SDSU Alumni Spotlight: South Dakota State University named its 2026 Distinguished Alumni, including Brookings, Pierre, Sioux Falls and other area leaders with backgrounds spanning electrical engineering consulting, finance, and pharmacy. Farm Policy & Food Assistance: The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee stalled the farm bill over a fight tied to SNAP cost-sharing rules, with Democrats pushing for a two-year extension and Republicans offering a one-year compromise plus emergency food funding. STEM Mentoring Expansion: Mystic Aquarium won a $4 million federal grant to scale its conservation-based STEM mentoring program across more than 25 states and territories. USDA “Farmers First” Listening Tour: USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced new steps on data modernization, payment flexibility and crop insurance, with a South Dakota listening session planned during Dakotafest in Mitchell. Local Infrastructure Risk: Fort Pierre officials and stakeholders met on a sliding hillside near the Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center, weighing safety steps and possible mitigation as the slide has moved about 7.5 feet laterally. Energy & Grid Planning: South Dakota utilities filed major planning reports showing over $1 billion in generation, storage, substations and transmission work—signaling big demand expectations tied to industrial customers. Cybersecurity for Water Systems: A national report highlights water-system cyberattacks and the weak security of internet-connected industrial controls, underscoring the need for upgrades across small utilities. Fuel Prices Watch: GasBuddy price checks show weekly lows and county-by-county variation across South Dakota, with regular and diesel prices generally easing from spring highs.