AGP Executive Report

Dark Matter Watch: Physicists at Sanford Underground Research Facility report an odd, single-event “hint” from the LZ xenon detector—careful not to call it a discovery, but it’s fueling fresh excitement about finally seeing dark matter. Suicide Prevention: On 988 Day, South Dakota highlights the 988 lifeline’s growing call volume and the push to make the number easier to remember and use. STEM & Workforce Training: Lake Area Technical College launches a new Dental Hygiene associate degree (initially accredited), aiming to ease a statewide hygienist shortage. Higher Ed Outcomes: New federal data show South Dakota’s six-year bachelor’s completion rate for Hispanic/Latino students (2018 entrants) at 41.1% by 2024, with other group-by-group county figures also reported. AI Datacenters: Meta and Panmnesia propose a datacenter-as-a-single-chip architecture to reduce delays as AI systems scale. Local Development: Watertown’s Benedictine Sisters plan major “Village at Harmony Hill” upgrades—housing, childcare, a NASA-affiliated STEM learning center, and more. Space Weather: NOAA says auroras could be visible across parts of 11 states before dawn Tuesday as minor storms are possible. Agriculture Research: Sunflower rotations are showing promise for soil health and more stable corn yields in South Dakota trials.

Dark Matter Research: Scientists at Sanford Underground Research Facility report a puzzling, single-event signal from the LZ experiment that could be a first hint of a dark matter interaction, though it’s not yet a confirmed discovery. Space Weather: NOAA warns the northern lights may be visible across 11 states before dawn Tuesday as coronal mass ejections could spark minor G1 geomagnetic storms. Agriculture & Soil Science: South Dakota researchers say adding sunflowers to a corn-soybean rotation can improve soil structure and help stabilize yields in dry years, based on long-running field trials near Brookings. Public Safety Tech: License plate reader cameras helped track down an Arizona man accused of abducting a Wyoming teen; authorities say the stop happened within an hour of the alert. Education Outcomes: New data show South Dakota’s six-year bachelor’s completion rate for white students (entered 2018) is 59.5% by 2024, with county-by-county gaps also reported. Local Innovation: Watertown’s Benedictine Sisters are transforming their 500-acre monastery into “The Village at Harmony Hill,” adding housing, education, health care, and a NASA-affiliated learning center. Policy Watch: South Dakota retailers question the state’s effort to ban soft drinks from SNAP, arguing the definition could be hard to administer.

Dark Matter Watch: Physicists running the LZ detector in South Dakota’s Sanford Underground Research Facility report an unusual single interaction (2.6-sigma) that could hint at dark matter—or something stranger—after analyzing data from 2023–2024. Rural Broadband: Federal guidance delays are holding up about $21B for rural internet projects under the BEAD program, leaving states waiting on how they can spend the money. Agriculture & Soil Science: USDA researchers say adding sunflowers to a corn-soybean rotation can improve soil structure and boost corn yields in dry years, with cover crops also supporting pollinators. Local Tech & Privacy: Rapid City leaders are moving to tighten local rules around data centers and air-permit transparency, as EPA changes spark debate over community input. Education & AI: SDSU is set to host an annual AI Symposium tied to the South Dakota Biomedical Computation Consortium, highlighting growing regional AI research capacity. Community Health & Housing: In Watertown, Benedictine sisters are transforming a 500-acre monastery into a “Village at Harmony Hill” with housing, child care, health care, and a NASA-affiliated learning center. Public Services: Mary Lopez begins as the new Watertown Public Library director, emphasizing outreach and “something for everyone.”

Dark Matter Watch: Physicists running the LUX-ZEPLIN detector in a South Dakota gold mine reported an unusual, unexplained particle interaction—too odd to match known backgrounds, but not yet a confirmed dark matter discovery. AI & Water Tension: A Rapid City debate is heating up over EPA rules that would reduce public input on air permits for data centers, as locals cite concerns about water use, sewer impacts, electricity demand, and noise. Soil & Farming Innovation: USDA researchers near Brookings say adding sunflowers and small grains to corn-soybean rotations can boost soil health and raise corn yields in dry years, with cover crops also supporting bees. Mental Health in Motion: Out of the Darkness suicide prevention walks are set for Aberdeen, Belle Fourche, and Sioux Falls, raising funds for research, education, and support. Local Life & Learning: Connect Me tutoring expands free one-on-one online help for K-8 students, reaching learners across the U.S. and abroad. Education Metrics: New county-by-county six-year bachelor’s completion figures highlight graduation gaps for Hispanic/Latino and multi-race students at South Dakota public four-year schools.

Dark Matter Watch: Physicists at the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment in South Dakota’s Black Hills reported an unusual underground particle interaction that doesn’t match known backgrounds, keeping the hunt for dark matter very much alive. Ag & Soil Science: USDA researchers say adding sunflowers and small grains to corn-soybean rotations can boost soil health and, in dry years, raise corn yields by about 35% while cover crops also support pollinators. Local Tech Policy: Rapid City is pushing back on a proposed EPA change that would reduce public notice for air permits tied to data centers, with city leaders weighing new local rules and hearings. Public Health & Safety: Anthrax has been confirmed in a Meade County cattle herd, triggering quarantine and vaccination steps after lab confirmation. STEM Education: SDSU is set to host an annual AI Symposium with the South Dakota Biomedical Computation Consortium, highlighting growing regional AI research and training. Community Learning: Sioux Falls’ Connect Me offers free one-on-one online tutoring for grades K-8, expanding access beyond the classroom.

Dark Matter Search in the Black Hills: Physicists running LUX-ZEPLIN, deep in a South Dakota gold mine, report a rare, unexplained xenon interaction that doesn’t match known backgrounds—an intriguing “maybe” signal, not a confirmed discovery. Agriculture & Soil Health: USDA researchers say adding sunflowers and small grains to corn-soybean rotations can boost soil structure and yields in dry years, with cover crops also improving pollinators. Local Tech & Environment: Rapid City leaders are pushing back on a proposed EPA change that could reduce public input on air permits for data centers, as residents weigh water, sewer, noise, and local control. Public Safety Tech: South Dakota law enforcement used license plate reader technology to help recover an abducted Wyoming teen on I-90. Health & Training: Mitchell Tech launched the MTC Cancer Fund to support cancer patients in the school community, while Avera Academy gives Mitchell seniors early, credit-earning healthcare career exposure. Disease Watch: Anthrax has been confirmed in a Meade County cattle herd, triggering quarantine and vaccination steps.

Dark Matter Breakthrough at Sanford Underground Research Facility: Physicists running the LZ Dark Matter Experiment in South Dakota report a single, unexplained particle interaction that doesn’t match known subatomic processes—careful not to call it confirmed dark matter yet. Driver Licensing Security Upgrade: South Dakota begins rolling out a new driver’s license and ID design with stronger anti-fraud and identity-theft features, issued at exam stations during September as renewals and new applications happen. Public Health & Safety Tech: South Dakota law enforcement used license plate reader technology to help recover an abducted Wyoming teen on I-90, highlighting how surveillance tools are being credited in real cases. Agriculture Science & Risk: Anthrax has been confirmed in a Meade County cattle herd, triggering quarantine and vaccination steps after the disease was detected from samples. STEM in the Classroom: SDSU and regional partners continue expanding AI-focused education and symposium efforts, while local schools and colleges are building hands-on health care and tech pathways for students. Local Learning Access: Connect Me tutoring keeps offering free one-on-one online help for K-8 students nationwide.

Agriculture Research: USDA’s North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory near Brookings reports a long-running no-till rotation—corn, soybeans, spring wheat, then sunflowers—boosts soil health via more active soil microbes and better water-stable soil structure. Public Safety Tech: Summerset residents are pushing back on Flock Safety license-plate reader cameras, raising privacy and constitutional concerns as the system expands. Driver Licensing Security: South Dakota is rolling out a new driver’s license and ID design with updated security features and improved readability, issued at exam stations throughout September. Health & Learning Tech: Sioux Falls-based Connect Me offers free one-on-one online tutoring for K-8 students, reaching learners across the U.S. and abroad. STEM in Education: Mitchell High School seniors begin health-care exploration through the new Avera Academy partnership, earning college credit while shadowing departments. Biosecurity: Anthrax has been confirmed in a Meade County cattle herd, triggering quarantine and vaccination steps. AI & Cybersecurity: OpenAI says it will provide subsidized access to its Daybreak cyber model for water utilities and local governments, aiming to strengthen defenses after recent water-system attacks. Dark Matter Watch: Multiple reports highlight new underground detector results that may show a rare, unexplained signal in the hunt for dark matter.

Driver Licensing Security Upgrade: South Dakota is rolling out a new-look driver’s license and ID card with updated security tech and a refreshed layout for easier reading by residents and law enforcement, with exam stations issuing the new design throughout September and current cards staying valid until they expire. Dark Matter Hunt in Black Hills: The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) underground detector in South Dakota reported its most compelling dark-matter candidate signal yet—an unexplained event from two years of data that still falls short of a discovery threshold, but could point to a WIMP interaction. AI in South Dakota: USD will host its annual AI Symposium and the South Dakota Biomedical Computation Consortium, bringing together researchers and industry to focus on practical AI in areas like healthcare and biomedical computing. Privacy vs. Public Safety: Summerset residents are pushing back on Flock Safety Flock cameras/ALPR surveillance, questioning how data is collected, stored, and shared. Education & Outcomes: Brookings County’s six-year bachelor’s completion rate for white students (entering 2018, measured through 2024) is reported at 63.1%, slightly above the statewide figure. Campus Heat Impacts: Rapid City schools say summer heat is hurting learning, with some elementary buildings hit hardest.

Dark Matter Research: Physicists at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota say the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) detector recorded a single, hard-to-explain particle interaction that’s the experiment’s most compelling hint yet—but it’s not a confirmed discovery and may still have a more ordinary cause. Public Safety Tech: South Dakota is rolling out a new driver’s license and ID design with updated security features to fight fraud and identity theft, with new cards issued at exam stations throughout September. Livestock Health: South Dakota confirmed its first anthrax case in cattle this year in Meade County, quarantining the herd and vaccinating adult cattle after likely exposure while grazing elsewhere. Education & Workforce: SDSU is expanding AI training with new degrees in AI Engineering and a Center for AI Innovation and Emergent Technologies aimed at AI literacy and ethics. Local Tech Policy: South Dakota lawmakers are considering rules for automatic license plate reader cameras after privacy concerns and debate over data retention and transparency. Community Literacy: Rapid City schools received Promising Futures Fund support to give students free books to take home and read offline.

AI in Education: SDSU launched new AI Engineering degrees (bachelor’s through PhD) and opened a Center for AI Innovation and Emergent Technologies to boost AI literacy and ethics across campus. Dark Matter Watch: Physicists at the Sanford Underground Research Facility’s LUX-ZEPLIN experiment reported a single, unexplained underground event that could be a dark matter candidate, but they’re still treating it as a “maybe” pending more data. Privacy vs. Policing Tech: South Dakota lawmakers and the attorney general are weighing limits on automatic license plate reader cameras after local pushback and privacy concerns, even as the tools are credited with helping solve serious crimes. Local Tech & Research Events: USD will host an annual AI Symposium alongside the South Dakota Biomedical Computation Consortium, bringing together researchers and industry on AI for medicine and healthcare. Agriculture Under Stress: With drought hitting proso millet, growers are being urged to segregate higher-quality grain and follow new food-grade standards to capture better prices. State Policy & Budgets: Lawmakers endorsed increases for the Legislative Research Council to cover rising legislator pay and per diem.

Dark Matter Watch: Physicists at Sanford Underground Research Facility in the Black Hills say the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) detector recorded a single, unexplained particle interaction in liquid xenon—its “most compelling hint yet,” but not a confirmed discovery. AI in South Dakota: USD will host its eighth annual AI Symposium (Sept. 8) and the South Dakota Biomedical Computation Consortium (Sept. 9), bringing together researchers from across the state to discuss AI, healthcare computing, and emerging tech. Privacy vs. Tech Policing: South Dakota’s use of automated license plate readers is under fresh scrutiny as Minnehaha County weighs Flock Safety contract concerns and the attorney general drafts limits on ALPR use. Public Safety Tech in Action: License-plate-reader tracking helped recover a 15-year-old abducted from Wyoming after a rapid stop on I-90 near Plankinton, leading to an arrest. Energy & Infrastructure Debate: A proposed 765 kV transmission line project in Pipestone County is drawing landowner questions as officials weigh grid reliability against local impacts. Defense Tech: AeroVironment won a major U.S. Army directed-energy laser production contract for LOCUST systems. STEM & Workforce: SDSU opened a Center for AI Innovation and Emergent Technologies to boost AI literacy across majors.

Dark Matter Watch: LUX-ZEPLIN at Sanford Underground Research Facility in the Black Hills reported its “most compelling hint” yet—one puzzling particle interaction that doesn’t match known background signals. It’s not a confirmed discovery and needs more data, but it’s drawing major attention from the physics community. AI in Education: South Dakota State University launched a Center for AI Innovation and Emergent Technologies to help students across majors learn practical, ethical AI use and avoid common pitfalls. SNAP Soda Fight: South Dakota submitted a federal waiver request to ban soft-drink purchases with SNAP benefits, after a court decision vacated similar bans elsewhere—potentially putting the state on the hook for ongoing costs if approved. Public Safety Tech: Attorney General Marty Jackley credited license plate reader technology in a case that led to the arrest of a suspect accused of kidnapping a 15-year-old. Local STEM & Learning: Homeschooling and back-to-school changes are getting attention across the region, including new school upgrades and hands-on learning spaces like FACS classrooms.

Dark Matter Watch: Scientists at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota report the “most compelling hint” yet from the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment—an unusual single interaction that fits a possible WIMP dark matter pattern, but still falls short of what’s needed to call it a confirmed discovery. Local Climate & Waste Tech: Rapid City is moving toward a deal with Dakota Biochar to turn historic wood waste into biochar, aiming to extend landfill life after a major 2025 windstorm. Public Safety Tech Debate: Minnehaha County commissioners stalled a vote on ending Flock license plate readers, with residents pushing privacy concerns and others asking for more legal review. State Law Enforcement Update: South Dakota AG Marty Jackley says license plate reader tech helped locate and arrest a suspect in a Wyoming youth abduction case, recovering the teen within about an hour. South Dakota STEM & Growth: SDSU library dean Kristi Tornquist announced retirement after leading major tech and access upgrades, while a separate report highlights South Dakota’s population growth outpacing the national average.

Dark Matter Hunt in the Black Hills: LZ researchers at Sanford Underground Research Facility report a single, hard-to-explain particle interaction that could be a first hint of dark matter, but they’re not calling it a detection yet. FEMA Resilience Funding: South Dakota communities and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe are set to receive $6.6M+ for disaster recovery and future-proofing, including fire-code modernization in Rapid City and storm-damaged embankment repairs. Cybersecurity for Water Systems: CISA says coordinated attacks tied to internet-exposed control devices hit 100+ water systems nationwide, with South Dakota among the affected states—though officials say there’s no contamination risk. SNAP Soft-Drink Ban Moves Forward: South Dakota filed for a federal waiver to block soft drinks from being bought with SNAP benefits after a court ruling disrupted similar bans elsewhere. Agriculture & STEM on the Ground: SDSU Extension hosts a Specialty Crop Field Day in Brookings, and SDSU dedicated an “HOPE” sculpture honoring wheat breeder Edgar S. McFadden. Weather Watch: Today brings scattered showers and isolated storms with a marginal-to-slight severe risk.

FEMA Funding Boost: South Dakota communities and tribal governments are set to receive more than $6.6 million for disaster recovery and resilience, including Rapid City fire-code updates and water and road repairs for Walworth County and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Food Assistance Policy: The state is asking the USDA for approval to bar SNAP purchases of soft drinks, after a court ruling disrupted similar bans in other states; the ban would start six months after federal approval. Weather & Ranch Impacts: Western SD ranchers are bracing for a likely El Niño winter, with some planning to sell about 20% of their herds due to dry conditions. Public Safety & Drugs: Rapid City narcotics officers warn of a rise in pure fentanyl powder and high-tech trafficking trends, urging residents not to handle suspicious powders. STEM & Agriculture: SDSU Extension will host a Specialty Crop Field Day in Brookings (Sept. 15) with tours of research plots and practical guidance for growers. Infrastructure: The Transportation Commission approved about $3.5 million for 40 local bridge projects, including design and engineering work across multiple counties. Health Tech Oversight: Sanford Health’s planned acquisition of North Memorial Health moves forward after a 10-year oversight agreement with Minnesota’s attorney general. Cybersecurity & Grid Security: A new federal push targets foreign equipment in the electric grid to reduce risks from malicious cyberattacks.