Hunger Relief: Feeding South Dakota says food insecurity is rising, with 130,340 people in the state affected (including 1 in 5 children), and it’s teaming up with First Interstate Bank for September donation matching plus a volunteer-a-thon in Pierre, Rapid City and Sioux Falls. City Finance: Yankton approved a 2027 budget ordinance topping $62M, down from $93M in 2025 and $72M in 2026, with the wastewater treatment project driving past spending. AI Policy: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox urged Congress to set a national “frontier AI” framework with safety reporting, independent evaluations, and protections for whistleblowers. Agriculture & Research: SDSU expanded its swine education and research facility by 50% with a $1.8M addition, boosting wean-to-finish capacity for more trials. Workforce Pipeline: South Dakota Mines hosts a Fall Career Fair Sept. 15 with 230+ employers recruiting for science, engineering and tech roles. Animal Health: H5N1 avian flu was confirmed in commercial poultry across South Dakota and neighboring states, including an Edmunds County breeding operation. Outdoor Economy: Tourism leaders warn federal funding cuts could hurt Black Hills parks and visitor infrastructure, threatening a tourism industry worth billions. Energy & Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reports show E85, diesel and regular prices shifting across counties in the week ending Sept. 5, with several counties seeing single-station “lowest” deals. Public Lands & Water: Federal proposals could narrow Clean Water Act protections and affect Swampbuster mapping, raising alarms for prairie potholes and waterfowl habitat.