H-1B Hiring Watch: South Dakota employers filed 1,042 H-1B petitions in 2025, with a 98.7% approval rate; the biggest slice came from Finance and Insurance firms, which submitted 571 petitions (568 approved). Energy Costs: A new national analysis warns federal energy policy changes since January 2025 could raise household energy spending in every contiguous state by 2040, projecting $920B in added spending and major GDP losses. Wireless Buildout Debate: The FCC is weighing faster permitting for wireless upgrades, reopening fights over whether radiofrequency exposure standards still match today’s networks. Healthcare Cash & Coverage: Trump’s planned $90 senior payments (mostly Medicare Part B enrollees) and new data showing ACA marketplace selections down 4.9% in 2026 as premiums rise 19.7% highlight shifting affordability pressures. Local Business & Community: Sioux Falls’ Howe Plumbing installed a free Lennox heating/cooling system through the annual “Feel the Love” campaign. Food Safety: A frozen berry recall tied to an E. coli outbreak expanded to additional lots sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s. South Dakota Economy & Policy: A judge paused Sioux Falls’ approval process for Smithfield’s move, sending the conditional use permit back for reconsideration. Native Conservation: Thunder Valley CDC plans to release 50 bison into Badlands National Park range next week as part of prairie restoration.