AGP Executive Report

Rural Pediatric Mental Health Funding: South Dakota is expanding access to pediatric behavioral and mental health support in rural and frontier areas, using new funding to help providers screen earlier and connect families to no-cost consultations and diagnostic support. Emergency Care Planning: The state’s Emergency Medical Services Funding Task Force will meet June 17 to review EMS statewide needs and updates tied to the Rural Health Transformation Project. Volunteer Non-Emergency Transport: CREST in Fairmont says demand for non-emergency medical rides has doubled since early 2026, and it’s calling for more volunteers to help seniors reach appointments. Public Safety Drills: First responders and health systems joined Air National Guard partners for mass-casualty practice ahead of the Sioux Falls Air Show. Food & Feed Safety: SDSU Extension is urging forage producers to test hay and feed for nitrate levels, warning high nitrate can harm livestock—especially pregnant animals. Eye Health Reminder: A health alert highlights that habitual eye rubbing can worsen keratoconus risk, especially for people prone to the condition. Community Health Access: Sioux Falls mayoral candidates will debate publicly today, with local health and housing partners helping shape questions.

Eye Health Reminder: A new health explainer warns that repetitive eye rubbing can worsen keratoconus risk by stressing the cornea—especially for people with allergies or dry-eye irritation. Livestock Nutrition Safety: SDSU Extension urges forage producers to test hay and feed for nitrate using low-cost strip tests, since high nitrate can harm pregnant animals and cattle; testing is available at multiple regional offices. Hunting & Wildlife Management: Game, Fish and Parks is tightening southeast South Dakota deer hunting while keeping pronghorn limits strict as pronghorn numbers recover unevenly. Community Health & Care Access: Sanford Health hosted a cancer survivorship picnic to support patients and caregivers after treatment. Early Childhood Health: A Marcus daycare provider faces an upcoming arraignment in a shaken baby case tied to serious infant injuries in 2023. Medical Education in SD: USD’s Sanford School of Medicine dean says the move to Sioux Falls will expand clinical training and research opportunities for students. Public Health Equity: A new study finds childhood lead levels are down overall, but disparities persist for children of color and low-wealth families, including data from South Dakota. Cancer Support Locally: Meals On Wheels and a senior center in Rapid City expanded their kitchen to serve more homebound seniors with meals and wellness checks.

Medical Education Move: USD Sanford School of Medicine Dean Tim Ridgway is traveling to reassure South Dakotans about relocating the medical school program from Vermillion to Sioux Falls, saying students will get more integrated training, earlier clinical exposure, and stronger research and recruitment. Kids’ Health: Black Hills Pediatrics’ HealthWatch encourages families to use summer for annual wellness visits and sports physicals, plus updates on vaccines, sleep, anxiety/depression, headaches, and other issues that may not come up during everyday care. Lead Safety: A new national study finds lead levels in young children have dropped, but disparities remain—children of color and low-wealth families still face higher exposure, including South Dakota data. Community Care: Meals on Wheels and the Minneluzahan Senior Center in Rapid City celebrated an expanded kitchen that boosts meal delivery (about 1,000 hot meals daily) and adds wellness checks and friendly visits. Rural Maternal Support: A USD Sanford student won an award for a rural pregnancy-loss project in Mobridge focused on education, patient-centered care, and mental health resources. Public Health & Environment: Rapid City’s Greenway Days kicks off with free events along the creekside park system, built as a memorial after the 1972 flood. Wildlife Reminder: Game, Fish and Parks urges Spearfish residents to give black bears space during the summer breeding season.

Health Care Leadership: Sanford Health’s Dr. Joshua Crabtree was named to Modern Healthcare’s list of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives, highlighting leadership focused on rural access and clinician well-being. Pediatric Comfort in Hospitals: Sioux Falls’ PatientX Agency won an Aster Award (Silver) for a pediatric hospital coloring book project that donated books to kids in hospitals across the U.S. and abroad. Allergy Relief Tips: Black Hills allergist Dr. Halie Anderson shared practical guidance for summer allergies—tree, grass, and weed pollen—and when to use long-acting antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays. Tribal Health Update: The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe backed Mark Cruz’s nomination to lead the Indian Health Service, calling it a step toward stronger treaty-rights-based care. Community Nutrition Support: A new Sioux Falls café, Simply Good Café, opens June 16 and will funnel 100% of profits into meal programs for adults 60+ across the Sioux Empire. Public Health Safety: The South Fork Fire has expanded to 23,112 acres with evacuations still in effect near Fort Robinson and Crawford, underscoring ongoing health risks from smoke and emergency displacement.

Sanford Health Expansion: Sanford Health is adding new clinic space at the Sanford USD Medical Center campus in Sioux Falls, with Medical Building 4 set to open after construction starting in June 2026—bringing dermatology and plastic surgery services closer to where USD medical students train. Emergency Care Upgrade: Monument Health in Rapid City is opening a new standalone 24/7 emergency room June 10, adding exam rooms plus X-ray/CT and lab services to better serve the growing east side and the I-90 corridor. Community Nutrition Support: A new Sioux Falls café, Simply Good Café, opens June 16 and will funnel 100% of profits into congregate dining and home-delivered meals for adults 60+ across the Sioux Empire. Rural Health Convening: Avera St. Benedict hosted a regional rural health meeting, bringing together state and federal leaders to focus on improving access and outcomes in rural communities. Public Health & Safety Watch: Advocates are warning of potential sex trafficking risk around major sporting events like the World Cup, urging preparedness as visitors and temporary workers arrive. Local Health Policy: A federal appeals court heard arguments over South Dakota’s ballot-question petition deadline changes, a fight tied to Dakotans for Health’s lawsuit. Health Justice: South Dakota’s attorney general announcement highlights a multistate settlement with GS Labs over overpriced and delayed COVID-19 tests, with restitution for affected consumers. Homelessness Planning: Minnehaha County is launching a coordinated, community-driven strategy to tackle homelessness in Sioux Falls, aiming to align health care, nonprofits, faith groups, schools, and people with lived experience.

Health Care Costs & Competition: A new report warns hospital mergers can drive up prices, pointing to Minnesota’s consolidation trend and noting South Dakota’s Sanford Health is pursuing another deal after a Fairview attempt. COVID Testing Accountability: Attorney General Brenna Bird announced a $4.87M multistate settlement with GS Labs over overpriced and delayed COVID-19 tests from 2020–2022, with restitution and reimbursement available to affected consumers. Local Hospital Growth: Sanford Health is expanding the Sioux Falls Medical Center campus with a new clinic space for dermatology and plastic surgery, aiming to improve access by 2027. Rural Workforce Training: Avera St. Benedict hosted rural health leaders to discuss collaboration and programs supporting recruitment and retention. Emergency Care Access: Monument Health will open a free-standing 24/7 emergency department in Rapid City along I-90, adding imaging and lab services. Respiratory Care Education: Avera Queen of Peace partners with SDSU to train respiratory therapy students with hands-on clinical rotations in Mitchell and beyond. Food Safety Alert: A Salmonella outbreak linked to moringa supplements has expanded to 119 cases across 36 states, prompting FDA recall updates. Livestock Health Watch: New World screwworm concerns continue for producers, with guidance emphasizing daily animal monitoring and prompt vet reporting. Air Quality Reminder: Rapid City urges residents with allergies or asthma to monitor air quality during windy conditions that can stir up pollutants.

Severe Weather & Air Safety: The Twin Cities metro is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 7 a.m., with warnings for damaging winds, while Rapid City is also urging residents to monitor air quality as windy conditions can stir up pollutants. Food Safety Alert: A Salmonella outbreak tied to moringa leaf powder supplements has expanded to 119 cases across 36 states, prompting FDA recall updates. Rural Health Workforce: Avera Queen of Peace in Mitchell is partnering with SDSU’s Respiratory Care program to offer respiratory therapy education and hands-on clinical training for up to eight students a year. Emergency Care Access: Monument Health will open a new 24/7 free-standing emergency department in Rapid City on June 10 to bring faster imaging and lab services closer to I-90 corridor communities. Local EMS Funding: Yankton County’s ambulance service says it cut its deficit after bringing billing in-house, with discussions continuing about future funding models. Public Health & Community Safety: South Dakota officials are warning about unusually high rattlesnake activity in the Black Hills after three bites in a week, stressing not to handle snakes and to seek emergency care fast. Health Coverage for Veterans: A Davison County Veterans Service Office open house will explain PACT Act benefits and other eligibility changes, including support for PTSD-related needs.

Veterans Health Access: Davison County’s Veterans Service Office in Mitchell is hosting a 5–7 p.m. open house to walk veterans through PACT Act updates and other VA eligibility changes, with local support for PTSD resources. Scholarship for Caregivers: Sioux Falls surgeon Dr. Yorell Manon-Matos has opened 2027 scholarship applications for healthcare students across nursing, medicine, pharmacy, public health, and allied health. Substance Use Support: Brown County now has Emily’s Hope’s Post-Overdose Response Team (PORT), offering peer support, free naloxone, and help connecting to treatment for overdose survivors. Heat Safety: A heat advisory is in effect for the Yankton area Tuesday afternoon, with heat index values around 102—plan for hydration and limit outdoor exertion. Rural Housing for Health Workers: Hot Springs’ Fall River Health Services is funding affordable housing near the hospital to address a workforce shortage driven by lack of local housing. Infectious Disease Watch: CDC reports U.S. measles cases are on pace to surpass 2025’s high, with most cases in unvaccinated people. Outdoor Protection: South Dakota is nearing peak season for mosquito and tick-borne illness risk, with West Nile and Lyme prevention tips for residents.

Hospital Housing Push: Hot Springs’ Fall River Health Services is funding a $2.3M share of a new subdivision to create 48 affordable units near the hospital—aimed at easing a staffing shortage driven by lack of local housing. Medical Training Stability: USD’s shift of most Sanford School of Medicine training to Sioux Falls won’t affect Yankton’s clinical campus, officials say—protecting local training access. Public Health—Heat: A heat advisory hits the Yankton area Tuesday (1–9 p.m.) with highs near 100 and heat index around 102, plus a storm chance later. Substance Use Support: Emily’s Hope expanded its Post-Overdose Response Team to Brown County, offering free, confidential peer support, naloxone, and help connecting to treatment for up to a year. Nutrition for Food Insecurity: Feeding South Dakota received a major Prairie Farms milk donation—10 pallets of 1% half-gallons—plus a matching-donation push during Dairy Month. Infectious Disease Watch: National measles cases are surging, on pace to surpass 2025’s record high, with most cases among unvaccinated people. Safety Alerts: Two separate motorcycle crashes reported this weekend—one in Sioux Falls (2 dead) and another in the Le Mars area (rider died after a high-speed crash). Community Health Events: Rock Steady Boxing 5K is set for June 10 in Pipestone, supporting Parkinson’s-focused exercise programming.

Rural Hospital Drug Relief: A $3.2 million grant will help rural hospitals pool purchasing power for cheaper generic meds, aiming to reduce drug shortages that hit smaller facilities hardest. Cannabis & Mental Health Debate: A new report highlights how high-THC cannabis use can raise risks for cannabis use disorder and psychosis, especially for younger people, as states argue over how “legal” products should be regulated. Cancer Survivorship in Sioux Falls: Avera Health marks National Cancer Survivors Day by encouraging screenings and early detection, while also spotlighting community support for survivors and caregivers. Community Wellness Through Movement: Pipestone County Medical Center is hosting a Rock Steady Boxing 5K benefit June 10, supporting Parkinson’s patients with exercise and social connection. Health Care Leadership Update: Monument Health names new executive leaders—Paula McInerney-Hall as General Counsel and Ross McKie as Vice President of Philanthropy—strengthening governance and fundraising. Public Safety & Health Impacts: Two people died in a Sioux Falls motorcycle crash, and a Rapid City fairgrounds shooting suspect was found and no longer a threat, underscoring how quickly health emergencies can escalate. Environmental Health Training: SDSU Extension will hold a CAFO environmental training in Huron June 23, covering odor, manure management, soil health, and water quality.

Cancer Care & Caregiving: Jill Biden says Joe Biden’s stage four prostate cancer has metastasized to his bones, meaning he’ll live with cancer for life while treatment and daily routines take a toll. Local Health Leadership: Monument Health announced executive leadership updates, promoting Paula McInerney-Hall to General Counsel and naming Ross McKie Vice President of Philanthropy. Cancer Screening Options: Avera Health highlights National Cancer Survivors Day and reminds South Dakotans that early detection matters; meanwhile, the American Cancer Society is adding a colorectal blood test option, but colonoscopies remain the “gold standard.” Workforce Pipeline: West River Health Science Center graduated 122 registered nurses in its first full year, with Monument Health scholarships and partnerships feeding the regional staffing shortage. Safety & Injury Risk: Two motorcyclists died in a Sioux Falls crash, and Rapid City police reported a fairgrounds shooting suspect was found and no longer a threat after an exchange of gunfire. Community Wellness: Walking Forward returns to Monument Health to reduce cancer disparities in Native communities through navigation, screenings, and trial access. Public Health Alert: South Dakota is on alert for the New World screwworm after a Texas case, urging ranchers to ramp up herd checks. Health-Adjacent Community Events: Elevate Rapid City’s awards night will recognize local businesses and nonprofits, including Monument Health.

Native wellness & suicide prevention: The Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board hosted a two-day lacrosse camp in Rapid City, using the “medicine game” to support mental health, community healing, and suicide prevention. Cancer care access: Walking Forward is returning to Monument Health after decades serving Native communities, with patient navigation and expanded screening/education plans for multiple cancers. Nursing workforce boost: West River Health Science Center graduated 122 registered nurses in its first full year, with many committing to Monument Health and a pipeline starting with CNA training. New colorectal screening option: The American Cancer Society added a blood test (Shield) as another colorectal cancer screening choice, while still calling colonoscopies the “gold standard.” Rural emergency response milestone: Black Hills Life Flight marked 20 years of air medical service across western South Dakota. Public health alert for livestock: South Dakota officials are warning ranchers after the New World screwworm was detected in Texas, urging extra herd checks during peak grazing and shipping. Safety on the road: Police investigated a Rapid City shooting at the Central States Fairgrounds; Sioux Falls also saw a fatal motorcycle crash.

Cancer Update: Jill Biden says Joe Biden will live with stage four prostate cancer “forever,” sharing that his symptoms persisted after leaving the White House and he’s since slowed down. Workforce Health: West River Health Science Center in Rapid City graduated 122 registered nurses in its first full year, with many committing to Monument Health roles. Native Cancer Care: Walking Forward, a long-running cancer navigation and screening program for Native communities, is returning to Monument Health with expanded screening and research partnerships. Emergency Response: Black Hills Life Flight marked 20 years of emergency air medical service across western South Dakota, highlighting its “flying ICU” model. Rural Nutrition: SDSU Extension welcomed Megan Block as a new nutrition field specialist focused on food preservation and Farm to School. Livestock Health Alert: South Dakota officials are warning ranchers after New World screwworm was confirmed in Texas, urging extra herd wound checks during peak grazing and shipping season. Community Recovery: Yankton County Drug & DUI Court will hold a graduation June 10, spotlighting treatment courts as a path to stability and wellness. Safety & Injury: A downtown Rapid City pedestrian crash left a person with life-threatening injuries, and Sioux Falls reported a fatal motorcycle collision.

Senate Immigration Funding: The U.S. Senate approved a nearly $70B package to fund immigration enforcement and deportation efforts for the next three years, with South Dakota Sen. John Thune backing it and Democrats criticizing the lack of limits on ICE. Road Safety: A motorcycle crash in Plymouth County, Iowa sent a rider to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls with critical injuries, while in north Sioux Falls two motorcyclists died after a collision near Russell Street and Kiwanis Avenue. Public Health—Measles: CDC data shows U.S. measles cases topped 2,000 for the second straight year, with South Dakota among the states reporting cases and local health officials noting no known exposures in at least one Brookings County situation. Animal Health Alert: USDA confirmed New World screwworm in Texas, prompting South Dakota livestock officials to urge herd inspections as grazing and shipping ramp up. Nutrition & Wellness: SDSU Extension welcomed a new nutrition field specialist in Brookings and is also offering free livestock water testing to help producers spot unsafe salt levels. Community Health Events: Rapid City’s Filipino-American Family & Friends 5K encourages movement for all ages, and Yankton County Drug & DUI Court plans a June 10 graduation ceremony highlighting treatment-focused recovery.

Nutrition & Food Safety: SDSU Extension says drought and high winds can concentrate salt in dugouts, creeks, and streams, and urges producers to use its free on-site livestock water testing (EC meter) to confirm water is safe—rain doesn’t automatically fix it. Community Health & Access: SDSU Extension also welcomed Megan Block as a new nutrition field specialist in Watertown, focusing on food preservation and Farm to School connections for kids. Prevention & Public Health: South Dakota flagged a new measles case in Brookings County and asked providers to watch for symptoms in nearby counties, noting most cases are among people unvaccinated or with unknown status. Cancer Awareness: A Spearfish Marine Corps veteran is battling stage four prostate cancer, and a community fundraiser and silent auction is set for Saturday to help cover medical costs. Livestock Health Alert: USDA confirmed New World screwworm in Texas calves and says a response strike team is already on-site—officials stress the risk to warm-blooded animals. Local Wellness Event: Rapid City’s Filipino-American Family & Friends 5K Fun Run is Saturday at Founders Park, with options to run, walk, or push strollers. Safety: A pedestrian was critically injured in a downtown Rapid City crash on Saint Joseph Street; police say alcohol and excessive speed don’t appear to be factors.

Measles Alert: South Dakota reported a new measles case in Brookings County, the state’s ninth this year, with health officials asking providers to watch for symptoms in several nearby counties; the department says there are “no known public exposures” at this time. Brain Health: Rapid City’s HealthWatch spotlights Alzheimer’s Awareness Month with practical tips like staying mentally active, eating less processed foods, moving regularly, and keeping chronic conditions (like high blood pressure and diabetes) under control. Rural Care Access: Avel eCare, Great Plains Health Alliance, and Pioneer Health Network are partnering with Kansas Rural Health Transformation funding to expand telemedicine-enabled care across rural hospitals—aimed at emergency, inpatient, and behavioral health. Lead in Drinking Water: The EPA announced $27.5 million to help Colorado communities identify lead pipes and replace lead service lines, emphasizing the risk to children. Community Wellness Space: Vermillion’s Southeast South Dakota Activity Center opened a sensory garden designed to reduce stress and anxiety for people with disabilities and the wider community. Nutrition & Food Security: Prairie Farms is donating a truckload of milk to Feeding South Dakota for National Dairy Month, with June donations matched to help buy more dairy. Agriculture & Health: SDSU Extension invites wheat producers to free Winter Wheat Variety Tours on June 9 to discuss disease resistance, drought tolerance, and yield—supporting farm profitability and food system stability.