SNAP Integrity: The USDA says South Dakota’s SNAP program is the nation’s most efficient, with the lowest payment error rate in the country at 4.47% for fiscal year 2025 (nationally 10.62%), a key point as states face penalties when errors top 6%. School Procurement: South Dakota AG Marty Jackley issued an opinion clarifying that school districts must follow state competitive bidding and design-build rules for public school construction contracts of $100,000+ and can’t use cooperative purchasing to sidestep those requirements. Poultry Health & Jobs: SDSU researchers developed a vaccine for avian metapneumovirus subtype B, aiming to protect poultry producers after outbreaks caused major losses and mortalities. Agriculture Tech: Drone spraying is surging nationally, and South Dakota producers are increasingly using drones for targeted crop protection, even as the state doesn’t track drone acreage. State Policy & Planning: SDDOT is rolling out interactive public engagement for the tentative 2027-2030 STIP, including a virtual meeting room and Zoom sessions. Legal Aid Funding: Dakota Plains Legal Services is facing a $176,000 budget deficit that’s forcing staffing and vacancy decisions, raising concerns for low-income clients. Water & Growth: A proposed West River Dairy expansion in Minnesota cleared an environmental review hurdle after MPCA determined an environmental impact study isn’t required.