold a public graduation June 10, highlighting treatment-court success and recovery support. Mentorship Spotlight: United Way & Volunteer Services of Greater Yankton named Janelle Bierle May Volunteer of the Month for her consistent Big Friend Little Friend mentorship. Nature & Education: A Yankton visit from piping plover advocate Chris Allieri feeds a new book project on the threatened shorebird and its conservation story. Health & Family: A Spearfish Marine veteran is hosting a fundraiser and silent auction for stage four prostate cancer medical costs. Kids & Culture: Rapid City’s Dinosaur Park hosts outdoor storytime with hands-on stations and a dinosaur passport this Saturday. Higher Ed Access: South Dakota Mines joins 605 Day to expand scholarship opportunities across the state. Sports: Sioux Falls Jefferson shut out Roosevelt in Class AA softball semifinal action, setting up the next round. Public Safety Learning: BoatUS Foundation’s free, state-approved boating safety course adds South Dakota to its no-cost online options.