Defense & Aviation: The Air Force says the B-21 Raider will fly with a two-pilot crew, and it’s setting up a pilot-transition program for select weapons system officers and combat systems officers. Energy & Grid Reliability: A 49-page report on the November power outage says a de-energized 500-kilovolt line in Wyoming triggered voltage issues that cascaded into safeguards shutting down service for about 250,000 customers across South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. Water & Agriculture: Lake Mitchell’s drawdown is drawing downstream worries in the James River basin, with residents asking how phosphorus- and nitrogen-rich sediment and dredge materials will be handled and monitored. Renewables & Water Quality: South Dakota’s riparian buffer program has grown to 130 projects covering 379 miles, after lawmakers added $8 million to expand working buffers that cut runoff while keeping land in production. Manufacturing & Training: Caterpillar opened a new Rapid City facility and expanded high-tech, including virtual reality training used worldwide. Ag Research: South Dakota Mines students are building drone-based tools and microbe-based fertilizer alternatives to reduce reliance on synthetic inputs. Community & Workforce: Black Hills Home Builders Association ran a Kids Construction Camp to spark interest in skilled trades. Food & Philanthropy: The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation donated $292,620 to Feeding South Dakota to support beef meals for families facing food insecurity. Weather Watch: Meteorologists warn a major heat dome could bring unusually dangerous, long-lasting heat across much of the Plains and beyond. Local Business: Cherrybee’s Floral and Gifts changed hands after 28 years.