AGP Executive Report

Local Arts & Theater: “The Wizard of Oz” is headed to the Pipestone Performing Arts Center (PPAC) for two weekends starting June 18, with a live orchestra and a nod to a cut-from-the-film scene, “The Jitterbug.” Sports Spotlight (SDSU hoops): Jon Mekonnen, a 6-foot-8 forward from Colorado State, is bringing more athletic punch and versatility to the Jackrabbits after limited action last season. Track & Field Pride: Rapid City’s Simeon Birnbaum won the NCAA 1,500-meter title at Hayward Field, sprinting away in the final 200. Community & Culture: The Journey Museum in Rapid City hosted its second annual Summer Festival with free admission, hands-on STEM and cultural activities, and family-friendly tours. Rural Life Watch: South Dakota’s postal service strain is hitting hard, with residents in places like Philip weighing UPS options as USPS reduces rural delivery frequency. Food & Health Alert: The FDA upgraded an Alfredo sauce recall to its highest risk level after potential Salmonella contamination, affecting products sold in 41 states. High School Rodeo: New Underwood wrapped up regional rodeos, setting the stage for the South Dakota State Finals Rodeo in Fort Pierre starting Tuesday. Baseball Buzz: Rapid City’s Post 22 extended a hot streak with comeback wins over Casper, while Sioux Falls’ Canaries keep rolling through a homestand.

State Rodeo Finals: New Underwood’s regional champs are set for the South Dakota State Finals Rodeo, with Sophie Hruby and Cooper Conry taking top honors and Hadley Matt sweeping steer wrestling. Baseball Momentum: Rapid City’s Hardhats keep rolling—11 straight wins after two more victories over Casper Post 2, including a walk-off and a big second-inning burst. Legion & Amateur Scores: The Dakota Classic Legion Tournament and weekend baseball slate delivered plenty of action across Sioux Falls, including multiple high-scoring games and close finishes. Community Literacy Night: Mitchell’s Community Literacy Night (with author and former NFL player Malcolm Mitchell) pairs reading and local history with a South Dakota 250 flag-raising. Pride in the Park: Rapid City’s Pride in the Park returns with drag shows, indie music, and community resources from the Black Hills Center for Equality. Greenway Days Fun: Rapid City’s Greenway Days keeps going with charity disc golf (“Throw with Grace”) and a creek cleanup + one-fly fishing fundraiser. Food Safety Alert: The FDA upgraded an Alfredo sauce recall to its highest risk level, affecting 41 states due to possible Salmonella contamination. Protein Shortage Watch: Demand for whey protein is outpacing supply, pushing prices higher and squeezing availability for food makers and shoppers.

Protein Shortage: Whey protein demand is surging as more foods—from cereals to snacks to Starbucks-style drinks—add it, but dairy supply can’t keep up, pushing prices to record highs. FDA Recall: The FDA has upgraded an Alfredo sauce recall tied to bacterial contamination to a “highest risk” class, affecting 913 cases shipped across 41 states, including South Dakota. Levitt at the Falls: Sioux Falls’ free outdoor Levitt stage kept its laid-back summer vibe going with a full lawn and food-truck energy during Pride-season programming. Pride in the Park: Rapid City’s Pride in the Park returned with drag, indie music, and community resources, giving LGBTQ residents a visible, welcoming space. Greenway Days Charity: Rapid City’s “Throw with Grace” disc golf ace race raised money for Make-A-Wish, while volunteers also cleaned Rapid Creek and hosted a one-fly fishing fundraiser. America 250 Buzz: Rapid City is planning a Mount Rushmore fireworks livestream watch party as ticket demand far outpaced availability.

Charity & Community Sports: Rapid City’s Greenway Days kept rolling with “Throw with Grace,” a disc golf ace-race fundraiser for Make-A-Wish that’s raised more than $40,000 over five years, with the Black Hills Disc Golf Club and local partners helping tie the fun to the 1972 flood legacy. Pride & Live Entertainment: Pride in the Park returned to Memorial Park in Rapid City, bringing vendors, indie music, belly dancers, and drag shows to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month and build a safer local space. America 250 Watch Party: Rapid City is adding a Mount Rushmore fireworks livestream watch party to its Real America Birthday Bash on July 3, with local performances and a big fireworks broadcast after Main Street Square events. Local Baseball Buzz: Sioux Falls-area Legion action featured Yankton bouncing back in the Dakota Classic, while the Hardhats kept momentum with a dominant doubleheader sweep over Casper. Sports Spotlight: Rapid City’s own Simeon Birnbaum won the NCAA 1500m title, capping a record-setting season.

Sioux Falls Mayoral Debate: Christine Erickson and Jamie Smith face off in a 60-minute public forum today at Carnegie Town Hall, with partners including the Sioux Falls Arts Council and League of Women Voters shaping the questions. Outdoor & Fitness Events: The Sioux Falls Marathon returns Sept. 20 with 5K, half and full options, plus a “TEAMBERT26” promo for 15% off—while Rapid City’s Rushmore Swim Team hosts the Coach Beth Rushmore Classic Swim Meet through Sunday. Community Arts & Culture: RiseFest in Sheldon is pushing for a record-breaking crowd, with Phil Wickham headlining Saturday and gates opening at 11 a.m. STEM for Kids: South Dakota Mines is running summer camps in Rapid City, from glass blowing and metalworking to 3D printing and aviation. Local Entertainment & Sports: Yankton and Pierre both posted wins in the Dakota Classic American Legion Baseball Tournament in Sioux Falls, keeping the summer sports calendar packed. Weather & Safety: Aberdeen and other South Dakota cities report weather-siren trouble, with officials working through repairs and upgrades.

Local Sports & Community: The Coach Beth Rushmore Classic Swim Meet is underway at Roosevelt Swim Center in Rapid City, drawing hundreds of regional swimmers through Sunday (sessions at 9 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.). Track & Field Spotlight: Rapid City’s Simeon Birnbaum won the NCAA outdoor national title in the 1500m in Eugene, finishing in 3:36.05. Arts & Culture: The South Dakota Humanities Council’s 2026 One Book South Dakota tour brings author Matthew Davis (“A Biography of a Mountain”) to Yankton, Sioux Falls, Eagle Butte, Pierre, Custer, Rapid City and Pine Ridge late June. Music & Performance: Homestake Opera House is lining up another summer of music and local performances in Rapid City. Civic Life (Sioux Falls): Christine Erickson and Jamie Smith face off in a public mayoral debate today at Carnegie Town Hall, with multiple community groups shaping the questions. STEM Fun: South Dakota Mines is offering summer camps in Rapid City, including glass blowing, metalworking, 3D printing and aviation.

Local Arts & Community: Artmobile is back on the road in Worthington, powered by volunteers and grants, with “Rockin’ America: 250 years” projects and stops like Westbrook Days and YMCA Day Camp. Theater: Vermillion Community Theatre launches tickets for Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” on June 13, with performances in July. Literary Events: South Dakota Humanities Council’s One Book South Dakota tour brings author Matthew Davis (“A Biography of a Mountain”) to Yankton, Sioux Falls, Eagle Butte, Pierre, Custer, Rapid City and Pine Ridge late June. Music & Culture: The Noteables reunite for “The Final Encore” at Le Mars’ Primebank Ice Cream Social June 18. Family Fun: South Dakota libraries kick off the Summer Library Program theme “Unearth a Story,” with dinosaur-and-archaeology activities statewide. Zoo Watch: Great Plains Zoo is previewing major giraffe habitat improvements, including closer viewing near the splash pad. Sports Spotlight: South Dakota State transfer Troy Spratley and Bennett Berge win gold at U23 Pan-American Championships; Amanda and Hana Moll trade places at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Community Theater: Vermillion Community Theatre says tickets for Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” go on sale June 13 at 9 a.m., with performances July 10, 11, 12 (2 p.m.), and 13 at 7 p.m. Summer Learning: South Dakota’s Summer Library Program kicks off with “Unearth a Story,” inviting kids and families to explore dinosaurs, paleontology, and archaeology through local library events. Music Education: Rapid City’s Discovery of Strings brings free music lessons to General Beadle Elementary, using playful “strings” lessons (unicorns and lollipops included) and bringing in professional musicians. Local Events: Rapid City’s Greenway Days returns as a free, community weekend of outdoor fun and live music, centered on Founders Park. Arts & Culture Spotlight: Lyrical Limelight joins The Dakota Scout as curator for The Scout’s Lounge, boosting local music and arts coverage. Family Fun: Leap to Lane hits Lane on June 20 with vintage military vehicles, live music, and a big lineup of shows and activities. Sports Brief: The Rapid City Sliders 18U swept Glendive, improving to 4-0.

National Intelligence Shake-Up: Trump’s acting DNI pick Bill Pulte is drawing bipartisan fire over his lack of intelligence experience, while Trump also announced U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton as a new DNI nominee amid renewed pressure over FISA Section 702. South Dakota Politics: Former Sioux Falls mayor Toby Doeden and Gov. Larry Rhoden are set for a July 28 GOP runoff after Doeden led the primary; the race is already framed as a “mini-Trump” style contest. Arts & Community: Sheldon High School Summer Theatre brings “Murder on the Rerun,” a comedic murder mystery built around movie references and a ghost-led whodunit. Local Culture Spotlight: Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation awarded $386,700 in scholarships to 106 students, backing the next wave of South Dakota talent. Healthcare Creativity Wins: PatientX Agency’s pediatric hospital coloring book project earned a Silver Aster Award, recognized among the top 12% nationwide. Big Local News: South Dakota approved a nearly $30M reinvestment incentive for Smithfield’s $1.29B Sioux Falls packaged meats facility. Science With SD Ties: Researchers studying underground life used the Homestake Mine/Sanford Underground Research Facility to show microbes form stable “workforces” underground. Sports: Sioux Falls-area fans got a reminder of summer excitement with a wild Brookings chase story and ongoing local baseball action.

High School Sports: Dawson-Boyd’s girls golf team won its third straight Class A state title, finishing 26 strokes ahead at Pebble Creek Golf Club. All-State Softball: McCook Central/Montrose’s historic season earned four players spots on the Class B all-state team. Special Olympics Spotlight: Sioux Falls swimmer John McHale is set to compete for Team South Dakota at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in the Twin Cities. Local Arts & Community Events: Yankton’s “No Kings” hosts a sign-making event and a Rise Up gathering with live music and speakers. History & Culture: Sturgis & Meade County History Day returns with a schools-focused theme, plus tours and an ice cream social. Music & Entertainment: Rapid City’s Jon Crane marks 50 years as a watercolor artist, known for detailed Black Hills and Great Plains scenes. Radio/Media Legal: ASCAP sues four radio groups, including a South Dakota station, over alleged unlicensed music use. Sports Watch Parties: Sioux Falls’ American Outlaws chapter is hosting a World Cup watch party at kRav’N. Fair Updates: Sioux Empire Fair plans upgrades aimed at safety and a better visitor experience ahead of its July run.

Local Arts Spotlight: Black Hills watercolor artist Jon Crane is marking 50 years of painting, known for detailed works of rural America and the region’s landscapes. Music & Culture: SDPB mourns the loss of longtime radio host Karl Gehrke, a fixture for more than three decades and the longtime face of Jazz Nightly. Live Entertainment: Rapid City Municipal Band kicks off its 108th season of free summer concerts at Memorial Park, with a special July 4 patriotic set. Community Events: Fort Sisseton Historical Festival drew about 11,000 visitors and featured Lakota crafts, hoop dancing, and a big barrel race. Food Fun: Watertown Brewing Co. has new co-owners—Michael Heuer and chef Shawn Lindsey—aiming to make the brewery’s dining feel more approachable. Sports Buzz: Dell Rapids Mudcats and Renner Monarchs top the first 2026 South Dakota amateur baseball poll. Weekend Picks: Yankton’s June lineup is packed with Ribfest/Chislic Fest, Homestead Day, and Young Eagles at the airport.

Local Sports Spotlight: Mitchell’s Asher Dannenbring closed strong with an eagle and a 69 Tuesday to win the Sanford International Series in Yankton, finishing 2 shots ahead of Carter Peterson and Charlie Swift. Youth Baseball: Palace City Post 18 Junior Legion swept Yankton Blacksox 16U with a 10-0 opener and a 21-6 nightcap at Cadwell Park. USD Athletics: New Coyotes softball coach Shannon Pivovar talked about the move to Vermillion and why she wants the game to be fun for her players. Music & Community: Rapid City Municipal Band kicks off its 108th season of free Wednesday concerts at Memorial Park Bandshell, with a July 4 America 250 patriotic set. Arts/Entertainment Legal News: ASCAP filed infringement suits against four radio groups, including Haugo Broadcasting in South Dakota, alleging unlicensed use of members’ music. Weekend Plans (Yankton): Ribfest expands at Riverside Park and adds a Yankton Chislic Fest, plus a kids zone, craft fair, and more. Internet Safety: A Rapid City nonprofit is urging parents to watch for online dangers beyond social media, especially in interactive gaming. Sturgis Music: Halestorm is set to rock the Buffalo Chip during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally on Aug. 12.

VA Benefits Open House: Davison County Veterans Service Office in Mitchell is hosting a 5-7 p.m. open house Tuesday at 1420 N. Main St. to walk veterans through PACT Act updates and other VA eligibility changes, with the 147th Army Band and a kid-friendly Humvee/wrecker tour plus a mobile Vet Center clinic for PTSD support. Music on the Road: Robert Plant and Saving Grace are adding a fall U.S. leg (“Up the Sharp End”) with 16 dates starting Sept. 18 in St. Louis, including stops in Santa Fe, San Diego, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Chicago. Local Arts & Events: Sioux Falls’ concert calendar keeps expanding, while Le Mars’ Municipal Band brings “Under the Stars” (free) to Foster Park Carousel June 10 with space-themed selections from Star Trek to Doctor Who. Scholarship Spotlight: Dr. Yorell Manon-Matos has opened 2027 applications for a healthcare scholarship in Sioux Falls, supporting students across nursing, medicine, dental, pharmacy, public health and allied health. Community Support After Fire: Dell Rapids’ PINZ bowling alley is a total loss after a June 4 fire, but the town is rallying with messages of support for owner Casey McCoy and staff. Weather Watch: Severe storms are possible tonight around Sioux Falls with large hail and damaging straight-line winds, and isolated tornadoes can’t be ruled out.

Riverboat Days Music: Yankton’s Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival lines up headliners The Dweebs (family party), Minority Falls, Lakeview, Blake Proehl, Ken K and The Dead Cowboys for Aug. 21-23 at Riverside Park. Sioux Falls Art: The new Carver Gallery at City Hall opens with a juried show of local artists, with Breanna Fischer’s “Lighthouse” selected for purchase and display. Local Arts Grants: The South Dakota Arts Council awards six $5,000 grants for community arts projects tied to America’s 250th anniversary. Community Support: Emily’s Hope expands its Post-Overdose Response Team to Brown County, offering free, confidential help for overdose survivors and follow-up for up to a year. Sports Spotlight: Sioux Falls Jefferson finishes softball state run with a 23-0 season and another title; Castlewood also repeats as Class B champ. History in Rapid City: City Hall sets up exhibits marking the 54th anniversary of the 1972 Rapid City Flood. Sports & Community Events: Scheels Rushmore Soccer Cup returns June 12-14 in Rapid City, and the South Dakota Football Coaches Association Senior Bowl wraps up with Team Blue’s 14-8 win.

South Dakota Arts Council Grants: Six South Dakota arts and culture projects just landed $5,000 grants, with themes tied to the U.S. 250th anniversary—think free public concerts, community celebrations, and patriotic programming across the state. Community Reading Push: St. Joseph’s Indian School’s bookmobile is heading to Watertown (June 16 at McKinney Park) and Sisseton (June 17 at Teals Market and Dakota Sioux Casino), bringing free books by Native authors to families. Music & Local Talent: Country star Zach Top keeps the momentum going with a standout acoustic “Amarillo By Morning” performance, while South Dakota’s own live-music scene stays busy with events like Rock Steady Boxing 5K (June 10). Sports Spotlight: South Dakota’s spring season standouts are in the spotlight in the Athlete of the Week poll, and state softball champs were crowned—Dakota Valley took Class A, and Gayville-Volin won third in Class B. Weather Watch: Sioux Falls-area heat is climbing into the low 90s Tuesday and Wednesday, with severe storm potential flagged for eastern South Dakota.

High School Sports Spotlight: Sioux Falls Jefferson rolled to a dominant 11-0 Class AA softball state title win over Sioux Falls Washington, finishing 23-0 and proving they’re built for repeat runs. State Softball (Class A): Dakota Valley captured the Class A championship with a 9-6 win over Elk Point-Jefferson after jumping out to a 9-1 lead. State Softball (Class B): Castlewood took the Class B crown, beating McCook Central/Montrose 9-2 and ending the season 21-4. Local Rodeo & Community: The Wall regional high school rodeo kicked off the road to the State Rodeo Finals, with events running through Sunday. Arts & Culture: “Violins of Hope” brought restored Holocaust-era instruments and original poetry to Sioux Falls at Augustana University—music as remembrance and bridge-building. Juneteenth in Rapid City: A free Juneteenth celebration at the Performing Arts Center features displays, a community quilt square, and a Historic Theater performance. Sports & Community Events: Sioux Falls Curling’s “Siouxperspiel” returns with 32 teams and 128 participants, aiming to grow the sport locally.