AGP Executive Report

Surveillance Deadline: Section 702 of FISA is set to expire Saturday at midnight, putting a major foreign-intelligence tool in limbo as Congress scrambles and Democrats resist renewal tied to President Trump’s intelligence pick. State Economic Development: South Dakota’s Board of Economic Development approved major funding—$7.5M for Elevate Rapid City’s new business park land, a $500K Lake County road grant tied to Dakota Ethanol expansion, and up to nearly $30M in reinvestment support for Smithfield’s planned Sioux Falls meat facility. Legal Aid Push: Attorney General Marty Jackley joined a bipartisan coalition urging Congress to keep funding the Legal Services Corporation in FY 2027 to protect civil legal aid access for low-income residents. Energy Policy: The U.S. House passed a bill to allow year-round sales of the 15% ethanol blend E15, a win for ethanol producers and Midwest fuel retailers. Business Closures: On The Border will close all company-owned Tex-Mex locations nationwide, while franchise sites—including South Dakota—remain open. Local Tech & Education: Dakota Wesleyan is rolling out a campus-wide ethical AI initiative with a higher-ed platform partner. Labor Watch: Weekly unemployment claims inched up but remain under 300.

COVID-19 Accountability: South Dakota will receive more than $50,000 from an 18-state settlement with GS Labs over excess fees and late COVID-19 test results, with Attorney General Marty Jackley saying consumers were misled; eligible residents can seek restitution. Economic Development: The South Dakota Board of Economic Development approved nearly $30 million in sales-tax incentives for Smithfield Foods’ new Sioux Falls plant, a project pegged at about $1.3 billion. Local Courts & Industry: A judge ruled in favor of Dakota Protein Solutions in its Turner County dispute over a Freeman-area rendering facility, saying the county failed to provide proper notice and imposed unauthorized conditions. Agriculture & Research: SDSU Extension highlighted precision livestock research at the Cottonwood Field Station, focusing on practical ways producers can judge new technology’s return on investment. Energy & Costs: Gas prices fell for a third straight week, with the national average dropping to about $4.12 per gallon. Workforce & Community: Freedom Scholarship marked 300 on-time graduates and $7.2 million in new funding, aiming to reduce debt and keep graduates working in South Dakota. Policy Watch: Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he’ll push to confirm Trump’s DNI nominee Jay Clayton, as the intelligence role remains politically and legally contentious.

Intel Shake-Up: President Trump nominated U.S. attorney Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence after backlash to interim pick Bill Pulte, as Congress weighs whether key FISA spy powers can survive another fight. South Dakota Economy & Housing: Sioux Falls put its reconstructed Well 25 back online, boosting drinking-water capacity by millions of gallons a day. State Incentives: South Dakota’s Board of Economic Development approved a nearly $30 million rebate package tied to Smithfield’s Sioux Falls relocation project. Ag & Markets: Gas prices fell for a third straight week, while SDSU Extension highlighted precision livestock research at the Cottonwood Field Station; meanwhile, wet weather is delaying soybean planting in parts of northeast South Dakota. Community Impact: Rapid City’s Family Connections Center faces a governance and operational crisis after its executive director resigned, raising concerns about services for vulnerable youth. Local Notes: Madison fireworks are back on for July 4 after community fundraising.

Economic Development: South Dakota’s Board of Economic Development approved up to $30 million in sales-tax rebates for Smithfield Packaged Meats’ move to northern Sioux Falls, a major expansion tied to thousands of jobs. State Incentives & Growth: The board also backed other projects through REDI loans and infrastructure grants, including a Rapid City business-park push and road work supporting Dakota Ethanol expansion. Tribal Land Policy: All nine South Dakota tribes passed resolutions backing federal land return in the Black Hills to the Great Sioux Nation, aiming to protect sacred sites and water while supporting tribal sovereignty. Agriculture & Local Permitting: Davison County approved a conditional use permit for a 4,800-head swine facility near Mitchell, despite neighbor concerns. Consumer & Legal: South Dakota is set to receive $50,380 from a multistate GS Labs COVID test settlement over alleged overcharging and delayed results. Community & Health: A new Sioux Falls café, Simply Good Café, opens June 16 with profits funding meal programs for adults 60+ across the Sioux Empire. Public Safety: A Rapid City woman was sentenced for illegally buying a firearm for a convicted felon.

Economic Development: South Dakota’s Board of Economic Development approved up to $29.98 million in sales-tax rebates to support Smithfield Packaged Meats’ move to northern Sioux Falls, a project pegged at about $1.29 billion and framed as the state’s biggest private capital investment in history. Local Infrastructure: Sioux Falls put its new Well 25 into service, boosting capacity by more than 5 million gallons per day (peak up to 7 million) with a modern horizontal collector design replacing a 1952 well. Healthcare Capacity: Monument Health opened a standalone emergency room in Rapid City, adding 24/7 capacity along the I-90 corridor. Consumer Protection: South Dakota is set to receive $50,380 from a $4.87 million multistate settlement with GS Labs over overpriced and delayed COVID-19 tests. Legal/Business Risk: ASCAP filed new federal copyright suits targeting radio groups, including Haugo Broadcasting in South Dakota, alleging music aired after license termination. Tribal Land Rights: All nine South Dakota tribes backed a joint resolution calling for return of Black Hills public, federal lands to tribal entities. Agriculture Markets: A South Dakota farmer says the New World screwworm disruption may shift corn demand from exports to feed and residual use, changing how producers should market.

Healthcare Competition: A Minnesota hospital merger deal is back in focus as Sanford Health eyes North Memorial after a failed Fairview bid, while a broader wave of consolidation is blamed for higher prices and fewer choices. Local Health & Growth: Monument Health is opening a free-standing 24/7 emergency department off I-90 in Rapid City, aiming to expand access for fast-growing communities along the corridor. Agriculture Markets: USDA data shows milk prices continue to rebound—May Class III rose to $16.92/cwt and Class IV to $22.32—though feed costs are still tempering gains. Public Safety & Costs: Yankton County’s ambulance service says it has narrowed deficits after bringing billing in-house, with discussion of whether to shift to an ambulance district. Education & Workforce: Three USD Knudson School of Law graduates share their early career plans, while SDSU athletes earn Academic all-Summit League honors. Business & Legal: ASCAP filed infringement suits against four radio groups, including Haugo Broadcasting in South Dakota, alleging unlicensed music play. Community Finance: South Dakota’s Rules Review committee approved TANF rule changes that increase benefits for needy families. Tribal Land: All nine South Dakota tribes backed a proposal to return federal lands in the Black Hills to the Great Sioux Nation.

Rapid City Healthcare Expansion: Monument Health will open a free-standing 24/7 emergency department off I-90 in Rapid City on June 10, adding X-ray, CT, ultrasound and lab services to bring faster care closer to growing east-side communities. Local Food Relief Partnership: Prairie Farms is donating a truckload of milk to Feeding South Dakota for National Dairy Month and will match donations throughout June to help fund dairy purchases. Copyright & Radio Business Risk: ASCAP filed infringement suits against four radio groups, alleging they played music without the required licenses for years. Livestock Health Watch: New World screwworm detections are raising alarms for cattle producers, since the fly targets wounds and can rapidly expand painful, infected injuries. Healthcare Deal With Economic Ripples: The University of Minnesota, Fairview and UM Physicians finalized a new 10-year partnership, with state leaders citing impacts on training, patient care and Minnesota’s economy. Housing Shortage Meets Workforce: Fall River Health Services in Hot Springs is investing in a subdivision to create affordable units for employees, aiming to ease a local housing crunch that’s driving staffing gaps. Local Government & Compliance: Pennington County is rolling out a short-term rental tracking and licensing compliance push, with a six-month window to apply before enforcement. Community Development: Mitchell’s planning commission backed tax breaks for restoring a 1907 Main Street bank building into storefronts plus short-term rentals.

Workforce & Training: Bradford White is donating 20 water-heating products to PHCC and other training programs, including PHCC of South Dakota, to boost hands-on plumbing/HVAC education. Local Housing & Health Care: Fall River Health Services in Hot Springs is funding a $3.4M affordable housing subdivision, aiming to create 48 units near the hospital to ease a worker shortage driven by lack of local housing. Agriculture Policy: South Dakota farmers say the current Farm Bill proposal “needs a lot of work,” pushing for changes on SNAP, pesticide labeling, country-of-origin rules for beef, and conservation funding. Energy & Markets: The U.S. House passed a year-round E15 ethanol blend bill, but its Senate path is uncertain. Business & Expansion: Lucas Bols USA is reshaping U.S. distribution, adding South Dakota to Johnson Brothers’ new markets. Legal/Regulatory: A judge overturned Turner County action against a Freeman-area rendering plant, saying officials exceeded their authority. Community & Events: Rapid City is still seeking volunteers for its America 250 “Real America Birthday Bash,” and Palace City Brewing drew 317 tickets for its first Switchyard Social in Mitchell. Sports/Local Economy: Titan Machinery reported fiscal first-quarter results, with revenue down year over year amid challenging ag demand.

Legal & Courts: A federal judge let a South Dakota race discrimination lawsuit against Denny’s entities move forward, rejecting arguments that the wrong company was sued and that franchise structure should shield liability. Local Economy & Growth: Pennington County approved a $68 million TIF for the Black Hills Marketplace near Rapid City, targeting retail, restaurants, housing, and infrastructure with projections of hundreds of jobs and major construction activity. Healthcare & Rural Business: A $3.2 million grant launched a Civica Rural Hospital Program to pool purchasing power for rural hospitals, aiming to reduce generic drug shortages and stretch tight budgets. Infrastructure & Planning: SDDOT set a public open house for a proposed I-90 grading, surfacing, and structure replacement project in Sioux Falls, seeking right-of-way input from residents and business owners. Business Community: Elevate Rapid City will host its 2026 Business Awards Night June 9 at The Monument, honoring regional businesses and nonprofits. Ag & Industry Leadership: Agtegra Cooperative named Brian Knifong senior VP of agronomy, effective July 1, to lead agronomy strategy and customer-focused product and procurement work. Business & Culture: The Game Room in Pierre reopened under new management in a new downtown location, keeping tabletop gaming free to play on site.

Local Business Recognition: Black Hills leaders will gather June 9 for Elevate Rapid City’s 2026 Business Awards Night at The Monument, honoring businesses, nonprofits and individuals across eight categories plus special awards for Monument Health and Marnie Herrmann. Healthcare Leadership: Monument Health announced executive leadership updates effective June 8, promoting Paula McInerney-Hall to General Counsel and naming Ross McKie Vice President of Philanthropy. Housing & Finance Access: Lakota Funds is expanding home loan access on Pine Ridge after receiving $764,000 from USDA Rural Development to support working capital for Native borrowers. State Revenue Watch: South Dakota collected $198 million in motor fuels sales taxes in 2024, up from $191.7 million the year before, according to Census Bureau data. Water & Development Tension: As communities across the Heartland push back on data centers, lawmakers are moving to regulate development amid concerns about water use and energy demands. Public Safety & Community: SBA disaster loans are available for drought-impacted small businesses and nonprofits across parts of the region, including several South Dakota counties.

Native Housing Finance: Lakota Funds joined USDA’s home loan relending program, adding $764,000 to support Pine Ridge mortgages and expand pathways to homeownership. Tribal Land vs. Mining: Nine tribes sued to halt exploratory graphite drilling near a sacred Black Hills meadow, arguing federal agencies improperly approved work that threatens wildlife and ceremonial use. Energy & Reliability: Black Hills Electric Co-Op restored power to nearly 1,700 Rapid City customers after an outage; separately, a regional push for new transmission capacity is framed as essential for reliability and long-term economic benefits. Weather & Consumer Protection: South Dakota AG Marty Jackley warned residents about storm-repair scams, urging written quotes, contractor checks, and avoiding full upfront payments. Local Business & Community: Sturgis will reconvene its canvassing board after election discrepancies; Spearfish’s 605 Day cleanup and vendor market drew strong turnout, with proceeds benefiting Beautify Spearfish. Sports Betting Promo: Kalshi is promoting $10 bonus trades via code NYPMAX for NBA Finals and Stanley Cup markets.

Energy Infrastructure: Great River Energy briefed Faribault County commissioners on a proposed 765 kV transmission line as PowerOn Midwest plans new long-term capacity to meet rising Upper Midwest demand. Power Reliability: Black Hills Electric Co-Op restored power to nearly 1,700 Rapid City customers after an outage that began just before 2:30 p.m. MT, with crews dispatched to determine the cause. Affordable Housing: Spearfish broke ground on Peak View II, a 30-unit affordable complex (52 bedrooms) supported by low-interest gap financing and other public funding, aiming to ease tight vacancy in the Black Hills. Local Politics & Governance: Sturgis will reconvene its Municipal Canvassing Board Monday to review June 2 election discrepancies and decide whether to certify results. Public Safety & Consumer Protection: South Dakota AG Marty Jackley warned residents about storm-repair scams, urging written quotes, contractor verification, and avoiding full upfront payments. Agriculture Biosecurity: USDA confirmed New World screwworm in Texas, prompting South Dakota livestock officials to urge herd inspections as summer shipping and grazing ramp up.

Energy & Reliability: Power was restored for nearly 1,700 Black Hills Electric Co-Op customers after an outage hit Rapid City Saturday, with crews dispatched to determine the cause. Housing & Community Development: A Spearfish affordable housing project broke ground, adding 30 apartments (52 bedrooms) for income-qualifying residents, backed by low-interest gap financing and other public and private support. State Politics & Business Climate: South Dakota’s GOP governor primary is headed to a July runoff after Toby Doeden topped the field, setting up a new round of coalition-building that could affect the state’s policy direction. Consumer Protection: Attorney General Marty Jackley warned South Dakotans to watch for storm-repair scams, urging written quotes, contractor verification, and avoiding full upfront payments. Agriculture Risk: USDA confirmed New World screwworm in Texas, prompting South Dakota officials to urge ranchers to ramp up herd inspections during peak shipping and grazing season. Electricity Costs: A new national look at residential power prices shows South Dakota among states with double-digit year-over-year increases. Local Governance: Mitchell voters approved term limits for mayor and City Council, reshaping who can run in future elections. Education & Workforce: South Dakota Mines joined 605 Day to expand scholarship support for students. Public Trust & Scams: A fake “South Dakota history” Facebook page appears to be run from Bangladesh, highlighting ongoing online fraud risks.

Gubernatorial runoff politics: Former President Joe Biden headlined the South Dakota Democratic Party’s McGovern Day dinner in Sioux Falls, urging Democrats not to give up ahead of November and endorsing Dan Ahlers for governor, Julian Beaudion for U.S. Senate, and Nikki Gronli for the U.S. House. Storm-season consumer warning: South Dakota AG Marty Jackley cautioned residents about storm-repair scams, urging written quotes, contractor licensing checks, price comparisons, and avoiding full upfront payments. Runoff campaign dynamics: Reporting on the GOP governor nomination runoff says turnout could drop below the 42% level from Tuesday, with supporters of eliminated candidates weighing whether to back Toby Doeden or Larry Rhoden. Affordable housing push: Spearfish broke ground on Peak View II, a 30-unit affordable complex developed by Lloyd Companies, supported by low-interest gap financing and other public funding. Higher-ed fundraising: South Dakota Mines joined 605 Day to expand scholarships for South Dakota students. Cost-of-living data: A new map using EIA figures shows South Dakota’s residential electricity prices rose about 12.1% year over year, with electricity becoming a faster-rising household expense in many states. Local construction: A Sioux City-area firm won a $6.3 million contract for Municipal Park upgrades in Le Mars, including new tennis/pickleball courts and other amenities.

Affordable Housing: Black Hills Area Community Foundation broke ground in Spearfish on Peak View II, a 30-unit, 52-bedroom affordable complex backed by low-interest gap financing and congressionally directed support, with leaders citing persistently low vacancy in the Black Hills. Education & Workforce: South Dakota Mines is joining 605 Day to expand scholarship giving, while SDSU Extension is set to host free regional drought meetings June 17 across Hot Springs, Winner and Yankton with sessions on crops, economics and livestock management. Agriculture & Youth: South Dakota Farmers Union Senior Leadership State Camp is bringing teens to the Black Hills for hands-on ag leadership and cooperative career experience. Housing Finance: VA reported 295 home purchase loans in South Dakota in Q1 2026 totaling $101.5 million. Consumer Protection: The state AG is warning storm-repair scammers to verify licenses, get written quotes, avoid full upfront payment and watch for liens. Business & Legal: A $15 million lawsuit tied to Summit Carbon Solutions is moving toward trial in Delaware. Energy Costs: A new map shows residential electricity prices vary widely by state, underscoring cost-of-living pressure.

South Dakota Politics: Sixteen South Dakota GOP incumbents were ousted in the 2026 primary, a sharp shift that sets up a July 28 runoff for the governor’s nomination between Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden and Gov. Larry Rhoden. Runoff Watch: Doeden and Rhoden both fell short of the 35% threshold in the first round, with the winner to face Democrat Dan Ahlers in November. Legislative Recounts: Seven state legislative races were close enough to allow recounts; most losing candidates say a recount would be a waste, but one is still undecided. Election Integrity/Consumer Impact: Attorney General Marty Jackley is warning South Dakotans about home repair scams during storm season, urging residents to get estimates in writing and avoid paying in full upfront. Local Business & Community: A fire destroyed Pinz Bowling Center and Cafe in Dell Rapids, while Vermillion opened a sensory garden at a regional activity center. Workforce & Growth: Yesway reported strong inside sales growth in Q1 2026 despite higher fuel prices. Agriculture & Drought: SDSU Extension will host free regional drought meetings June 17 in Hot Springs, Winner and Yankton.