AGP Executive Report

Elections, but make it local: South Dakota’s primary push is heating up, and county auditors say operations are holding steady even with a late start to advance voting—still, turnout is the big question after 2024’s low numbers. Campaign cash: In Sioux Falls, mayoral candidate Christine Erickson just got a $100,000 boost from a business/development-backed PAC, pushing her past $320,000 and keeping her out front. Voting rights fight in Washington: President Trump is pressing Congress to pass the stalled SAVE America bill, arguing for proof-of-citizenship and photo ID rules—while Democrats and voting groups warn it could disrupt voting. Food safety win: Kwik Trip earned the 2026 Black Pearl Award for food protection, a rare national spotlight for a regional brand. Local culture under pressure: A Sioux Falls strings repair shop is struggling with higher imported supply costs and rising operations expenses, turning to community donations to stay open. Immigration enforcement expands: South Dakota’s Operation: Prairie Thunder is growing after reported results, including more troopers enrolling in ICE training and thousands of drug and traffic-related charges.

Iowa GOP money race heats up: Democratic governor candidate Rob Sand reported a record $9.6M haul in the first five months—dwarfing the GOP field as the June 2 primary nears. South Dakota governor race gets outside pressure: New filings show independent groups pouring in more than $1.3M, including Rushmore Principles spending heavily on digital and direct mail attacking Gov. Larry Rhoden and also targeting Speaker Jon Hansen. Local community spotlight: Sioux Falls is gearing up for a Memorial Day “Ride For Freedom” honoring POW-MIA service members. Food safety win: Kwik Trip earned the IAFP Black Pearl Award for food protection excellence. Health watch: A Wisconsin study found more than half of deer ticks tested carried Lyme bacteria—another reminder to check for ticks. Energy innovation: POET and Antora launched a thermal energy storage project in Big Stone City, storing excess wind power in carbon blocks.

ICE Expansion: Gov. Larry Rhoden says South Dakota is ramping up its ICE partnership—training more Highway Patrol troopers through the 287(g) program, with the total expected to jump from 17 to 41, and reporting 150 arrests tied to the effort over the past year. Campaign Spending Watch: New finance filings show outside groups are pouring money into the June 2 governor primary, with Rushmore Principles PAC spending about $1.3 million—mostly on digital ads and mail—targeting Gov. Rhoden and also opposing Speaker Jon Hansen. Hot Springs Uranium Hearing: A new state law expanding interpretive services at public hearings is getting an early test in the Black Hills uranium debate, as officials and opponents clash over how voices are heard. Rapid City Time Capsule: Rapid City officials revealed what’s going into a 2026 time capsule meant to be opened in 2076, including local history, Indigenous cultural items, and community predictions. Local Life & Health: SDSU Extension is offering Aging Well recordings for a limited time, and a Mitchell doctor, Dr. Lucio Margallo, is set to retire after 46 years.

ICE Expansion: Gov. Larry Rhoden says South Dakota is ramping up its ICE partnership again—training more Highway Patrol troopers under the 287(g) program, with the total set to jump from 17 to 41, and reporting 150 arrests tied to “illegal alien criminals” over the past year. Corrections & Guard Role: The Department of Corrections has paroled 24 inmates directly to ICE custody for deportation, while the National Guard says it has helped process 664 deportations since last fall. Local Debate: The move follows ongoing criticism that tighter immigration enforcement can fuel mistrust and profiling in immigrant communities, even as supporters point to public safety results. Sports & Schools: Mitchell’s Kernels snag All-Region baseball honors, and Allison Meyerink starts NAIA women’s golf championships today. Literacy Push: South Dakota’s Literacy Summit is set for June 16–17 in Mitchell, with 1,000+ educators expected.

ICE Expansion: Gov. Larry Rhoden says South Dakota is ramping up its partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including enrolling more Highway Patrol troopers in 287(g) training—rising from 5 trained in 2025 to 41—and reporting 150 arrests of “illegal alien criminals” in the past year. Public Safety & Courts: A Rapid City man, Kyle Beck, was convicted in federal court on charges tied to attempted sexual exploitation of a minor after contacting a 15-year-old on Instagram; sentencing isn’t set yet. Black Hills Energy Fight: A weeklong hearing on proposed Black Hills uranium drilling opened with hours of opposition, with critics citing Craven Canyon and fears for water, agriculture, and tourism. Education Push: South Dakota’s Literacy Summit (June 16–17) is expected to draw 1,000+ educators as the state doubles down on Science of Reading training. Community Notes: YMCA of the Black Hills is still taking registrations for 2026 summer day camps, and Sioux Falls Airport is set to receive $5M for family-friendly upgrades.

Noem Fallout: Former Gov. Kristi Noem’s early prisoner releases are back in the spotlight—reporting says 12 of the 19 people she freed have since been charged with new crimes. Public Safety Tech: South Dakota has no law specifically regulating automatic license plate readers, even as agencies use them to track plates. Reproductive Rights Ripple: A new study finds abortion bans are changing miscarriage care—states with bans saw less use of the most effective medication approach. Politics on the Move: South Dakota GOP Senate primaries are set for June 2 with several rematches, including districts shaped by past fights over pipeline-related property rights. Local Culture & Education: Black Hills State University launched a major “Taking It to the Next Level” capital campaign, and Wisconsin named Anastasia Poull as its 79th Alice in Dairyland. Sports Spotlight: Argus Leader Athlete of the Week honors went to Brandon Valley’s Mikah Peters and Sioux Falls Jefferson’s Tya Devericks.

NCAA Softball Spotlight: Arkansas pulled off something wild in regionals—run-rule wins in every game, including a 10-2 sixth-inning rout of South Florida, finishing the weekend with a 24-run margin. Local Sports & Schools: South Dakota athletes kept rolling—Eastern South Dakota Conference track wrapped in Watertown with multiple personal-best moments, and Mitchell’s Alexier Padilla shattered a 16-year school record in the 400. Politics & Policy: A South Dakota GOP primary rematch is back on June 2, with voters revisiting the fallout from 2024’s property-rights fight over SB 201 and the later repeal. Public Safety & Privacy: A fact brief asks the big question—South Dakota has no specific laws on automatic license plate readers, even as other states set limits. Community & Culture: Black Hills State University launched its “Taking It to the Next Level” capital campaign, and Rapid City residents are invited to join a drone photo for the city’s 150th anniversary/America 250.

Alice in Dairyland: Anastasia Poull of Port Washington was crowned Wisconsin’s 79th Alice in Dairyland, with South Dakota State University ties and a mission to bridge producers and consumers. Farm Safety: Four South Dakota FFA teams—Faulkton Area, Hitchcock-Tulare, Tri-Valley, and Wessington Springs—qualified for the Farm Safety Quiz Bowl Championships. Arts & Culture: Deadwood’s Theatre Royal is serving up a whip-cracking “Calamity Jane,” praised for its high-energy, faithful-to-the-film fun. Local Infrastructure: Rapid City crews will repair an underground water line leak near Stevens High School starting Monday, with water service expected to stay on. Land Defense: Indigenous organizers are celebrating a win after a mining company withdrew a graphite drilling plan near Pe’ Sla, saying organizing, direct action, and legal pressure made the difference. Community & Youth: Rapid City’s Sister Cities event brought neighbors together at Wilson Park, and Western Dakota Tech held a graduation with a focus on hands-on skills. Sports: USD’s Kenya Harris set a Summit League mark in the triple jump as South Dakota track and field wrapped up conference titles.

Sister Cities in the spotlight: Rapid City residents gathered at Wilson Park for a “Bring Your Own Picnic” day with visitors from Apolda, Germany, and Nikko, Japan—plus music, books from the public library, and a small Hanami celebration, with plans for local students to travel to Japan in late July. Workforce & graduation momentum: Western Dakota Tech handed out diplomas to 360+ graduates, with Gov. Larry Rhoden urging students to build South Dakota’s future—while medical lab grads stressed hands-on skills that can’t be replaced by AI. Native community celebrations: The Cheyenne River Youth Project kicked off the growing season with a Winyan Toka Win garden blessing, and Rochester Public Schools held its ninth annual Graduation Celebration Powwow. Court watch: South Dakota attorneys and abortion-rights groups are tracking a fast-moving legal fight over telehealth access to the abortion pill mifepristone. Sports buzz: Sioux Falls Stampede took a 2-0 lead in the Clark Cup Finals behind Linards Feldbergs’ shutout. Health & fundraising: Sioux Falls’ MS Walk drew hundreds to raise money and support families living with multiple sclerosis.

Community Fundraisers: Two plant sales are set for Saturday, May 16—McHenry’s Tree of Life UU is selling 10 a.m.-noon plants to fund a youth learning trip to Pine Ridge, while the Harvard Garden Club runs 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Moose Pavilion Center to support local gardens and scholarships. State Politics & Accountability: South Dakota’s lawmakers nearly returned $87 million in federal broadband money, a “principled” move that would’ve left underserved areas worse off. Public Safety for Teens: Mobridge-Pollock freshman Avery Schlomer won $10,000 through the “Lesson Learned SD” safe-driving program, which drew 5,300+ student entries statewide. Water Watch: Rapid City-area drought concerns are driving higher releases—Pactola outflow jumped from 25 cfs early May to 80 cfs by Friday. Education & Culture: The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival announces free performances of “Much Ado About Nothing” in Vermillion, June 18-21. Sports: Sioux Falls’ Joey Macrina scored twice as the Stampede took a 1-0 lead in the Clark Cup Finals.

Youth & Education: Gov. Larry Rhoden announced an expansion of youth apprenticeships so more high schools can plug students into paid career training, with a new apprenticeship coordinator meant to match opportunities to each school’s curriculum. Literacy Push: South Dakota’s DOE Literacy Summit in Mitchell (June 16-17) is drawing 1,000+ educators as the state leans harder into the “Science of Reading” approach. 4-H & Outdoors: SDSU Extension set two Black Hills 4-H summer camps at Storm Mountain Center, including a new Teen Wilderness Camp (ages 13-17). Community Culture: The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival returns to Prentis Park in Vermillion with free performances of “Much Ado About Nothing” (June 18-21). Local Life: Sioux Falls parks are planting 23,000 flowers for summer, and Wagner’s Unity Jam is set for June 14 at Wagner Lake with live music and arts vendors. Sports: Joey Macrina scored twice as Sioux Falls’ Stampede took a 1-0 lead in the Clark Cup Finals. Policy Watch: DSS is revisiting TANF and hospital payment rule changes after public backlash, with comments open until May 25.

Sioux Falls Attorney Sentenced: Michael Henderson, a former Sioux Falls lawyer, got suspended prison time plus jail/work-release and probation after pleading no contest to felony grand theft by deception in a $15,000 crop-insurance case, with court records saying he billed for legal work that never happened and created fake emails and filings. Local Culture & Community: Historic Folsom Hotel Saloon is lining up back-to-back national country nights with Tyler Halverson and Caitlynne Curtis, while Vermillion’s Shakespeare Festival is set to stage “Much Ado About Nothing” for free in the park June 18-21. Sports Spotlight: NCAA softball regionals kick off Friday with Alabama starting regional play vs. USC Upstate, and South Dakota track is already making noise at the Summit League meet in Fargo. Civic Life: Sioux Falls is gearing up for America’s 250th with multiple July events, and Rapid City’s Veterans Honor Banner Project is preparing hundreds of banners for Memorial Day through Labor Day.

School Safety Alert: Rapid City police say they’ve requested help from Ellsworth AFB bomb-detection dogs after a bomb threat at Central High School; the building was swept and students/staff were kept out while investigators work to identify who made the threat. Public Health: A hazardous dust plume pushed air quality into the “lock windows” zone across parts of the Upper Midwest, with South Dakota communities among those warned to avoid outdoor activity. Community & Culture: Sioux Falls’ “America’s 250th” Fourth of July parade is back—with a “250 for 250 Club” fundraising push to keep it from disappearing again. Local Sports: UND women’s track surged early at the Summit League Championships, while South Dakota’s Brandon Vander Sluis earned a weekly field honor for a top shot put. Civic Life: Yankton Community Library is hosting a free, non-partisan “Vote With Confidence” program with local election officials ahead of the June 2 primary.

Postal Service & 250th Birthday: The U.S. Postal Service just unveiled special-edition bald eagle stamps for America’s 250th, showing the bird across five life stages—an ode to conservation recovery after DDT nearly wiped eagles out. Education: South Dakota’s Literacy Summit in Mitchell is drawing 1,000+ educators as the state pushes Science of Reading strategies. Local Innovation: At SDSU, an I-Corps effort helped turn a wearable autism-support idea into a real, market-ready product path. Politics: Republicans are still wrestling with how much to lean on Trump on the midterm trail, while South Dakota’s own races heat up—Judge John Fitzgerald is stepping down to run for attorney general again. Community Health: A diabetes screening and education event in Rapid City focused on prevention for Native Americans.

Mental Health Awareness: May’s “wear green” push is spotlighting depression and anxiety, with one Horizon Health patient crediting support staff for staying on track. Cybersecurity: The Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains says an AI-powered “deep fraud” attack stole $200,000 from a Yankton reserve account in April, without exposing donor or youth data. Education Recovery: A new Education Scorecard report finds South Dakota near the bottom for post-pandemic math and reading recovery, with chronic absenteeism still high. Corrections & Rehabilitation: Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen says South Dakota’s new Rapid City women’s prison and Sioux Falls men’s prison will emphasize programming to cut repeat incarceration. Community & Faith: Pe’ Sla land defenders scored a major win as a proposed exploratory drilling plan was withdrawn after protests and legal action. Local Life: Homeschool South Dakota’s 2026 conference heads to Rapid City May 15–16, and a $10,000 grant will keep Winner Transit running for rural riders.

Pe’ Sla Win: NDN Collective says Pete Lien & Sons has withdrawn its Rochford Mineral Exploratory Drilling plan after community pressure, court fights, and a week of land defense—clearing the way for ongoing Lakota ceremonies at the sacred site. Local Politics: In the June 2 GOP primary for SD Senate District 30, Amber Hulse and Julie Frye-Mueller square off, with Hulse touting her legislative record and “louder voice” for the Southern Hills. Education & Community: Sioux Falls launches free summer meals for kids starting May 28, no signup needed. Sports Spotlight: Hill City’s Andee Frandsen breaks her own school record again in the girls 100 hurdles at the Black Hills Track Classic. Statewide Civic Notes: A South Dakota judge steps down to enter the attorney general race, as John Fitzgerald announces his bid to replace Marty Jackley. Aviation Reminder: Sioux Falls residents may hear F-16s during night training flights through May 14.