AGP Executive Report

Texas GOP shakeup: Sen. John Cornyn’s four-decade career ends after he loses his primary to Ken Paxton, a win fueled by Trump’s late push and a MAGA-style challenge to “establishment” Republicans. South Dakota politics: In the June 2 GOP U.S. Senate race, Mike Rounds holds a comfortable lead over Justin McNeal, while the U.S. House primary pits AG Marty Jackley against gun store owner James Bialota. Local sports: Clark Area’s first trip to the Class B state title game ends in an 8-2 loss to Madison-Chester/Oldham-Ramona-Rutland, and Rapid City Stevens keeps its state track hopes alive with a girls 4x100 relay chasing a sub-47 run. College baseball: SDSU is headed to the NCAA Lincoln Regional after ending a long Oral Roberts postseason drought, and the Jackrabbits open Friday vs Nebraska. Farm watch: Farmers are bracing for tougher pest pressure as corn earworm resistance grows and soybean gall midge creeps closer.

NCAA Baseball: The Road to Omaha starts Friday with 16 double-elimination regionals, including South Dakota State in the Lincoln Regional against Nebraska and Ole Miss—while Arizona State’s No. 3 seed has drawn plenty of side-eye from fans and analysts. Property Law: South Dakota’s new “transfer on death” rules are making it easier to move real estate—and even mineral interests—when an owner dies, without tying everything up in probate. Energy Courts: Georgia AG Chris Carr urged the U.S. Supreme Court to toss a Boulder County climate lawsuit, arguing one city can’t set national energy policy. Medicaid Oversight: South Dakota submitted a plan to tighten Medicaid provider monitoring and curb fraud, waste, and abuse. Kids Online Safety: Connecticut AG William Tong says his office is investigating Roblox after reports of child exploitation. Local Life: Sioux Falls was named a top city for raising a family, and Governor Rhoden and Game, Fish and Parks kicked off a fundraising push for the Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery.

Politics: President Trump’s endorsement of Texas AG Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn in the May 26 GOP runoff is already being framed as a risky move for the party’s Senate math—Cornyn’s camp points to Paxton scandals, while observers warn the decision could further strain Trump’s relationship with Senate Republicans. NCAA Baseball: The NCAA bracket is set, and South Dakota’s spotlight is bright—SDSU heads to the Lincoln Regional to face Nebraska, while the regional also includes Arizona State and Ole Miss; Nebraska hosts in Lincoln for the first time since 2008. Local Sports: Sioux Falls Stampede fans welcomed the Clark Cup champions home late Sunday night after the team’s double-overtime win. State Watch: South Dakota submitted a Medicaid provider re-validation plan to CMS, aiming to tighten oversight and reduce fraud, waste, and abuse. Community & Culture: A Czech Heritage Preservation Society grant will refresh Tabor’s Czech cultural sites, and a Yankton student won a scholarship tied to Gavins Point’s fish hatchery. Weather: Memorial Day travel and outdoor plans face mostly warm conditions, with storm chances building later in the week.

NCAA Baseball Bracket Drops: UCLA earned the No. 1 overall seed for the 2026 tournament, and the road to Omaha starts Friday with 16 double-elimination regionals. South Dakota Spotlight: South Dakota State is in the Lincoln Regional, set to open Friday against No. 13 seed Nebraska at 3 p.m. (ESPN+), with Arizona State and Ole Miss completing the field. Local Sports Buzz: Auburn is the No. 4 overall seed and hosts UCF, NC State and Milwaukee in its regional at Plainsman Park. Community & Service: The American Red Cross named Richard Felix executive director for Central and Western South Dakota, and a Vietnam-veteran honor program is prompting more South Dakotans to nominate loved ones for “In Memory.” Weather & Travel: Delta diverted a flight from Atlanta to Omaha due to weather, causing an overnight delay.

Public Health vs. Politics: Anti-vaccine bills are piling up in state legislatures, but major public health groups say they’re getting pushback as MAHA activists try to turn the issue into a midterm fight—South Dakota is among the states where multiple bills were introduced, though none passed. Sports—South Dakota on a roll: Sioux Falls Canaries completed a three-game sweep of Chicago with a 5-4 walkoff in 11 innings, and Brandon Valley grabbed back-to-back Class A baseball titles for the first time in a decade. Memorial Day in the Black Hills: Volunteers placed about 30,000 flags at Black Hills National Cemetery ahead of Monday’s observances. Weather watch: Memorial Day plans across the region face a mix of warmth and scattered storms, with stronger systems more likely later in the week. Lottery: South Dakota Lottery’s May 24 Millionaire for Life numbers were 01-30-31-46-55 (Bonus 02).

Summit League Baseball: South Dakota State is headed back to the NCAA Division I Tournament after beating Oral Roberts 9-6 in a winner-take-all championship at Siebert Field, following ORU’s 4-1 opener win. High School Softball: The SoDak 16 bracket is set for Tuesday, with Sioux Falls Jefferson, Madison and Castlewood earning No. 1 seeds; Jefferson opens vs. Spearfish at 3 p.m. High School Baseball: Brandon Valley’s Lynx capped a wild run with a walk-off 4-3 Class A title over Watertown at Ronken Field. Mental Health Awareness: May’s Mental Health Awareness Month push spotlights warning signs and local resources, urging people to talk and get help. Politics: A report says Sen. Tamara Grove claims owner-occupied status on a Sioux Falls home tied to her campaign filings. Out West Roundup: Tribes are suing to halt exploratory graphite drilling near a sacred Black Hills site. Sports Calendar: Class B state baseball begins Monday with West Central as the top seed.

High School Sports: Brandon Valley capped a wild Class A baseball run with a walk-off 4-3 win over Watertown, erasing a two-run deficit in the seventh and winning back-to-back state titles. College Sports: South Dakota State baseball is headed to the NCAA tournament after winning the Summit League championship—its first trip since 2013—by beating Oral Roberts 9-6 in the winner-take-all finale. Hockey: The Sioux Falls Stampede won the Clark Cup for the first time since 2019, beating Muskegon 4-3 in double overtime as Joey Macrina scored the winner. Weather: Memorial Day weekend looks warm and mostly dry, but a stronger severe-storm threat is expected midweek into Friday and Saturday. Community & Culture: Rapid City’s Elks Theatre is launching weekday morning family movies this summer, and Sioux Falls’ Falls Art Market and Farmers Market are back downtown.

Energy Storage in the Spotlight: Antora’s massive “toaster oven” battery project is turning excess wind into usable heat and power at POET’s Big Stone City ethanol plant, a major step for storing wind when demand is low. Road & Safety Updates: A 15-mile stretch of S.D. Highway 248 (Presho to Kennebec) will close for about 20 days starting Tuesday for a $176,000 culvert repair; in Sioux Falls, one person was injured in a house fire on East Austin Street and the blaze is under investigation. STEM for Kids: South Dakota Mines is partnering with first graders in Rapid City to co-design mechanical STEM toys, with two prototypes planned for summer. Politics Watch: A new Emerson College poll says 67% of South Dakota voters don’t want fired DHS head Kristi Noem running for office again. Local Sports: O’Gorman won the Class AA boys tennis title by two points, while Brandon Valley edged O’Gorman 10-7 in Class A baseball and the SDHSBA tournament continues through Saturday.

State Sports: O’Gorman pulled off a razor-thin win, edging defending champ Harrisburg 484-482 to take the Class AA boys tennis title, with Will Koziara repeating as Flight 1 singles champ. Class A Baseball: Watertown upset top-seeded Harrisburg 4-3 to reach the semis, while Yankton’s Samuel Gokie walked it off with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly as the Bucks beat Rapid City Stevens 2-1. Track & Field: Blair Oaks’ Tomas Gonzalez finally cleared 15-5 to win the pole vault state title after three straight runner-up finishes. Politics: President Trump is digging in on the Justice Department’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund as GOP lawmakers fume over legality and political fallout. Local Government: Rapid City is re-striping downtown angled parking to stop vehicles from blocking traffic, with citations already underway. Memorial Day: Hot Springs is hosting its second annual Salute to Valor weekend honoring veterans and fallen heroes.

Anti-Weaponization Fight: Senate Republicans left Washington after a tense meeting with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche over Trump’s nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” Justice Department fund, with GOP leaders saying they want the money “fenced in appropriately” before they’ll move on a major immigration enforcement bill. South Dakota Health: Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is rebranding to Sanford Health Watertown, with the name change rolling out in phases starting late June. Public Safety & Environment: The EPA announced $27.5 million for South Dakota to reduce lead exposure in drinking water by helping communities identify and replace lead service lines. Local Roads: Sioux Falls is set for lane shifts and a later Cliff Avenue closure tied to the I-229 exit project, while S.D. Highway 11 near Corson faces a long reconstruction shutdown starting June 1. Wildlife Warning: A 70-year-old woman died after being struck by bison on a trail at Custer State Park. State Arts: The South Dakota Arts Council bought 10 new works for the state collection, with installations planned later this summer.

High School Sports: O’Gorman jumped out to the lead on day one of the State Class AA boys tennis tournament in Rapid City, scoring 360 points to Harrisburg’s 330, with the semifinals and finals set for Friday night. Watertown Spotlight: Ellie Hirsch, still recovering from a near-drowning and autoimmune encephalitis diagnosis, threw the ceremonial first pitch for Watertown’s season home finale—“Ellie Hirsch Day”—before Lincoln won 10-1. College Athletics: South Dakota State is one win from the NCAA tournament after beating Northern Colorado 2-1 in the Summit League baseball championship round, setting up another big matchup Friday. State Government: The Board of Regents approved a 2.4% tuition increase for most public universities for 2026-27, while South Dakota Mines faces a 5% bump. Lottery: Millionaire for Life numbers for May 21 were 03-15-16-24-28 (Bonus 04). Health & Community: A new UMN Crookston animal science pre-vet program reported a 90.9% veterinary school acceptance rate.

Immigration Showdown in Washington: Senate Republicans abruptly punted a major immigration enforcement funding bill after a closed-door fight over President Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” Justice Department fund, with GOP leaders saying they want the money “fenced in appropriately” and leaving town until early June. Local Public Safety: In West Fargo, a months-long stalking case escalated to new charges after alleged threats tied to a daycare bomb threat, including claims of fake “wanted” posters and harassment of a former partner and her new boyfriend. Rural Health Push in South Dakota: The state’s Rural Health Transformation project is moving from planning to contracts, naming first consultants including Sioux Falls-based North Star Solutions for digital health modernization and technology grants. South Dakota Politics: Gubernatorial candidate Toby Doeden loaned his campaign $4 million, while a new poll shows him narrowly leading likely GOP voters ahead of Dusty Johnson and Gov. Larry Rhoden. Infrastructure & Community: Sioux Falls is set to close a downtown intersection for two months for railroad quiet-zone work, while Rosholt First Responders received a $25,000 grant to rebuild its emergency response capability.

Freedom of the Press Under Fire: A new wave of Trump criticism targets reporting on the Iran war, with the administration pushing a “patriotic press” line while calling skeptical coverage “treason” and “fake news.” Uranium Fight in the Black Hills: A state exploratory uranium drilling hearing near Craven Canyon was paused after a private board session, just as project opponent Elizabeth Lone Eagle filed a federal lawsuit alleging due-process violations. Election Security Clash: Trump is again pressing Congress for sweeping voting restrictions tied to the stalled SAVE America bill, while Democrats and voting-rights groups warn it could disrupt access to ballots. Local Sports Spotlight: Yankton’s Bucks open the Class AA state tennis tournament in Rapid City, and Northern State made Brandon Kusler its permanent head baseball coach. Science & Community: South Dakota Mines hosted the DUNE conference in the Black Hills, mixing big-neutrino talks with public outreach.

Farm Crisis: West Texas farmer Scott Irlbeck says drought plus soaring fuel and fertilizer costs after the Iran-war shock are pushing Plains growers toward smaller harvests—or total losses—across Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Nebraska. Summit League Baseball: South Dakota State pulled a major upset in the Summit League tournament, beating top-seeded Oral Roberts 7-3 behind a big sixth inning and strong pitching. Election Money Watch: A federal Super PAC tied to South Dakota business donors funneled $1.4 million into state committees targeting Gov. Larry Rhoden and other races, raising fresh questions about who’s paying for what. Local Schools: Mitchell school board candidates Deb Everson and Vanessa Klock traded views at a forum on how to market new district programs and explain funding. Public Safety: South Dakota Wildland Fire leaders briefed new seasonal crews, pointing to new facilities and grants to boost readiness. Health/Workforce: Black Hills State University’s Rapid City campus is distributing $108,700 in scholarships for West River Health Science Center students.

War Powers Showdown: The U.S. Senate advanced a bill Tuesday aimed at forcing President Trump to withdraw from the Iran war, with Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy switching sides after a primary loss—50-47, showing a small but growing split among Republicans. South Dakota Softball: USD abruptly parted ways with head coach Robert Wagner, ending his 10-year run just after the Coyotes’ first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and win. Tennis Dominance: Sioux Falls Christian capped a perfect two-day run by sweeping all singles and doubles flights to win the Class A boys state tennis title in Rapid City. Uranium Hearing Tensions: A Hot Springs hearing on underground uranium exploration near Craven Canyon drew sharp accusations over process and interpretation services, as opponents and supporters clash over cultural and environmental concerns. Wildfire Prep: South Dakota Wildland Fire briefed lawmakers and firefighters on new facilities, gear, and $5 million in protective equipment grants for volunteer departments statewide. Sports Calendar: West River Last Chance Track Meet wrapped up in Rapid City as a final tune-up ahead of the state meet starting May 28 in Sioux Falls.

Black Hills uranium fight: A public hearing in Hot Springs opened on a proposed uranium drilling project tied to the long-running dispute over whether earlier voter declarations against mining in Fall River County should legally bind future actions, with opponents warning the latest push echoes past exploitation. Energy boom: Big Stone City is getting a major lift as POET and Antora Energy launch a massive thermal energy storage system next to the ethanol plant—aimed at capturing excess wind power and boosting reliability. Governor’s race spending: New filings show heavy outside money and a PAC tied to U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson fueling attack ads in South Dakota’s GOP governor primary. Local fallout: In Black Hawk, homeowners are still stuck in “sinkhole limbo” six years after a collapse, with a lawsuit pending before the state Supreme Court. Public safety expansion: Operation: Prairie Thunder is growing, including more troopers trained under ICE-related efforts, despite criticism from advocacy groups. Health & community: Dr. Lucio Margallo, a longtime Mitchell physician, is retiring after 46 years.