Defense & Infrastructure: The Senate Armed Services Committee advanced the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act, including about $43.7M for South Dakota National Guard construction and funding tied to the B-21 Raider program at bases such as Ellsworth AFB. Ag & Food Systems: Hungry for Truth’s Farm to Fork event near Mitchell brought soybean farmers and consumers together for an “honest conversation” on how food is grown and raised. Healthcare Workforce Housing: Fall River Health Services in Hot Springs is funding a $2.3M share of a subdivision that could add 48 affordable units to help address local staffing shortages. Retail Expansion: Roy’zzz dispensary opened in Watertown as part of its I-29 push, building in-house brands for South Dakota’s medical market. Manufacturing/Operations: Leeco Steel reorganized regional leadership, shifting Bill Mess to oversee Illinois, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Research Commercialization: South Dakota Mines’ NanoGuard team moved forward after completing the NSF I-Corps program to accelerate commercialization. Agriculture Resilience: SDSU Extension is running drought meetings across lower South Dakota, focusing on practical decisions that can still pay off when yields and inputs are under pressure. Mining: Coeur Mining reported Wharf Mine production dipped slightly in 2025, but revenue rose as gold prices climbed. Policy & Public Safety: A federal report alleges fentanyl “walking” continued in New Mexico despite internal rules—highlighting ongoing enforcement controversy.