Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity: Federal officials warn that malicious hackers have been tampering with internet-connected water and wastewater control systems in at least seven states, including South Dakota, after incidents caused pressure loss and flooding; the FBI and EPA urge utilities to pull exposed control equipment off public internet and tighten protections. Energy & Grid Reliability: The U.S. Department of Energy authorized extra electrical generation for the Southwest Power Pool during extreme heat, allowing backup power dispatch for data centers and other large industrial sites as a last resort. Rare Minerals Research: South Dakota Mines won a $3.1M ARPA-E grant to speed up locating rare earth and critical minerals using advanced sensing plus AI mapping, partnering with University of Oklahoma, New Mexico Tech, and Dakota Gold for field testing near Lead. Agriculture Policy: The Senate Ag Committee released updated “Farm Bill 2.0” text that includes year-round E15 sales, a provision South Dakota lawmakers are highlighting for producers and rural communities. Local Industry & Workforce: SDSU announced spring 2026 graduates, including engineering and agriculture/food/environmental sciences degrees, underscoring the pipeline for South Dakota’s technical workforce. Community & Safety: Sioux Falls detailed upcoming road construction starting Aug. 3, with lane closures and sewer work affecting travel in the industrial park area.