AGP Executive Report

Food Safety: A frozen berry recall has been expanded again for select Great Value berry blends and blueberries sold at Walmart, plus one Trader Joe’s organic mixed berry blend lot, due to potential E. coli contamination—check UPCs and “best if used by” dates and return or discard for a full refund. Education & Community: Dakota Wesleyan University crowned its 2026 homecoming royalty, with Lizzie Tyler (Mitchell) and Joseph Valler (Kent, England) leading the honors. Faith & Leadership: A Q&A with LCWR Sr. Betsy Pawlicki looks at navigating change through Catholic life and ministry. Local Culture & Arts: The National Music Museum at USD in Vermillion hosts Música Ficta for “NMM Live” on Friday, Oct. 9, bringing Latin American and Spanish baroque early music to campus. Civic Life: Sioux Falls groups are pushing for a temporary moratorium on new data center permits, calling for clearer local rules. Public Safety & Health: South Dakota National Guard says it has helped process 1,013 deportations since July 2025, as Gov. Rhoden extends the ICE paperwork support through Sept. 2027. Schools & Belonging: Douglas Middle School in Rapid City is responding to increased racial slurs and hate symbols, asking families to reinforce respectful behavior. Indigenous Health: Organizers shared progress on an Indigenous School of Medicine planned for Rapid City, targeting a first class of 40 students in fall 2031. New Nonprofit: Yankton’s new Delivering Hope diaper bank is distributing diapers, wipes, formula, and feminine hygiene products across southeast South Dakota and northeast Nebraska.

Rural EMS Boost: South Dakota is set to receive $7.2 million to modernize emergency medical services, including ambulance-based telemedicine and upgrades meant to speed care in remote areas. Corrections Update: Rapid City’s new women’s prison has started housing inmates, with 79 women moved in as the state works to ease overcrowding in Pierre. ICE Deployment Extended: Gov. Larry Rhoden extended the South Dakota National Guard’s ICE support through Sept. 30, 2027, citing 1,013 deportations since last fall and adding federal funding for Highway Patrol troopers. Youth Safety in Rapid City: Nearly 1,000 freshmen will take part in “Freshman Impact: Caught in the Moment,” a full-day prevention program using mock crashes, first responders, and a sentencing simulation. Accessibility in Rapid City: A White Cane Awareness Day downtown walk is planned for Oct. 15, with mobility demos and a community lunch. Local Culture & Community: Watertown’s chamber promoted Mackenzie Ries to president, and the South Dakota Survival and Prepper Show returned to Rapid City with hands-on preparedness classes. Politics & Health Care: In a Sioux Falls U.S. House debate, candidates clashed on tariffs, rural health funding, Medicaid access, and federal priorities for tribal communities.

Community Reading: Downtown Sioux Falls hosted the 2026 Festival of Books, with authors across fiction, nonfiction, and poetry meeting readers at multiple venues and a keynote from historian Jeffrey Rosen. Family & Grief Support: Rapid City’s second annual Children’s Bereavement Walk brought families to the Healing Gardens for memorial activities and support around miscarriage, stillbirth, and child loss. Accessibility & Inclusion: Rapid Area Vision Education (RAVE) will mark White Cane Awareness Day with a downtown walk Oct. 15, featuring mobility demos and a city proclamation expected from Mayor Jason Salamun. Sports & Local Pride: Sioux Falls Flyers goalie Riley Vander Esch died after more than a year battling brain cancer; the team is encouraging “Sticks out for Riley” tributes and donations to youth hockey and community programs. Music Scene: The South Dakota Rock & Rollers Hall of Fame induction ceremony and concert is set for Oct. 24 in Sioux Falls, with performers including Judd Hoos and Randy McAllister, and proceeds supporting school music grants. Public Health & Safety: South Dakota will receive $7.2 million in federal funding to modernize rural emergency medical services, including telemedicine, training, and communications upgrades.

Rural EMS Upgrade: South Dakota is set to receive $7.2M in federal funding to modernize emergency medical services, backing 25 projects across ambulance services, hospitals, and training partners with better response times, telemedicine, and communications. Women’s Corrections Update: The state’s new Rapid City women’s prison is ramping up after moving inmates from Pierre; it opened with 79 women in late September and has 288 beds plus treatment and a mother-baby program. Public Health Alert: A nationwide recall linked to an alfalfa sprout seed lot has now sickened 76 people across 16 states, including cases reported in South Dakota, as E. coli and Salmonella investigations expand. Immigration & Work in Rural SD: A new look at rural hospitals highlights how immigrant workers are filling critical roles in places that are short on staff, including in the Dakotas. Community Fundraiser: Scotland’s Kickin’ For A Cause kickball tournament raised money for a local cancer patient, bringing together co-ed teams and multiple generations. Sports & Campus Life: South Dakota State kept rolling with a win over Illinois State, while South Dakota Mines continues fall competition at the Yellowjacket Fall Invite.

Food Safety: FDA says recalled frozen berries sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s may be contaminated with E. coli, including Great Value frozen organic blueberries and Triple Berry Blend plus Trader Joe’s frozen organic Mixed Berry Blend, with affected lots and “best if used by” dates listed. Arts & Community: Sioux Falls’ Festival of Bands brought more than two dozen high school groups to Howard Wood Field, turning a Saturday into a full-on music showcase. Youth & Workforce: Black Hills students got hands-on with heavy equipment and construction trades at the AGC of South Dakota Construction Career Exploration Camp in Rapid City. Culture & Travel: Yankton hosted the Eighth World Archery 3D Championships, drawing competitors from 27 countries and spotlighting the region’s volunteer and tourism pull. Local Leadership: CASA executive director Kehala Two Bulls is stepping down after 10 years, moving into a new regional programs role with Partnership with Native Americans. Environment & Heritage: Thunder Valley CDC plans to release 50 bison into a Badlands National Park range unit Oct. 6 as part of a native prairie restoration effort. Sports (South Dakota): Augustana’s Key to the City rivalry game featured Gunnar Hensley’s return as the Vikings outscored USF 20-0 in the second half to win 29-28.

Music & Community: Sioux Falls hosted the Festival of Bands at Howard Wood Field, with middle and high school groups from Madison, Pierre T.F. Riggs and Mitchell filling the day with marching, drumline and parade energy. Workforce & Education: Rapid City’s AGC Construction Career Exploration Camp put more than 200 students hands-on with heavy equipment, welding, carpentry and other trades—aiming to steer young people toward in-demand careers. AI & Public Life: At South Dakota Mines, Sen. Mike Rounds met with Anthropic leaders for a campus conversation on AI’s risks and opportunities, including impacts on health care, education and jobs. Native Land Restoration: Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation plans to release 50 bison into a nearly 40,000-acre Badlands range unit, part of a long-running effort to restore native prairie and Lakota stewardship. Local Food Access: SDSU Extension and Buche Foods are expanding Double Up Food Bucks in South Dakota, matching SNAP dollars for fruits and vegetables to stretch grocery budgets. School Traditions: Douglas School District is taking applications through Oct. 25 for a steering committee to launch a district Hall of Fame and annual celebration.

Midterm Mood: One month before the Nov. 3 election, new polling shows President Trump underwater in 39 states, with every major battleground state negative—setting a tense backdrop for South Dakota’s culture-and-community conversations around affordability, education, and local impacts. Food & Health Access: SDSU Extension is teaming up with Buche Foods and farmers markets for Double Up Food Bucks, matching SNAP dollars for fruits and veggies (up to $10 per purchase) to stretch grocery budgets and support healthier routines. Local History & Civic Memory: Gov. Larry Rhoden proclaimed October as South Dakota Archives Month, “Documenting American Democracy,” with public events spotlighting how state archives preserve community heritage. School Meals, Local Farms: October’s Farm to School Month highlights how schools can buy locally grown, culturally relevant food—benefiting kids, farmers, and classroom learning. Workforce & Career Pathways: Yankton is marking Manufacturing Week (Oct. 4–10) with student outreach aimed at keeping young people connected to local jobs. Ag Education Legacy: The South Dakota FFA Foundation is accepting nominations for the Golden Owl Award, honoring top agricultural educators statewide. Community Culture & Identity: Sioux Falls’ Native American Day Parade (Oct. 12) is pushing through higher city safety costs as organizers work to secure donations for the ninth year. Higher Ed Growth: USD celebrated a new Sales Center ribbon cutting and broke ground on the Gassen Family Fieldhouse for track and field—more campus momentum for students and local pride. Politics at Home: In the SDPB/South Dakota News Watch U.S. House debate, candidates sparred over tariffs and beef imports, with agriculture front and center for voters. Ballot Measure Fight: Backers and opponents of a proposed constitutional change (Amendment L) are trading accusations over ads tied to “out-of-state billionaires,” as advance voting ramps up.

Rapid City Community Care: Children’s Home Society is gearing up for a Oct. 20 grand opening of its new Rapid City campus, adding life-skills and family engagement rooms and consolidating mental health, foster care/adoption, advocacy, and education services for kids and families across the Black Hills. Local Education Updates: Rapid City Area Schools says it’s seeing gains in student achievement, with improved math/reading benchmarks and higher PreACT scores, plus big drops in discipline referrals, aggression, and suspensions. Libraries & Learning: South Dakota recognized 10 libraries and 35 librarians for accreditation and professional certification, highlighting governance, resources, staffing, and ongoing training. Family & Safety: Officials are urging parents to keep talking about online safety after an alleged predator case involving Roblox, with reminders to review privacy settings and watch for grooming tactics. Community Events: Rapid City hosts a hands-on canning and preservation class Saturday (applesauce focus), and Deadwood buried a time capsule for its 150th anniversary. Culture Calendar: Sioux Falls’ Zoo Boo returns Oct. 15–18 with trick-or-treat stations and a Sensory Sunday option. Sports (Local): South Dakota State heads to Fargo to face North Dakota State in a key Summit League women’s soccer matchup.

High School Sports: Yankton’s Bucks swept the Class A boys’ title at the Marsha Koebernick Invitational in South Sioux City, with Luke Feimer winning the 5,000 and multiple teammates finishing in the top five. College Football Preview: South Dakota is trying to turn a rough loss into momentum as it hosts Indiana State this Saturday in the DakotaDome for Dakota Days. Local Politics: District 18 candidates faced voters at a Yankton forum, with debates centered on affordability and education funding. Public Health: The FDA says more patients are now tied to an E. coli and Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts from Everything Sprouts LLC, including cases in South Dakota. Community Care: The Salvation Army of the Black Hills kicked off Coats for Kids in Rapid City, offering free winter coats to children through Friday. Arts & Culture: The South Dakota Art Museum at SDSU opens “America in Art,” a community-informed exhibit reflecting on the nation’s 250th anniversary through South Dakota collections. Health Awareness: Sanford and Avera are marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month with events and fundraisers supporting research and early detection.

Community Care: Rapid City’s Salvation Army is running its Coats for Kids program, handing out brand-new winter coats for children up to age 18 through Friday at 405 N. Cherry Ave., with parents/guardians asked to bring photo ID and proof of age. Local Arts & Learning: The South Dakota Festival of Books returns to Sioux Falls this weekend, featuring Mount Rushmore author Matthew Davis and tying into the state’s One Book South Dakota pick. Youth & Education: Western Dakota Technical College hosted about 400 juniors and seniors at its annual Career Expo at The Monument, highlighting hands-on paths in healthcare and skilled trades. Health & Women’s Services: Sanford Black Hills added Dr. Miranda Pray-Dede to expand specialized women’s health services at the Sanford Health Haines Ave. Clinic in Rapid City. Libraries: Ten South Dakota libraries and 35 librarians earned statewide recognition through voluntary quality standards programs. Family-Friendly Events: Sioux Falls Area Humane Society’s Bark in the Park 3K/5K is set for Oct. 10 at Pasley Park, with pets welcome and contests planned. Digital Safety: Rapid City-area officials urged parents to talk about online safety after a federal case involving an alleged Roblox predator targeting an 11-year-old.

Local Arts & Education: Gov. Larry Rhoden and the South Dakota Arts Council opened the Governor’s Student Art Competition, inviting K-12 students statewide to submit work by Nov. 6 for a Capitol exhibit in 2027. Community & Youth: The SD FFA Foundation is funding local service projects with up to $500 per chapter, backing efforts like first-responder appreciation events and first-aid kit builds. Health & Research: Avera Research Institute, SDSU, and USD Sanford School of Medicine won an NIH award to launch the South Dakota Center for Advancing Clinical and Translational Research (SD-ACT), aiming to train researchers and build statewide study resources. Public Safety & Lifestyle: A South Dakota expo at Western Dakota Tech in Rapid City highlighted hands-on career paths beyond the four-year degree, with trades and healthcare partners on site. Sports (South Dakota ties): Sioux Falls’ Stampede are set for a home opener Saturday night, celebrating their Clark Cup-winning culture. Politics & Culture: Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem filed for divorce from Bryon Noem, citing “irreconcilable differences,” as he says he hopes for a private resolution. Native Nations: President Trump’s planned Choctaw Nation rally is framed as a rare presidential visit to Indian Country while the nation rents the venue but isn’t sponsoring the event.

Film & Community: The Jan and Herb Conn documentary “Catching Pine Cones” lands at the Black Hills Film Festival in Rapid City Oct. 2 at the Journey Museum, with the filmmakers on hand. Public Safety: Sioux Falls Fire Rescue is urging safer lithium-ion charging habits during National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 4–10). Education & Youth: Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains launches “Prairie Sparks,” a free after-school reading, math, and science program for K–3 students in Brookings starting Oct. 5. Local Arts & Music: Black Hills Symphony Orchestra announces its 94th season, with concerts running Oct. through April. Native & Food Security: Volunteers at the Crazy Horse Volksmarch collected 16 bins of food for Church Response, supporting families for months. Sports & Campus Life: BHSU honored alumni and athletes during Swarm Days, and SDSU received a $750,000 federal grant to expand AI literacy across campus. State Politics (watch): South Dakota’s Medicaid Expansion constitutional amendment debate heats up as opponents warn it could cut coverage if federal funding changes. Big National Culture/Politics: Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem filed for divorce from Bryon Noem, citing “irreconcilable differences.”

Local Education & Community Planning: Rapid City voters will weigh a $107 million school bond proposal this November, with SDPB’s Dakota Political Junkies digging into why past referendums have struggled and what’s different this time. State Politics & Public Life: In a South Dakota filing, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has moved to end her 34-year marriage to Bryon Noem, citing “irreconcilable differences,” adding fresh scrutiny to a high-profile political life. Campaign Money & Media: Democrats and Republicans are clashing over DHS spending $20 million in taxpayer funds for TV ads featuring President Trump ahead of midterms. Culture & Learning: The University of South Dakota’s art galleries announce a free Oct. 9 opening for internationally recognized photographer Natalie Christensen’s “The Deconstructed Self.” Youth Opportunity: South Dakota Farmers Union opens registration for its #Farming4theFuture agriculture advocacy cash challenge, with $15,000 up for grabs. Community Care: Feeding South Dakota’s volunteer-a-thon in Sioux Falls packed thousands of weekend backpacks and Thanksgiving boxes for families facing hunger. Sports & School Spirit: Billy Mills brought his Olympic message of perseverance to a Yankton High School assembly, while Brandon Valley’s volleyball team rallied to beat No. 2 Lincoln in five sets.

South Dakota Politics: Gov. Larry Rhoden and challenger Dan Ahlers faced off in their final debate, clashing over data centers, affordability, education funding, teacher retention, health care, and tribal relations—Ahlers pushed for more local control, while Rhoden pointed to state rules requiring big projects to cover power and water impacts. Local Education & Careers: Western Dakota Technical College is hosting a free Career Expo for high school students Sept. 30 in Rapid City, with hands-on demos and employer connections. STEM & Community Tech: South Dakota Mines will hold a public discussion Oct. 2 on the future of AI, featuring Sen. Mike Rounds and Anthropic leaders. Arts & Indigenous Culture: Rapid City’s Dahl Arts Center will host a Dream Catchers Artists Guild reception Oct. 11, featuring a traveling Indigenous exhibition on dreams, memory, colonization, and survival. Health & Youth Support: Children’s Home Society of South Dakota cut the ribbon on new Life Skills and Family Engagement rooms at its Rapid City campus, funded by a Latter-day Saints humanitarian grant. Sports & Entertainment: PBR’s “Unleash The Beast” tour is coming to Sioux Falls in April 2027. Award Spotlight: A Watertown-area teacher won the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Teaching Excellence prize, earning $75,000 total for him and his program. National Politics With SD Ties: Former DHS Secretary and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem filed for divorce from Bryon Noem after a public “bimbofication” scandal.

Self-Directed IRA & LLCs: American IRA is hosting a Sioux Falls-area webinar with Kyle Moody on when an LLC can (and can’t) help inside a self-directed retirement account, plus the rules to avoid prohibited transactions. Healthy Living Programs: SDSU Extension is launching free, virtual Better Choices Better Health SD Discovery Sessions to help adults manage chronic conditions and connect communities with evidence-based support. Campus Culture: USD’s Knudson School of Law will hold a ribbon cutting Oct. 2 after a multi-year renovation that modernizes classrooms while preserving the school’s community feel. Local Education & Care: Children’s Home Society of South Dakota cut the ribbon on new Life Skills and Family Engagement rooms at its upcoming Rapid City campus, funded by a humanitarian grant from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Community & Youth Support: Salvation Army Coats for Kids returns in Rapid City this Thursday and Friday, offering brand-new coats for children 0–18 with ID and age proof. Arts & Ideas: The South Dakota Festival of Books in Sioux Falls goes one-day Oct. 3 after budget cuts, with 25+ authors and keynote speaker Jeffrey Rosen. Sports & School Life: Sioux Falls families report bus pickup delays and communication gaps, while South Dakota’s prep football scene keeps heating up with new Power 5 rankings. Native Pride & Tradition: Thousands joined the 40th Annual Crazy Horse Volksmarch in the Black Hills, with canned-food donations supporting local and tribal communities.

Local Journalism: Lee Enterprises and USA TODAY Co. announced major realignments, with Lee acquiring South Dakota titles including the Sioux Falls Argus Leader and Rapid City Journal—another sign of how South Dakota newsrooms are reshaping. Immigration & Community Safety: SDPB reports ICE is misrepresenting a detained South Dakota man’s criminal history, raising fresh questions about how claims are handled in detention cases. Education & Standards: South Dakota’s state board has started hearings on revising K-12 content standards, including updates tied to career and technical education and library services. Arts & Culture: A new exhibit, “To There, From Here,” at Plaza Diane invites viewers into a slow, personal art journey—plus a Sioux Falls haunted bus-tour season is gearing up for October. Pop Culture & Tech: Dakota State University is bringing cyber and animation programming to SiouxperCon, including panels and a kids’ tech zone. Community Events: Rapid City is collecting candy and costumes for Halloween, with drop-offs through Oct. 21. Agriculture & Global Ties: The Asia Society’s Listening Tour is landing in Sioux Falls as farmers weigh how U.S.-China shifts can hit soybeans and local livelihoods.