AGP Executive Report

South Dakota Pageants: Kianna Healy of Hartford was crowned Miss South Dakota 2026, winning a $13,000 scholarship and set to represent the state at Miss America in September; Evian Johnson of Brookings took home Miss South Dakota’s Teen 2026 with a lyrical “Speechless” (Aladdin) performance and a dyslexia-focused “Use Your Power” initiative. Community & Service: DSU students teamed up with Lifescape for Go Baby Go! to customize an electric ride-on for a child with mobility challenges, adding accessibility features like custom steering and handrail supports. Music Scene: The South Dakota Rock & Rollers Hall of Fame announced its 2026 inductees, spanning bands, DJs, production, festivals, and lifetime honors, with the induction ceremony and concert set for Oct. 24 in Sioux Falls. Sports (Local): Rapid City’s Black Hills Veterans Classic kicked off with wins for Post 22 and the Hardhats, plus a comeback victory for Post 320 in pool play. Travel Culture: June 5 marks Forever 605 Day, encouraging South Dakotans and visitors to support local businesses, explore beyond landmarks, honor culture, and preserve the outdoors.

Music Spotlight: The South Dakota Rock & Rollers Hall of Fame announced its 2026 class, with inductees spanning bands, DJs, production and lifetime achievement; the ceremony lands Oct. 24 at The District in Sioux Falls. Live Shows: The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band brings its farewell tour to Rapid City on June 7 at The Monument. Community Arts: Levitt at the Falls reopens after its Sweetman Atrium expansion, kicking off a free summer concert season with youth and roots-rock talent. Local Festivals: Sturgis hosts its 6th annual Art Festival and ArtWalk on June 6, plus a Battle of the Bands and new downtown sculptures. Sports & Entertainment Crossover: Sioux Falls mayoral politics heads to a runoff, while South Dakota high school softball state tournaments delivered big opening-round drama, including Elk Point-Jefferson’s upset and Hanson’s walk-off thriller. Feel-Good Local: Vermillion unveiled a Sensory Garden at SESDAC—an outdoor calm space for the whole community.

Sioux Falls Downtown Music: The AMPT (Arts, Music & Performance Theatre) Summer Concert Series is back with 39 free midday shows downtown through Aug. 29, featuring regional acts every Thursday/Friday/Saturday at Cherapa Place, Lloyd Landing, and Phillips Avenue Plaza. Native Arts & Film: “Nine Little Indians,” a documentary about abuse at a South Dakota Native boarding school, premiered at Lincoln Center in New York with Native-made regalia and plans for South Dakota screenings later this year. Health Equity Spotlight: A new report says Native Americans in South Dakota face some of the nation’s largest health gaps, including far higher premature death rates than white South Dakotans. Sports Leadership & Local Buzz: USD softball promoted associate coach Shannon Pivovar to head coach after Robert Wagner’s contract wasn’t renewed, with plenty of attention following her emotional NCAA Tournament moment. Northern Lights Watch: Forecasters are tracking a potential G3–G4 aurora event over June 4–5, with moonlight possibly affecting visibility. Community Events: Rapid City is temporarily removing yard waste and recycling containers near Fitzgerald Stadium for the Veterans Classic parking surge June 4–7. Music Tour Stop: Zach Top’s “Cold Beer & Country Music” tour adds a Des Moines date Oct. 8, with Sioux Falls listed among other Midwest stops.

Rapid City Entertainment: iSmash opens in Historic Downtown Rapid City on June 6, bringing Rage Rooms, Splatter Paint, axe throwing, Smash Alley, and a sports simulator to 625 Main St. Local Arts & Community: Brookings Council of Nonprofits will unveil a new downtown public art installation honoring community generosity with a ribbon cutting June 22 at 1 p.m. at a utility box on Main Ave and 6th St. South Dakota Sports Spotlight: The Sioux Falls Canaries beat the Winnipeg Goldeyes 10-4 at Blue Cross Park, while the Class AA softball state tournament is set for Thursday through Saturday at Bowden Field with all games streaming free on SDPB’s YouTube. South Dakota Politics (Runoff Watch): Sioux Falls mayoral race heads to a runoff July 28 between Christine Erickson and Jamie Smith after neither hit 50% in the primary. South Dakota Outdoors & Parks: Rapid City launches a two-week public comment period for its Parks and Recreation Master Plan draft, running through June 17. Arts Event: Zonta Fest returns to The Custer Beacon June 6, supporting women in music, dance, and the arts.

Local Arts & Culture: One Book South Dakota is bringing author Matthew Davis (“A Biography of a Mountain”) to seven stops across the state in late June, with events in Yankton, Sioux Falls, Eagle Butte, Pierre, Custer, Rapid City and Pine Ridge. Community Events: Fort Sisseton Historical Festival returns June 4-7 with living-history entertainment, a variety show, lantern tours, black powder competitions, arts-and-crafts vendors, and family activities. Film & Media: Northern State University sophomore Maggie Kruger (Milbank) earned international film festival recognition for her short documentary “The Story Behind the 3 Crosses.” Sports (South Dakota): Three USD softball players—Autumn Iversen, Abi Brown and Madison Evans—were named to the 2026 Summit League All-Academic Team. Sports (Elsewhere, with SD ties): Glasgow University student Tianrui Liang pleaded guilty after photographing U.S. military aircraft, including a reported drive to Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. Reality TV Buzz: Love Island USA newcomer Aniya Harvey teased her NBA-player father via clues, sparking online speculation.

South Dakota Politics: Voters headed to the polls in the June 2 primaries, with results rolling in across the state. Congress & Governor Race: Attorney General Marty Jackley won the GOP nomination for U.S. House, while Sen. Mike Rounds secured his reelection bid; the governor’s race stayed split and is headed toward a runoff after Toby Doeden advanced. Local Housing & Community: Yankton’s River City Flats/Whiting Drive project drew fresh scrutiny, and city officials pushed back with details on infrastructure, funding, and housing demand. Sports (High School): Rapid City Stevens kept its state-tournament momentum, and O’Gorman’s Ari Jacobs finished runner-up in Class AA girls golf; Mitchell’s girls golf team took third in Class AA. College Sports: USD named Shannon Pivovar as head softball coach. Community Events: Wheel Jam returns to Huron with free admission, live music, and stock car racing. Arts & Culture: South Dakota Arts Council grants support America 250 projects, including local arts efforts.

Local Education Boost: A $1M gift will expand a Sioux Falls program that places one-on-one advisers in high schools to help students map college, trade, military, or work paths—starting with Jefferson and rolling out to all four public high schools. Rapid City History Spotlight: As the city marks 150 years, the Rapid City Public Library is highlighting its Historical Collections Room, with rare archives, photos, oral histories, and flood-era materials available by appointment. Deadwood Gaming Update: April gaming in Deadwood rose, with slots and table games driving a 12.5% overall handle increase year over year. Music & Tour News: Hatebreed has been named headliner for the second leg of the Summer Slaughter Tour, running Aug. 20–Sept. 13. Country Music Buzz: Riley Green announced his new album That’s Just Me (Sept. 18) and shared why he isn’t starting a family yet. Sports (NCAA): Ole Miss’ super regional at Auburn begins June 5, with the winner advancing to the College World Series.

NCAA Baseball: UCLA’s top seed got bounced in regional play by Saint Mary’s, while Georgia Tech also fell—setting up a wild super regional slate with Little Rock and St. John’s among the No. 4 seeds advancing. Sioux Falls Canaries: The Canaries jumped out front but couldn’t hold it, dropping 6-3 to Winnipeg after a six-run Winnipeg surge; the teams meet again Tuesday. South Dakota Tech & Education: The Board of Regents laid out a plan to push AI integration across public universities, focusing on governance, curriculum impact, and AI literacy. Local Community Tech: CNIB brought hands-on vision-support tools to Brandon, including a portable screener for quick eye-condition checks. Sports Spotlight (Mitchell): The Doug Markworth State Farm Tennis Tournament wrapped with champions across multiple divisions, including Dawson Adams and Trace Peterson. Rapid City Updates: New cameras are going up along Omaha Street and other major roads to help track traffic conditions and congestion—not to ticket drivers. Politics (South Dakota): Gov. Larry Rhoden hit back at “malicious” attack ads ahead of the GOP primary, arguing his record and a property/sales tax message are being misrepresented.

Miss South Dakota 2026: Kianna Healy of Hartford was crowned Saturday, winning more than $15,000 in scholarships and awards with her “Second Chance Project” initiative. NCAA Baseball: The 2026 tournament bracket is set for Omaha, with regional action kicking off Friday and super regionals next weekend. Ole Miss in the mix: Ole Miss baseball wrapped up its Lincoln Regional run, beating Arizona State 5-4 in 10 innings to advance. Local Sports (Amateur): Platte rallied for a 6-5, 10-inning walk-off win over Mount Vernon in Sunshine League play. Community Spotlight: Rapid City’s Madison Grimm is turning her love of wildlife into conservation work, including an aviary with dozens of birds. Public Safety/Scam Alert: The BBB warns of a fake “Bass Farm Equipment” site that has stolen $35,000+ from buyers by impersonating a real Castlewood business. Road Work Update (Pierre): Euclid Avenue/Highway 1889 reconstruction remains on schedule, with short sidewalk closures and a brief intersection shutdown planned. Legal Fight (Abortion Pill Ads): A New York nonprofit and former SD lawmaker filed a federal lawsuit challenging South Dakota’s new abortion-pill advertising ban.

Local Sports Signings: Rapid City Stevens seniors Dreyson Paulsen (basketball, Minnesota North-Hibbing) and Madison Marsh (tennis, Nebraska Wesleyan) are set for the next chapter after standout high school runs. Remembering a Poker Legend: Sioux Falls native Charles “Doc” Hanson, a longtime Midwest poker fixture, died after a stage-four lung cancer diagnosis. Sioux Falls Leadership Spotlight: Mayor Paul TenHaken wrapped up his term by emphasizing mental and physical health as a community priority. Motorsports Fun: “ThrowBack Night!” at I-90 Speedway in Hartford delivered big comebacks across multiple divisions, with another race night set next Saturday. Community Debate: A Sioux Falls dad’s Reddit post about paying his nine-year-old $10 to mow a neighbor’s lawn sparked a lively argument about whether the kid got a fair deal. High School Track Highlights: The state meet at Howard Wood Field crowned multiple champions, including Freeman’s relay double, plus standout individual titles like Winner’s Jaxon Day (discus) and Mitchell Christian’s Luke Mentele (1,600). Arts & Entertainment: Miss South Dakota 2026 went to Kianna Healy of Hartford, with her film-and-arts background and “Second Chance Project” initiative. Scam Alert: The BBB warned of a fake “Bass Farm Equipment” site impersonating a real Castlewood family and stealing $35,000+ from buyers.

NCAA Baseball (Lincoln Regional): Ole Miss finished a weather-suspended game to beat Nebraska 6-3, staying undefeated and setting up a regional title shot vs. the winner of Nebraska-Arizona State. High School Track & Field (Sioux Falls): Yankton’s Quinn Brinkman took second in Class AA girls high jump, while Winner’s Jaxon Day won Class A boys discus and Mitchell Christian’s Luke Mentele captured the Class B 1,600. Miss South Dakota: Hartford’s Kianna Healy won Miss South Dakota 2026, earning major scholarships and the talent award for her performance. Local Arts & Summer Events: Sioux Falls’ Sanctuary Goods is gearing up for Levitt At The Falls free shows, and Rapid City’s Summer Nights returns with added safety planning. Scam Alert (Consumer): The BBB warns of a fake “Bass Farm Equipment” site impersonating a real Castlewood family business, stealing $35,000+ from buyers. Sports (Sioux Falls Baseball): Sioux Falls jumped on Fargo-Moorhead early, scoring five in the first to win 9-3 and close out the series Sunday.

Rapid City Time Capsule: Rapid City buried a 2026 time capsule at Founders Park for opening in 2076, packed with local photos, mayoral items, youth art, sports memorabilia, and a message about community spirit. Summer Nights Safety: Summer Nights returned to downtown Rapid City with food, music, and crowds—plus hardened barriers and coordinated police, fire, and EMS planning to prevent vehicle intrusion and handle heat-related issues. Miss South Dakota Record: Brookings hosts a record 27 contestants for Miss South Dakota, with prelims May 28-29 and finals May 30 at SDSU’s Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. Arts & America 250: The South Dakota Arts Council awarded six $5,000 grants for America 250 community arts projects, supporting public programming that highlights local stories and civic engagement. Agritourism Passport: Travel South Dakota launched the Agritourism Adventures Passport, featuring 40 farm and rural stops statewide for hands-on experiences and local products. Sports Spotlight: South Dakota track delivered big moments—VanDeest and Grabow claimed multiple titles, while Boschee set a Class B javelin state record. Legion Baseball Returns: Mitchell’s American Legion Post 18 is restarting with a new Palace City Baseball Association structure, aiming for a full season again starting June 2.

NCAA Baseball Buzz: Nebraska’s Carson Jasa and J’Shawn Unger helped the Huskers beat South Dakota State 4-1 in the Lincoln Regional opener, setting up a weekend of must-win baseball for the Jackrabbits. Local Arts & Culture: “Nine Little Indians,” a documentary about South Dakota’s Charbonneau sisters and Native boarding school abuse, premiered at Lincoln Center in New York, with screenings planned back home later this year. Grants & Community Creativity: The South Dakota Arts Council handed out six $5,000 America 250 Community Arts grants to spark public arts programming across the state. Tourism With a Twist: Travel South Dakota launched the Agritourism Adventures Passport with 40 farm-and-ranch check-in stops for hands-on rural experiences. Outdoor Fun: A one-mile Sioux Falls Recreation Trail extension is now open, including an elevated boardwalk over the Big Sioux River. Civic Moments: Rapid City sealed a 150th-anniversary time capsule at Founders Park, meant to be opened in 2076. Sports Spotlight (SD): Yankton’s Gazelles and Mitchell’s Kernels are both gearing up for the Class AA girls’ golf state meet at Cattail Crossing. Legal/Policy Watch: A lawsuit challenges South Dakota’s new law criminalizing advertising for abortion pills, arguing it violates free speech.

NCAA Baseball (South Dakota State): South Dakota State is headed to the Lincoln Regional, opening Friday at 3 p.m. CT against host Nebraska at Haymarket Park, with ESPN+ streaming and KJJQ 910 AM carrying the game. Music: Country star Riley Green announces his fourth album, That’s Just Me, dropping Sept. 18, and shares the new single “Think As You Drunk” (with a Toby Keith Foundation proceeds tie-in). Arts & Culture (America 250): The South Dakota Arts Council hands out six $5,000 grants for America 250 community arts projects, including free concerts, storytelling, and history-and-music performances across Sioux Falls, Yankton, Watertown, and Aberdeen. Parks & Fitness (Rapid City): Rapid City Parks opens FitLot outdoor workout registration Friday for Monday/Wednesday sessions led by a certified coach. Local Sports (Track): Day 1 of the South Dakota state track meet delivered new meet-record moments, including Spearfish’s 4x1600 relay and Custer’s pole vault title. Business/Expansion (Atomic Wings): Atomic Wings says it’s planning 20+ openings in 2026, including additional growth into South Dakota.

High School Sports Spotlight: Wagner’s Ashlyn Koupal made South Dakota track history with a sixth straight Class A girls high jump title, clearing 5-6 and finishing without a miss in her first five jumps. State Track Recap: Yankton’s William Rounds placed fourth in the high jump at 14 feet, while the day also featured strong relay performances and standout hurdle work from Miles Drotzmann. Community Arts & Culture: Rapid City Summer Nights returned after a two-year break, kicking off Thursday with live music and a new downtown location on Sixth and Kansas City Street. Local Literature: The South Dakota Historical Society’s “Badger Clark: Poetry Wrangler” won the 2025 Western Heritage Wrangler Award for Outstanding Juvenile Book. Civics for Kids: South Dakota’s State Civics Bee is set for June 11 at Augustana, with 11 finalists competing for a spot at the National Civics Bee. Music Scene: South Dakota Rock & Rollers Hall of Fame announced its 2026 inductees, with an Oct. 24 induction concert in Sioux Falls. One Book South Dakota: Author Matthew Davis will tour seven South Dakota communities in late June, including stops in Yankton, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Pine Ridge.

South Dakota Politics: The June 2 GOP governor primary is set to thin the field fast, with four candidates—Gov. Larry Rhoden, Rep. Dusty Johnson, House Speaker Jon Hansen, and businessman Toby Doeden—fighting for at least 35% to avoid a runoff. Local Arts & Culture: South Dakota Art Museum at SDSU is hosting a closing reception and panel for “Porter Williams: Evolution of Black America,” with a June 12 reception and discussion tying Williams’ legacy to today. Music: Riley Green drops “Think As You Drunk” and announces his new album That’s Just Me, including a Toby Keith sample and a full-circle collaboration story. Sports (Regional Spotlight): Nebraska’s NCAA baseball regional returns to Lincoln for the first time since 2008, with South Dakota State set to face the Huskers. Community Events: Sioux Falls’ Open Streets goes mini-golf downtown on June 5, with food trucks, live entertainment, and a car-free Main Avenue course. Youth Sports: Rapid City is temporarily removing Fitzgerald Stadium yard waste and recycling containers during major youth baseball tournaments this summer. Sports Honors: USA Softball South Dakota names its 2026 Hall of Fame class, honoring players and contributors from across the state.