>> THIS IS A PRODUCTION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

♪♪ >> WELCOME TO "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

I'M JACKIE HENDRY AND I'M IN THE LEO P. FLYNN GALLERY OF SDPB'S SIOUX FALLS STUDIO.

SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO MAKE SENSE OF THE ECONOMY.

WE KNOW INFLATION IS HIGH, SOUTH DAKOTA'S UNEMPLOYMENT IS LOW, AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN IS MAKING IT HARDER TO FIND WHAT YOU NEED AT THE STORE.

TONIGHT, WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR STATE.

WE'LL HAVE A BIG PICTURE REVIEW OF HOW WE GOT HERE, VISIT A SMALL TOWN THAT'S BUCKING THE TREND OF EMPTYING MAIN STREETS, AND LOOK AT THE GROWING START-UP INDUSTRY IN SIOUX FALLS.

WE'LL ALSO LEARN ABOUT THE INVASIVE SPECIES THAT'S THREATENING LAKES THIS FISHING SEASON, AND LOOK AHEAD TO THE FUTURE OF PHEASANT HUNTING.

THAT'S COMING UP.

BUT FIRST, COMMUNITIES ARE STILL MANAGING THE DAMAGE FROM THE DERECHO ON MAY 12TH.

DAMAGING WINDS AND MULTIPLE TORNADOES KILLED TWO PEOPLE AND LEFT HUNDREDS WITHOUT POWER.

SDPB'S JORDYN HENDERSON TALKED WITH RESIDENTS OF CASTLEWOOD AS THEY WAITED TO SURVEY THE DAMAGE THE MORNING AFTER THE STORM.

>> THE SMALL NORTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA TOWN OF CASTLEWOOD THE HOME OF KRISTI NOEM, IS REELING AFTER A TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH IT MAY 12TH THE TORNADO WENT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF TOWN, BADLY DAMAGING THE SCHOOL AND MANY HOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS OFFICIALS WERE TIGHTLY CONTROLLING ACCESS TO THE CITY THE MORNING OF MAY 13th AS RECOVERY AND CLEAN-UP EFFORTS BEGAN.

EARLY REPORTS INDICATED NOBODY WAS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED.

A MASSIVE LINE OF STORMS ACROSS EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA SPAWPPED THE TWISTER.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS IT QUALIFIES AS A DERECHO, WITH A SWATH OF DAMAGE AT LEAST 64 MILES WIDE AND 400 MILES LONG.

CAYDEN HAD JUST RETURNED HOME FROM COLLEGE THE NIGHT THE TORNADO HIT.

>> WE HEARD IT WAS COME AND THEN EVERYONE WAS FREAKING OUT.

>> HE WAS AT A FRIENDS' HOUSE WITH HIS MOTHER AND OTHERS.

JUST THE FEAR IN HER VOICE WAS TERRIBLE AND IT WAS HORRIFYING, YEAH, AND I NEVER WANT TO, LIKE, EXPERIENCE LIKE MY MOTHER'S VOICE LIKE THAT.

IT WAS AWFUL.

>> ONLY OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN OPT MORNING AFTER THE TORNADO STRUCK, CHRIS WAS TRYING TO GET IN TO SEE HIS HOUSE.

HE WASN'T HOME WHEN THE TORNADO HIT.

>> I HAVEN'T BEEN BACK INTO MY HOUSE BUT I KNOW IT'S TOTALLY DESTROYED, SO TRYING TO GO BACK THERE NOW.

>> ANOTHER CAST SPELL WOOD RESIDENT WAS EMOTIONAL AS SHE SURVEYED THE DAMAGE.

RENEE SAYS SHE'S IN SHOCK.

>> MY FRIENDS' GONE.

I DON'T KNOW, THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE I GREW UP SO IT'S HITTING PRESENT RECLOSE TO THE HEARTS.

>> THE SURROUNDING AREA IS RESPONDING BY LENDING SUPPORT, EQUIPMENT AND VOLUNTEERS ARE SHOWING UP FROM NEIGHBORRINGS COMMUNITIES.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE NATIONAL GUARD AND MANY STATE AGENCIES ARE FLYING TO CASTLEWOOD AND OTHER AREAS AROUND THE STATE.

I'M JORDAN ANDERSON IN CASTLEWOOD.

>> A REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FOUND FIVE TORNADOES TOUCHED DOWN IN SOUTH DAKOTA THAT DAY, ALONG WITH THE STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS THAT CAME WITH THE STORM SYSTEM.

AS WE HEAD INTO STORM SEASON, HERE'S YOUR REMINDER, KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER FORECAST, AND HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS TO RECEIVE AN ALERT IF SEVERE WEATHER IS COMING YOU'RE WAY.

NOW, MOST OF US HAVE A VAGUE IDEA ABOUT HOW THE ECONOMY WORKS, OR AT LEAST ABOUT SOME OF THE TRENDS WE HEAR ABOUT MOST OFTEN.

INFLATION IS BAD.

LOW UNEMPLOYMENT IS GOOD.

LOW INTEREST RATES MAKE LOANS MORE AFFORDABLE.

BUT WHEN YOU ADD A ONCE-IN-A-CENTURY PANDEMIC, THINGS GET MORE COMPLICATED.

FOR OUR MAIN "FOCUS" TONIGHT, LET'S HEAD TO ECON CLASS.

AND DON'T WORRY, NO TESTS THIS TIME.

>> SOUTH DAKOTA HAS CONSISTENTLY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT.

THAT'S USUALLY CELEBRATED.

BUT WHEN NEARLY EVERYONE HAS WORK, IT MAKES HIRING REALLY TOUGH.

JOE SANTOS IS AN ECON PROFESSOR AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY.

HE SPECIALIZES IN MACRO ECONOMICS, THAT'S THE BIG-PICTURE CAUSE AND EFFECT.

>> I THINK MOST PEOPLE, WHEN THEY HEAR LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, THEY THINK THAT'S A POSITIVE.

IS THAT A FAIR WAY TO INTERPRET THAT?

>> I THINK IT IS.

AND YES, THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE SENSE, THAT LOW UNEMPLOYMENT IS BETTER.

AND, IN FACT, EVEN WHEN WE THINK OF POLICY MAKING AND SO ON, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE'S AN INTERESTING MEASURE IN THAT WE DON'T REALLY THINK OF IT AS THERE'S THIS MAGIC NUMBER WE'RE TRYING TO HIT.

LOWER IS JUST BETTER.

IF WE COULD SUSTAIN LOWER, THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO.

IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT TOO LOW AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, WHEN IT'S BECOME APPARENT TO US THAT THE SUPPLY CHAIN -- AND, OF COURSE, WE ALWAYS KNEW THIS ON SOME LEVEL -- DEPENDED ON LABOR.

YOU ALWAYS JUST ASSUMED THAT LABOR WOULD BE THERE, OR YOU COULD DRAW IT IN FROM THE SIDELINES IF YOU HAD TO.

AND NOW SUDDENLY, THAT DOESN'T SEEM AS EASY AS IT ONCE DID.

>> IT PROBABLY WON'T SURPRISE YOU TO LEARN WHAT CAUSED THAT REALIZATION.

>> YEAH, IT'S THE SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS.

WHEN COVID HIT THE UNITED STATES, IT SUDDENLY LEFT ABOUT 20 MILLION PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED, LIKE, OVER 36 DAYS, RIGHT?

SO, AS I LIKE TO THINK OF IT, THAT'S LIKE THROWING A LOT OF CONFETTI UP IN THE AIR AND THEN, OF COURSE, EXPECTING IT ALL TO FALL RIGHT BACK INTO THE PALM OF YOUR HANDS, AND THAT NEVER HAPPENS.

EARLY ON, IT WAS CLEARLY PANDEMIC RELATED, WHETHER IT WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD CONCERNS OR WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN OR ELDERLY, OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.

BUT IT ALSO SEEMS LIKE THERE'S BEEN THIS SORT OF SHIFT IN NORMS WHERE INDIVIDUALS SIMPLY VALUE THEIR TIME IN WAYS THAT PERHAPS THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THEY DID.

>> SOME INDUSTRIES WERE HIT HARDER THAN OTHERS.

HOSPITALITY AND LEISURE SERVICES HAD A HARDER TIME FILLING JOBS THAN OTHER FIELDS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO WORK REMOTELY.

THE MARKET DOES HAVE AN ANSWER ON ITS OWN AND THAT'S HIGHER WAGES.

THE SCARY PART FOR A MACROECONOMIST IS THAT NOW, IT'S ALL BLURRING.

AND THE REASON FOR THIS IS SOMETHING CALLED LABOR MOBILITY.

SO, OF COURSE, THERE MAY NOT BE A GAP IN FINANCIAL SERVICES BUT I COULD LOOK OVER THERE AND LOOK AT LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY, REALIZE WAGES ARE RISING OVER THERE, AND MAYBE I'M TEMPTED TO LEAVE.

SO NOW YOU'VE GOT TO PAY ME MORE WHERE I AM, TOO.

AND THAT MATTERS TO MACROECONOMISTS BECAUSE THAT MEANS THE PURCHASING POWER OF MONEY IS FALLING INDEPENDENTLY OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO BUY.

>> AND THAT'S CALLED GENERAL INFLATION.

LIKE MOST ECONOMIC ISSUES, IT'S A MATTER OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

>> WE CAN'T FIX THE SUPPLY CRISIS WITH POLICY.

SO NOW WE'RE RAISING INTEREST RATES AND WE'RE TRYING TO SLOW DEMAND.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S BASICALLY THE COURSE OF ACTION.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND.

IF ALL THAT DEMAND STIMULATED OUTPUT, PULLING IT BACK NEEDS TO SORT OF REDUCE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

AND THAT'S WHY EVERYONE'S KIND OF FREAKING OUT ABOUT, "IS THIS GOING TO BE RECESSIONARY?"

AND THE ANSWER YOU ALMOST HATE TO SAY ON TELEVISION IS, WELL, IT ALMOST HAS TO BE, RIGHT?

BECAUSE HOW DO YOU REVERSE THE PRICE PRESSURE WITHOUT REVERSING THE GOOD PRESSURE ON ECONOMIC ACTIVITY?

>> BUT DON'T WORRY, WE'RE NOT TALKING A 2008-LEVEL RECESSION.

SANTOS SAYS THE ECONOMY IS MUCH LESS VULNERABLE NOW THAN IT WAS THEN.

>> YOU KNOW, IN SOME SENSE, THE GOOD NEWS IS THE PANDEMIC OCCURRED WHEN THE ECONOMY WAS OPERATING AT ITS VERY BEST, AT ITS FULL CAPACITY, WITH A FINANCIAL SYSTEM THAT HAD REALLY HEALED ALL THOSE SCARS FROM 2008.

>> SOUTH DAKOTA'S LOW UNEMPLOYMENT IS USUALLY GOOD.

BUT NOW IT MEANS EMPLOYERS STRUGGLE TO FILL JOBS IN CERTAIN INDUSTRIES.

AND THAT PROBLEM HAS ONLY BEEN EXACERBATED BY SUPPLY SHORTAGES, LABOR MOBILITY, AND INFLATION.

IN SHORT, IT'S A TRICKY TIME TO RUN A BUSINESS.

THOSE CHALLENGES ARE MORE SERIOUS IN RURAL TOWNS WITH AN EVEN SMALLER POTENTIAL WORKFORCE.

THAT'S A BIG REASON WHY MANY SMALL TOWNS IN SOUTH DAKOTA SEE THEIR BUSINESS COMMUNITIES STRUGGLING.

BUT ONE SMALL TOWN, NOT FAR FROM SIOUX FALLS, IS BUCKING THE TREND.

FREEMAN IS A TOWN WITH FEWER THAN 2,000 RESIDENTS.

IT ALSO HAS UPWARDS OF $8 MILLION IN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS UNDERWAY THIS SUMMER.

THAT INCLUDES A REVAMPED MAIN STREET AND A NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

TURNS OUT, A LITTLE GEOGRAPHIC LUCK AND A LOT OF LEADERSHIP CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

FREEMAN IS ABOUT AN HOUR SOUTHWEST OF SIOUX FALLS, JUST OFF HIGHWAY 81.

IT'S A QUIET TOWN SURROUNDED BY FARMLAND.

YOU COULD DESCRIBE PLENTY OF OTHER SOUTH DAKOTA TOWNS THE SAME WAY.

BUT THOSE TOWNS DON'T HAVE MAYOR MICHAEL WALTER.

>> I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT WHETHER IT BE BUSINESS, WHETHER IT BE THE -- WHATEVER AVENUE THERE.

YOU CANNOT BE IN NEUTRAL.

THERE'S ONLY FORWARD AND REVERSE.

AND IF YOU THINK YOU'RE IN NEUTRAL, GOOD CHANCE YOU'RE IN REVERSE.

>> MAYOR WALTER JUST BEGAN HIS SECOND CONSECUTIVE TERM.

I SAY CONSECUTIVE BECAUSE HIS TRUE FIRST TERM WAS BACK IN 1992, AFTER HE'D SPENT SEVERAL YEARS ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> I DECIDED TO -- MAYBE I'LL RUN FOR MAYOR JUST SO I CAN HAVE THAT IN MY OBITUARY SOMEDAY.

>> AFTER THAT FIRST TERM, HE LEFT CITY GOVERNMENT AND FOCUSED ON HIS FULL-TIME JOB, DIRECTING THE CITY'S FUNERAL HOME.

BUT AS TIME WENT ON... >> I JUST FELT FREEMAN WAS IN NEUTRAL.

I KNOW, I'M FAMILIAR, LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE.

I KNOW THE PEOPLE, I KNOW WHAT IT'S CAPABLE OF.

AND IT'S LIKE -- JUST, THOSE THINGS WEREN'T BEING UTILIZED TO DO WHAT I KNOW CAN BE DONE.

>> YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF FREEMAN DID HAVE QUITE A BIT OF MONEY ON HAND... >> CAROL EISENBEIS IS HEAD OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY.

>> WE'RE NOT A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, WE'RE NOT HERE TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE MONEY OFF OF OUR TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS.

WE'RE HERE TO SERVE OUR TAXPAYERS AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING FOR THEIR TAX REVENUE.

>> TURNS OUT, IT TOOK SOME COLLABORATION AND LEADERSHIP TO GET THE BALL ROLLING.

MAYOR WALTER GOT STARTED DURING HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> WHEN I WENT AND GOT MY PETITION SIGNED, I ALWAYS ASKED, "WHAT DOES FREEMAN NEED?"

AND ALMOST WITHOUT FAIL IT WAS, "WE'VE GOT NO PLACE FOR HOUSING TO BE BUILT."

>> WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO WORK HERE, BUT IT'S PRETTY TRICKY TO DO WHEN WE DON'T HAVE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE.

SO BRINGING ON DIFFERENT ENTITIES TOGETHER TO MAKE OUR WESTWARD VIEW HOUSING ADDITION BECOME A REALITY HAS BEEN A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE FREEMAN COMMUNITY.

>> AND THE NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IS JUST ONE OF THE PROJECTS IN THE WORKS.

>> OUR MAIN STREET, FOR EXAMPLE.

WE WANT TO MAKE THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE SO MORE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THOSE AMENITIES.

>> THAT AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET BASEBALL FIELDS BUILT FOR THE KIDS.

>> I BELIEVE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL HAS HAD ABOUT 50 NEW STUDENTS COME IN IN THIS LAST YEAR, SO THAT IS REALLY EXCITING.

>> OKAY, I KNOW WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS FROM CITY GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S WHY WE WENT TO SOMEONE ELSE FOR A MORE OBJECTIVE OPINION, A FELLOW JOURNALIST.

JEREMY WALTNER RUNS THE FREEMAN COURIER.

>> HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN FIND A BETTER SMALL TOWN.

I MEAN, I WOULD CHALLENGE ANYBODY TO SHOW ME ONE.

I DON'T THINK THEY EXIST.

>> SO WHAT MAKES FREEMAN UNIQUE?

>> THERE ARE TWO THINGS, REALLY.

ONE IS GEOGRAPHY, AND THAT'S -- THERE'S SOME LUCK INVOLVED WITH THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOCATED IN THE LARGEST POPULATION CENTER IN THE STATE.

DRAW A TRIANGLE BETWEEN MITCHELL, YANKTON AND SIOUX FALLS, AND FREEMAN'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

GOT A MAJOR HIGHWAY RUNNING THROUGH.

SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE -- ORGANICALLY ARE TO OUR ADVANTAGE.

THE THING THAT REALLY SETS US APART, THOUGH, IS -- FREEMAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TOWN THAT GETS THINGS DONE.

FOR WHATEVER REASON, THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE WHO, WHEN THEY DECIDE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, THEY FIND A WAY TO DO IT.

>> FREEMAN ALSO HAS LOCAL MEDICAL SERVICES, A PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL, TWO GROCERY STORES, THREE BANKS, AND FREE TRANSPORTATION TO SIOUX FALLS AND OTHER CITIES.

EVEN ONE OF THESE THINGS WOULD BE A MAJOR BENEFIT FOR SOME SMALL TOWNS.

>> WHAT I DO NOTICE OF THE OTHER TOWNS THAT I WORK WITH AND SO FORTH IS, YOU HAVE TO FIGHT.

IT'S -- YOU HAVE TO FIGHT IF YOU WANT TO BE RELATIVE.

WHETHER THAT BE IN BUSINESS, WHETHER IT'S CITY GOVERNMENT OR WHAT.

YOU HAVE TO FIGHT.

YOU CANNOT JUST LAY BACK AND THINK IT'S GOING TO COME TO YOU BECAUSE IT'S HERE TODAY.

BECAUSE IT CAN BE GONE TOMORROW.

I TOLD CAROL THIS MORNING, YOU KNOW, IT'S A PUZZLE.

WE'VE GOT -- THE PIECES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

IT'S JUST GETTING THE PIECES IN THE RIGHT SPOT.

AND BECAUSE ONE PIECE DOESN'T FIT, YOU DON'T QUIT THE PUZZLE.

YOU KEEP ON TRYING TO FIND ANOTHER PIECE, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT IT IS.

AND WE'VE -- WE'VE GOT GOOD PEOPLE HERE, AND JUST GETTING THEM ALL TO BE PULLING TOWARDS ONE GOAL.

>> SO WHAT'S NEXT FOR FREEMAN?

CAROL EISENBEIS HOPES FOR A COMMUNITY WORKSPACE ALONG THE RENOVATED MAIN STREET.

>> THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE TO RURAL COMMUNITIES.

CERTAINLY WE HAVE BUSINESSES HERE THAT WOULD BE HAPPY TO EMPLOY THEM.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU CAN WORK REMOTELY, YOU CAN WORK FROM ANYWHERE.

SO WHY NOT FREEMAN?

>> MEANWHILE, MAYOR WALTER HAS HIS EYE ON THE NEXT GENERATION OF FREEMAN LEADERS.

>> I'M ALWAYS LOOKING AT SOMEBODY LIKE I WAS WHEN I STARTED OUT.

IN THEIR, WHATEVER, 20S, 25, 35, THE YOUNGER GENERATION, TO GET THEM INVOLVED.

AND WE'VE BECOME SO BUSY, SEEMINGLY.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND IT'S DIFFERENT THAN EVEN 30 YEARS AGO.

BUT, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A LOT OF FUN TO DO THIS.

CONTRARY TO WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK, IT'S WORK, BUT ALL GOOD THINGS ARE WORK.

>> NOT EVERY SMALL TOWN IS LIKE FREEMAN.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR TOWN?

ARE THE LOCAL BUSINESSES DOING ALL RIGHT?

OR IS MAIN STREET A LITTLE EMPTIER EVERY YEAR?

WE'LL KEEP COVERING THESE STORIES OVER THE SUMMER SO SEND US AN EMAIL WITH YOUR IDEAS.

[email protected].

WE JUST JUST HEARD CAROL EISENBEIS WISH FOR A COMMUNITY WORKSPACE IN FREEMAN.

SOMETHING REALLY SIMILAR IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR ENTREPRENEURS IN SIOUX FALLS.

WITH THE CEREMONIAL SWINGING OF SLEDGEHAMMERS, BUSINESS AND CITY LEADERS CELEBRATED THE NEXT STEP FOR THE GROWING START UP COMMUNITY.

>> ALL RIGHT, HERE COMES THE FIRST ONE.

[BANGING NOISE] [APPLAUSE] >> AN EMPTY DOWNTOWN BUILDING WILL SOON BE A SPACE FOR ENTREPRENEURS TO WORK AND COLLABORATE.

START UP SIOUX FALLS IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT OFFERS RESOURCES TO PEOPLE STARTING A BUSINESS.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S BASED ON THE NORTHWEST EDGE OF SIOUX FALLS.

MATT PAULSON IS A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER WHO'S DONATING $1 MILLION FOR THE MOVE DOWNTOWN.

>> THE EASY THING TO DO WOULD'VE BEEN TO STAY OUT THERE, SHOW UP TO OUR BOARD MEETINGS ONCE A MONTH, AND CALL IT GOOD.

BUT YOU ALL WERE WILLING TO TAKE A RISK.

AND BECAUSE OF THE RISK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP MANY MORE BUSINESSES.

WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO ACCELERATOR PROGRAMS, CODE SCHOOLS, AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT NOBODY'S EVEN THOUGHT OF YET IN THIS SPACE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE CENTER OF ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY IN THE CITY, AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH STARTUP SIOUX FALLS.

[APPLAUSE] >> STARTING A BUSINESS IS INHERENTLY RISKY.

HIGH INFLATION AND LOW UNEMPLOYMENT DON'T HELP.

BRIENNE MANER IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF STARTUP SIOUX FALLS.

SHE SAYS SOME OF THE GREATEST INNOVATIONS COME OUT OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP.

>> DURING THE LAST RECESSION, TWO MAJOR BUSINESSES WERE LAUNCHED, AIRBNB AND UBER.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR THOSE NEXT GREAT INNOVATIONS, AND WE KNOW WE HAVE THE TALENT HERE IN SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA, TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

WE'RE JUST HERE TO PLANT THAT FERTILE GROUND FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GROW AND FLOURISH.

>> THE NEW DOWNTOWN HOME TO STARTUP SIOUX FALLS IS CITY-OWNED.

IT'S BEEN EMPTY FOR YEARS DESPITE BEING IN A PRIME LOCATION, JUST SOUTH OF THE LEVITT AT THE FALLS OUTDOOR CONCERT VENUE, AND ACROSS THE STREET FROM RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL SHOPS.

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROVED A ONE-DOLLAR-A-YEAR LEASE FOR THE BUILDING FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

SIOUX FALLS MAYOR PAUL TENHAKEN SAYS A WORKSPACE FOR STARTUPS IS AN IDEAL TENANT FOR THAT LOCATION.

>> A B2B TELECOM COMPANY, FOR INSTANCE, WOULD NOT BE A GOOD FIT.

A PLACE LIKE THIS WHERE THERE'LL BE TONS OF FOOT TRAFFIC, PEOPLE IN AND OUT, MEETINGS, CONVERSATIONS.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THIS CORNER.

IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT FOR THE RETAILERS ACROSS THE STREET.

>> AND IT WILL BE A SPACE TO MEET OTHER ENTREPRENEURS.

KARLA SANTI IS A BOARD MEMBER FOR BOTH THE SIOUX FALLS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION AND STARTUP SIOUX FALLS.

SHE STARTED HER OWN BUSINESS 20 YEARS AGO.

THE BIGGEST HURDLE THEN WAS A LACK OF MENTORS.

>> BEING PART OF THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE AMAZING FOR START-UPS AND ENTREPRENEURS TO RUN INTO PEOPLE THAT CAN REALLY HELP THEM IN THEIR BUSINESS.

THOSE COLLISIONS, THAT COLLABORATION, IT'S AN IDEAL TIME FOR US TO BE HERE IN THE HEART OF SIOUX FALLS.

>> STARTUP SIOUX FALLS WILL MOVE TO ITS NEW SPACE EARLY NEXT YEAR.

.

>> THE MASSIVE SUCCESS OF APPS LIKE AIRBNB AND UBER ARE EXAMPLES OF HOW TECHNOLOGY CAN FILL A NEED.

NOW, A SIOUX FALLS WOMAN IS DEVELOPING AN APP THAT HELPS OTHER PARENTS, AND IT COULD BE THE NEXT BIG THING.

>> MEN PARENTS IN SOUTH DAKOTA WORK OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES.

ACTUALLY, THE THE STATE HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF WORKING PARENTS IN THE NATION.

THAT PRESENTS A CHILD CARE CHALLENGE AND ALSO PRESENTS A TRANSPORTATION ISSUE.

KIM ROME KNOWS THAT FROM EXPERIENCE.

>> I GREW UP IN SIOUX FALLS, AND I KNEW FIRSTHAND AS A PARENT THAT THERE WAS A NEED.

I MEAN, MY OLDEST IS 37 AND EVEN BACK THEN, I WOULD PICK MY DAYCARES BASED ON WHETHER THEY PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION AND SO I JUST KNEW THAT THERE WAS A BIG NEED THAT WAS NEVER FILLED, YET N OUR COMMUNITY.

>> ROME IS USING HER RETIREMENT YEARS TO CREATE BOOMER RANG, A RIDE SHARE APP FOR CHILDREN 5 TO 17.

BUT SHE SAYS IT'S NOT UBER FOR KIDS.

>> >> I WANT TO RESPONDS MEALEDLY THAT IT'S SO MUCH MORE.

IT IS SIMILAR IN THAT THE DRIVERS ARE CONTRACTORS AND THEY USE THEIR OWN VEHICLES BUT BEYOND THAT, THE SIMILARITIES ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

I DO VERY EXTENSIVE SCREENING UPFRONT, WE DO BACKGROUND CHECKS, I DO PERSONAL INTERVIEWS TO MEET THEM FACE TO FACE.

>> DRIVERS NEED AT LEAST 5 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN CHILD CARE AND BECAUSE OF A STATE REGULATION FOR RIDE SHARE BUSINESSES, THEIR CAR NEEDS TO BE LESS THAN TEN YEARS OLD.

ROME WORKED WITH A COMPANY IN NASHVILLE TO DEVELOP THE APP.

SHE INSISTED ON SEVERAL SECURITY FEATURES AND OTHER OPTIONS TO GIVE PARENTS PEACE OF MIND WHEN THEY SCHEDULE A RIGHT.

>> WE BUILT IN -- THEY CAN SEE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE DRIVERS FOR THAT SPECIFIC TIME, AND THEN THEY GET TO PICK WHICH DRIVER THEY WANT.

THEY ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY, IF THEY REALLY CONNECT OR THEIR KIDS REALLY KENT WITH A DRIVER, THEY CAN MARK THEM AS A FAVORITE.

>> THE APP PROMPTS PARENTS AND KIDS TO COME UP WITH A CODE WORD, BEFORE A RIDE STARTS, KIDS HAVE A CHANCE TO VERIFY.

>> SO THE DRIVER STEPS OUT OF THEIR VEHICLE AND THEN THE CHILD HAS TO PROVIDE THE DATE OF BIRTH.

THE DRIVER GIVES THE CHILD THE CODE WORD AND THE CHILD HAS TO VERIFY IT.

>> CODE WORDS FOR IDENTIFICATION.

>> YES.

>> SO THE CHILD FEELS COMFORTABLE THAT THE DRIVER IS THE RIGHT DRIVER BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE CODE WORD, AND THE DRIVER KNOWS THAT THEY'VE GOT THE RIGHT CHILD BECAUSE OF THE DATE OF BIRTH VERIFICATION.

THAT ALL HAPPENS BEFORE THE CHILD GETS INTO THE VEHICLE.

>> ONCE THE RIGHT STARTS, PARENTS GET UPDATES ON THEIR CHILD'S LOCATION, AND THE FARE ISN'T PAID UNTIL LATER, WHICH GIVES PARENTS A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THEIR KIDS WITH ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE.

THE APP LAUNCHED EARLIER THIS MONTH AND THE SERVICE IS LIMITED TO THE SIOUX FALLS AREA, AND FOR NOW, THE HOURS OF SERVICE ARE LIMITED, TOO.

>> WE'RE STARTING OUT SMALL BUT IT'S BEEN INTERESTING BECAUSE OUR HOURS ARE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, FROM 7:00 a.m. TO 6:00 p.m. AND ALREADY I'VE HAD AN OVERWHELMING REQUEST FOR WEEKENDS, FOR EVENINGS, FOR PRESCHOOL KIDS THAT NEED TO GO FROM THEIR DAY CARE TO THE PRESCHOOL AND BACK.

>> THE DEMAND IS THERE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LABOR?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MY FRIENDS WOULD TELL ME IS, KIM, THERE IS A HELP WANTED SIGN EVERY OTHER DOORSTEP SO, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET DRIVERS?

AND IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS, I THINK I HAD OVER 50 APPLICANTS.

WHEN I WENT INTO IT, MY STEREOTYPE WAS SOMEONE LIKE ME, RETIRED, NEEDED SOMETHING TO DO, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, LOVES KIDS, LOVES INTERACTING WITH KIDS.

AND THOSE APPLICANTS ARE THERE, BUT ROME IS ALSO HEARING FROM TEACHERS WHO NEED EXTRA INCOME AND FLEXIBILITY DURING THE SUMMER AND SHE'S SEEING INTEREST FROM PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> AND I JUST RECENTLY, I'VE HAD TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SAID, I'M TIRED OF THE CORPORATE WORLD OF WHERE THINGS ARE GOING, WHERE I'M AT AND I JUST NEED TO DO SOMETHING BETTER FOR MY SOUL.

AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT THEY SAY IT THAT WAY, AND SO I HAVE ONE THAT QUIT HER CAREER AND SHE'S FULL TIME GOING TO DRIVE FOR BOOMERRANG.

>> ROME DIDN'T EXPECT TO START A BUSINESS BUT SHE SAYS SHE'S MANAGED TO BUILD HER DREAM JOB.

>> ONE OF THE PHRASES I LOVE TO USE IS IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD AND I FEEL LIKE WITH THE BOOMERRANG DRIVERS, WE'RE CREATING THAT VILLAGE.

>> THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR STATE DEPENDS ON FINDING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS.

IT ALSO DEPENDS ON EDUCATION.

THE BOARD OF REGENTS IS IN CHARGE OF THE SIX PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

IN 2020, LAWMAKERS PASSED A BILL TO CREATE A TASK FORCE THAT STUDIED THE IMPACT AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE STATE'S UNIVERSITIES.

THAT STUDY FOUND THE BOARD OF REGENTS IS ESSENTIAL TO THE STATE'S WORK FORCE BUT IT COULD DO A BETTER JOB OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PLAYERS IN THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

BRIAN MAHER IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

HE JOINED ME EARLIER THIS MONTH TO DISCUSS THE BOARD'S NEW STRATEGIC PLAN.

THAT INCLUDES SHARING THE VALUE OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND MAKING SURE AN EDUCATED WORKFORCE STAYS IN SOUTH DAKOTA AFTER GRADUATION.

SO MUCH WHEN WE HAVE THESE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONVERSATIONS RE HEAT RELATED TO EDUCATION, SO OFTEN WE HEAR ABOUT THE STATE'S TECHNICAL COLLEGES.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND THOSE TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS?

>> YEAH, THE FIRST THING I WOULD SAY IS, AS WE SHOULD, WHEN YOU SAY SO OFTEN WE HEAR ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR TECHNICAL COLLEGES.

WE HAVE AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM IN THIS STATE AND I KNOW THERE ARE SOME WHO ARE PROBABLY LISTENING TO THIS GOING, WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?

YOU'RE AFTER THE SAME STUDENTS, AND TO SOME DEGREE, WE CERTAINLY ARE.

BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY AFTER IS QUALITY OF LIFE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN SOUTH DAKOTA IS SUPPORTED BY QUALITY K-12 EDUCATION, I KNOW I'M BIASED AFTER ALL MY YEARS OF WORK IN K-12, BUT WE HAVE THAT AND I THINK WE HAVE THAT IN ABUNDANCE HERE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND WE ALSO, THEN, NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS DON'T SEE A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AS AN END POINT BUT, RATHER, A SPRINGBOARD TO EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT CAN BE TECHNICAL COLLEGES AND CERTAINLY WE WANT PART OF THAT TO BE OUR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, WHAT VALUE CAN WE OFFER TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE TO THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, AND THOSE ARE SOME PHILOSOPHICAL PINNINGS THAT WE HAVE IN THAT REGARD.

SECONDLY, AT LEAST FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, SINCE THE ADVENT OF SENATE BILL 55, WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR TECHNICAL COLLEGES, JUST EARLIER TODAY, I WAS WORKING WITH NICK GWINDEL, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FROM THE TECHNICAL COLLEGES AND WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT HOW WE SHARE ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS, TRANSFER OF CREDITS, ET CETERA, EITHER SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING SO MUCH BETTER NOW THAN WE WERE DOING A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS, NOT ONLY ARE WE PROUD OF HOW FAR WE'VE COME BUT WE'VE JUST SCRATCHED THE SURFACE ON WHAT WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

>> ALIGNING COURSE OFFERINGS WITH WORKFORCE NEEDS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR, PERHAPS, BULLET POINTS OF THIS NEW NEW STRATEGIC PLAN.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE FILLING THOSE NEEDS THAT YOU SEE TO AN ADEQUATE DEGREE WITHOUT DUPLICATING PROGRAMS ACROSS INSTITUTIONS AND WITHOUT SATURATING THE WORKFORCE WITH THOSE PARTICULAR PROGRAMS?

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE DID IN THAT AREA.

ONE IS WE PUT TOGETHER AN EMCI STUDY, I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY RIGHT NOW WHAT THAT STANDS FOR BUT WE DID A STUDY DURING THE SENATE BILL 55 WORK THAT SAYS, WHAT ARE OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS TODAY?

AND WHAT DO OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE?

SO WE DID SOME RESEARCH TO SAY WHAT ARE THE TOP NEEDS IN OUR STATE AND YOU CAN IMAGINE HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, THE THINGS THAT I THINK MOST FOLKS WOULD -- IF YOU JUST ASKED THEM, WHAT ARE OUR NEEDS IN THIS STATE, THEY WOULD COME UP WITH THOSE THINGS.

THE SECOND THING THAT WERE RE-DOING IS, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SAY WE HAVE NEEDS IN THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS, BECAUSE NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE WOULD TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE NEEDS IN CYBER SECURITY, WHEN IN FACT WE DO.

AND WE HAVE ABUNDANT NEED IN CYBER SECURITY.

SO NOT ONLY DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE RESEARCH AND SEE WHAT IT TELLS US BUT WE ALSO NEED TO TALK TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS AND SAY -- AND SAY WHAT ARE THE EMERGING INDUSTRIES THAT WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF.

I THINK NOWHERE IS THAT MORE PRONOUNCED THAN AT DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY WHERE THEY ARE REALLY, REALLY EMBARKING ON THE CYBER SECURITY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT WORKFORCE.

BUT ALSO JUST UP THE ROAD FROM THERE, IN BROOKINGS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BIOMEDICAL PROCESSING AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THAT REGARD, AND, REALLY, THE CHANGE IN A LONGSTANDING INDUSTRY, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO SOUTH DAKOTA, AND THAT IS AG, THE AG INDUSTRY.

SO WE'RE NOT ONLY LOOKING AT NEW AND EMERGING INDUSTRIES BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT HOW ARE OUR CURRENT INDUSTRIES PIVOTING AND OUR CAMPUS PRESIDENTS AND FOLKS ON OUR CAMPUSES DO A WONDERFUL JOB OF TALKING WITH THOSE INDUSTRY PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING ARE STUDENTS AND THE WORKFORCE THAT THEY NEED HERE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

SO IT NOT ONLY WORKS FOR THE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY FOLKS BUT IF YOU'RE A STUDENT GOING INTO COLLEGE, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO COME OUT WITH SOMETHING THAT'S MARKETABLE, AS WELL, SO THERE IS A WIN-WIN-WIN THERE.

THERE IS A WIN FOR HIGHER ED CERTAINLY, THERE IS A WIN FOR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AND THERE IS A WIN FOR OUR STUDENT POPULATION.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT MARKETABLE SKILLS, OF COURSE, WHEN IT COMES TO HIGHER EDUCATION BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF PIECES, ESPECIALLY OF A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION THAT MIGHT NOT IMMEDIATELY SEEM MARKETABLE BUT ARE STILL VALUABLE.

HOW DO YOU COMMUNICATE THE VALUE OF A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION TO THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF SOUTH DAKOTA?

>> YEAH, FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF THAT AND THAT CAME OUT IN SENATE BILL 55, TOO, WAS WE WERE TOLD, YOU THEY WOULD TO TELL YOUR STORY BETTER.

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW YOUR STORY AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE VALUE THAT YOU BRING BACK TO THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

WHEN YOU THINK OF THE INVESTMENT THAT THE STATE MAKES IN HIGHER ED, JUST IN OUR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, IT'S OVER $800 MILLION THAT WE SPEND TO RUN THE BOARD OF REGENTS SYSTEM IN ANY ONE YEAR.

200 -- I BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS 236 MILLION OF THOSE DOLLARS COME FROM THE GENERAL FUNDS SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT PEOPLE WOULD LOOK WITH SCRUTINY AT THE BUSINESS THAT IS THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

THERE IS A LARGE INVESTMENT THERE.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WAS WE LOOKED AT, WELL, WHAT IS THE PAYBACK, WHAT'S THE RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT, PARTICULARLY THAT 236 MILLION THAT'S COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND?

HOW DO WE KNOW WE'RE GETTING OUR MONEY BACK ON THAT?

THIS PAST YEAR, AS SENATE BILL 55 WAS CONCLUDING, WE DID A STUDY WITH A GROUP CALLED PARKER PHILLIPS INCORPORATED, AND ASKED THEM TO CALCULATE THAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND THEIR ESTIMATES WERE THAT WE RECEIVE BACK FOR THAT -- 236 MILLION INVESTMENT, $2.1 BILLION INTO THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

SO WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT $236 MILLION AS AN INVESTMENT AND NOT AS AN EXPENSE.

IT'S EASY TO LOOK TO THE EXPENSE SIDE AND SAY, WELL, THAT'S AN EXPENSIVE VENTURE AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS BASED ON THAT REPORT AND ALSO A MILKEN FOUNDATION REPORT FROM 2013, SO TAKING ON SOME AGE NOW OF TALKING ABOUT HOW THE REAL G.D.P.

IN A STATE OR REGION IS IMPACTED BY EDUCATION THAT IS RECEIVED BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.

I LOOK AT THOSE TWO THINGS AND SAY, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE HIGHER EDUCATION, WHETHER THAT'S TECHNICAL COLLEGE OR OUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, WE HAVE TO GET STUDENTS A GREAT K-12 EDUCATION AND THEN REALLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO TO SCHOOL BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.

BECAUSE OUR STATE NEEDS IT, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IS DEPENDENT UPON IT AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT INDIVIDUALLY, THERE IS A LOT -- A LOT MORE MONEY TO BE MADE FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO DO GO AND GARNER SOME SORT OF EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.

>> ANOTHER PIECE OF THE PUZZLE IS BRAIN DRAIN, SO WE HAVE EDUCATED PEOPLE WHO END UP LEAVING THE STATE AFTER GRADUATION, AND OF COURSE THAT'S A POST-GRADUATION PROBLEM SO PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THAT'S BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

BUT HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS ABOUT COMBATING BRAIN DRAIN?

>> SUCH A GOOD QUESTION.

SO YOU THINK OF BRAIN DRAIN AND YOU CAN LOOK AT IT FROM ONE HAND AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO BRAIN DRAIN, OUR ROLE IN HIGHER EDUCATION REALLY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE RETAINED AND THAT THEY PERSIST AND THAT THEY GRADUATE.

ONCE THEY GRADUATE, NOW, GOSH, THAT'S SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROBLEM.

WELL, AS SOMEBODY WHO LIVES IN SOUTH DAKOTA, EARNS A LIVING IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND IS VERY INTERESTED IN THE WORKFORCE IN SOUTH DAKOTA, THAT IS MY PROBLEM OR AT LEAST I SHOULD BE AT THE TABLE, WE SHOULD ALL BE AT THE TABLE AND BE NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT SORT OF BRAIN DRAIN ARE WE SEEING AS A STATE AND HOW DO WE STOP THAT BRAIN DRAIN.

THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK WE SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS ABOUT THE OUT-MIGRATION WE SEE VERSUS THE IN-MIGRATION THAT WE SEE.

SO I THINK WE CAN DO THAT.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO TO REALLY ADDRESS THAT BRAIN DRAIN.

YOU KNOW, ONE WAY THAT WE'RE DOING IT IS THROUGH THE FREEDOM SCHOLARSHIP, NOT ONLY ARE WE -- ARE WE MAKING COLLEGE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE, BUT IN ORDER TO IMPACT THAT -- THE GRANT AND AID THAT THEY RECEIVE, THEY ALSO HAVE TO COMMIT TO WORKING IN SOUTH DAKOTA FOR THREE YEARS.

SO IF WE CAN EDUCATE SOMEBODY IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND THEN HAVE THEM BEGIN THEIR WORK LIFE IN SOUTH DAKOTA, WE'VE GONE A LONG WAY OF CURTAILING THAT BRAIN DRAIN, THAT OUT-MY GRAIRKS SO THAT'S ONE WAY.

ANOTHER WAY IS, I THINK SEVERAL INDUSTRIES, HIGHER EDUCATION BEING ONE OF THEM, NEEDS TO SIT AT THE TABLE.

OUR LEGISLATURE, ONE OF THEM, BUT ABSOLUTELY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, AND SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO INCENTIVIZE FOLKS TO STAY IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA ONCE THEY GRADUATE.

THE FREEDOM SCHOLARSHIP IS A GREAT FIRST STEP.

THE TECHNICAL COLLEGES ALSO HAVE A SIMILAR SCHOLARSHIP AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT THAT'S VERY SIMILAR AND TREMENDOUS IN TERMS OF EDUCATING SOUTH DAKOTA STUDENTS AND THEN MAKING THEM -- HAVING THEM STAY IN SOUTH DAKOTA TO BEGIN THEIR WORK LIFE.

THOSE ARE GREAT FIRST STEPS.

I THINK WE NEED TO PUT SOME GREAT MINDS TOGETHER AROUND THE TABLE AND SAY, WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?

AND THAT'S, I THINK, A NEXT STEP IN THAT REGARD.

>> WHO IS HELP DO YOU THINK YOU NEED THE MOST TO COMBAT BRAIN DRAIN IN SOUTH DAKOTA?

>> BOY, I DON'T KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD PUT ONE ENTITY OVER ANOTHER BUT, YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES CERTAINLY HAVE TO BE THERE.

AND I THINK THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO BE THERE, AS WELL, SO I WOULD -- I WOULD START WITH THOSE TWO AND I THINK -- I THINK HIGHER ED SHOULD SIT AT THAT TABLE BUT I DON'T WANT TO OVER-ESTIMATE OUR IMPORTANCE IN THAT CONVERSATION.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE THERE AND HELP ASSIST WITH THE CONVERSATION BUT I THINK IF YOU GOT BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AND OUR LEGISLATURE TOGETHER, I THINK YOU SHOULD COME UP WITH SOME REALLY GOOD IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE.

>> YOU CAN SEE MY FULL CONVERSATION WITH BRIAN MAHER ONLINE AT SDPB.ORG/NEWS.

THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR ONGOING COVERAGE ON THE STATE'S ECONOMY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

IF THERE'S A STORY WE MISSED TONIGHT, I HOPE YOU'LL LET ME KNOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL ME OR FIND ME ON TWITTER, @JACKIEHENDRYSD.

BUT SPEAKING OF HIGHER EDUCATION, IT'S GRADUATION SEASON.

SOUTH DAKOTA MINES IN RAPID CITY HELD ITS COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY EARLIER THIS MONTH.

THE GUEST OF HONOR WAS BILLY MILLS.

HE WON THE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IN THE 10,000 METER RACE IN 1964.

HE'S STILL THE ONLY AMERICAN GOLD MEDALIST IN THAT EVENT.

HE'S ALSO A MEMBER OF THE OGLALA SIOUX TRIBE, AND FOUNDED THE RUNNING STRONG FOR AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH NONPROFIT.

MILLS FOUND COMFORT IN RUNNING AFTER LOSING BOTH HIS PARENTS AT A YOUNG AGE.

HE SHARED HIS MEMORY OF THAT OLYMPIC RACE IN HIS COMMENCEMENT SPEECH.

>> THE GUN GOES OFF LAP AFTER LAP RUNNERS FALL BEHIND.

WE CROSS THE THREE MILE, UNDER THE WORLD RECORD, I'M RUNNING THE FASTEST 3 MILE OF MY LIFE BUT WE HAVE OVER THREE MORE MILES TO GO.

THERE'S NO WAY I COULD CONTINUE.

I WAS GOING TO QUIT.

I LOOKED INTO THE STANDS TO MAKE SURE I COULD, WHERE NOBODY COULD RECOGNIZE ME.

BUT I FOCUSED ON MY WIFE.

SHE'S CRYING, ONE MORE LAP, ONE MORE LAP.

TWO LAPS TO GO.

THERE'S FOUR OF US LEFT.

WALLY FROM ETHIOPIA WAS BEGINNING TO FADE.

I'M STRUGGLING, I TAKE THE LEAD ONE MORE TIME, CLOCKED THE WORLD RECORD HE -- CLARK, THE WORLD-RECORD HOLDER CAME RIGHT PAST ME BUT SLOWED THE PACE.

I KNEW I WAS IN THE RACE TO THE FINISH.

40 MINUTES TO GO, I MOVE INTO FOURTH PLACE AGAIN ON CLARK'S SHOULDER.

HE PUSHES ME INTO THE THIRD LANE.

I STUMBLED.

BROKE BETWEEN US, I PUSHED AGAIN, CLARK AND GUBUDI TAKE OFF.

THE YEAR BEFORE THE OLYMPIC GAMES, I'M DIAGNOSED WITH HEY HYPOGLYCEMIC, TYPE 2 DIABETIC.

WE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.

I START TO GO LOW BLUED SUGAR, A STICKY, CHANNEL' SWEAT, NOT THE FREE SWEAT OF EXERCISE.

MY VISION COMING AND GOING.

I DECIDED, LET THEM GET MAYBE TEN YARDS AHEAD OF ME, I WOULD MAKE ONE FINAL TRY COMING OFF THE CURVE.

95 METERS TO THE FINISH, WHERE MY WIFE PATRICIA WAS SITTING.

AS I'M REACHING THAT POINT, I'M NOT ABLE TO CLOSE, LIFTING MY KNEES, PUMPING MY ARMS BUT I'M NOT ABLE TO CLOSE.

A RUNNER IN LANE ONE, BEHIND CLARK AND GUBUDI WHO ARE EIGHT YARDS AHEAD OF ME COMES IN FRONT OF ME, TO LANE FIVE, TO LET ME GO BY.

AS I GO BY, I GLANCE OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE, IN THE CENTER OF HIS SINGLET, I SAW AN EAGLE.

I'M BACK TO THIS LITTLE BOY, SON, IF YOU DO THESE THINGS I'M SHARING WITH YOU, SOME DAY YOU MAY HAVE THE WINGS OF AN EAGLE.

WINGS OF AN EAGLE GO, IT WAS POWERFUL, SACRED, IT WAS EMOTIONAL.

WINGS OF AN EAGLE.

I CAN WIN, I CAN WIN.

BUT I MAY NOT GET TO THE FINISH LINE FIRST.

BUT I'M GOING TO WIN.

DID I CONTRADICT MYSELF?

THEN -- BUT I'M STILL GOING TO TRY TO GET TO THE FINISH LINE FIRST.

WINGS OF AN EAGLE, THEY TAKE BRICKS ACROSS MY CHEST.

I COME TO A STOP, AN OFFICIAL CAME UP TO ME AND HIS WORDS WERE, WHO ARE YOU?

WHO ARE YOU?

AND MY WORDS WERE, OH, MY GOD, DID I MISCOUNSEL THE LAPS?

FINISHED, FINISHED, YOU'RE THE NEW OLYMPIC CHAMPION.

IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU?

I SAID, I'M GOING TO GO TELL THE GERMAN ATHLETE THE EAGLE ON HIS SINGLELET HELPED ME WIN BUT I WANT MY WIFE, WHERE IS SHE?

359D METERS UP THE TRACK, 14 ROWS UP, THREE ROWS IN.

I FIND THE GERMAN, I START TO TELL HIM THE EAGLE HELPED ME WIN.

THERE WAS NO EAGLE.

IT WAS SIMPLY A PERCEPTION, PERCEPTIONS CAN CREATE US, PERCEPTIONS CAN DESTROY US.

YOU WILL FACE MANY, MANY PERCEPTIONS AS YOU START YOUR YOU KNOW', AS YOU START CREATING YOUR CAREER.

AMERICA TODAY IS RESPONDING TO PERCEPTIONS WITHOUT WILLING TO FIND THE TRUTH.

PATRICIA TOLD ME MOMENTS LATER, TAPPING ME ON THE SHOULDER, Ms. MILLS, THE NEW OLYMPIC CHAMPION WANTS HIS WIFE.

THEY BROUGHT HER TO ME.

WE HUG AND WE'RE CRYING.

I SAID, PAT, I KNOW WHEN IT MEANT.

WHAT WHAT MEANT?

I'M GOING TO WIN BUT I MAY NOT GET TO THE FINISH LINE FIRST.

SHE LOOKS AT ME WITHOUT ASKING BUT HER EYES SAID WHAT ARE YOU THINKING, WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

PATRICIA, I HEALED A BROKEN SOUL AND IN THE PROCESS, I WON AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL.

>> A SPECIAL THANKS TO SOUTH DAKOTA MINES FOR THAT VIDEO.

YOU CAN WATCH BILL ME MILLS' FULL COMMENCEMENT SPEECH ONLINE.

>> EACH MONTH, SDPB SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON A SPECIFIC TOPIC.

THIS MONTH, WE EXAMINE TITLE IX, WHICH IS 50 THIS SUMMER.

THE FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX IN SCHOOLS THAT RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING.

WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT TITLE IX IN THE CONTEXT OF SPORTS.

BUT ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES, THE TITLE IX OFFICE MANAGES COMPLAINTS RELATED TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY HAS THE LARGEST STUDENT ENROLLMENT OF ANY PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN THE STATE.

MICHELLE JOHNSON HAS BEEN THE SCHOOL'S TITLE IX COORDINATOR FOR EIGHT YEARS.

OVER THAT TIME, SHE'S SEEN THE RISE OF DATING APPS AND ADJUSTED FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

SHE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE FUN AND MAKE FRIENDS IN COLLEGE, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO STAY SAFE.

>> OVER THE SUMMER, THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WILL PREPARE TO SEND A CHILD TO COLLEGE.

WHAT KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS SHOULD PARENTS AND GUARDIANS BE HAVING WITH THEIR STUDENTS BEFORE THEY GO OFF TO CAMPUS FOR THE FIRST TIME?

>> ONE IMPORTANT FACTOR IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO SEXUAL ASSAULT, ALCOHOL IS THE NUMBER ONE DATE RAPE DRUG.

IT IS INVOLVED IN PROBABLY 95% OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULTS THAT OCCUR ON CAMPUS IN ONE DEGREE OR OTHER.

SO REALLY BEING SAFE IF YOU'RE GOING TO CONSUME ALCOHOL.

KNOW YOUR LIMITS, PROTECT YOUR DRINKS, ALWAYS STAY WITH A FRIEND OR BE WITH A FRIEND, AND THEN ALSO, KNOW THAT ALCOHOL NEGATES CONSENT.

SO IF SOMEBODY HAS CONSUMED ALCOHOL TO THE EXTENT WHERE THEY'RE INCAPACITATED, WHETHER OR NOT THEY SAY YES, IT'S STILL A NO.

AND THEY CAN'T CONSENT IF THEY ARE INCAPACITATED DUE TO ALCOHOL.

>> JOHNSON SAYS DATING APPS LIKE TINDER AND BUMBLE HAVE LED TO AN INCREASE IN STALKING AND OTHER TITLE IX RELATED COMPLAINTS.

>> WITH THOSE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES, STUDENTS DON'T ALWAYS COMMUNICATE ON THE SAME LEVEL.

AND SOMETIMES THEY'LL SAY, "I WANT TO HOOK UP," BUT THEY DON'T DEFINE WHAT "HOOK UP" MEANS.

AND FOR ONE STUDENT, A HOOKUP MIGHT MEAN, "I WANT TO SIT DOWN AND WATCH A MOVIE WITH YOU AND TALK TO YOU AND GET TO KNOW YOU."

WHERE, ON ANOTHER LEVEL "HOOK UP" MIGHT MEAN "I WANT TO HAVE SEX."

AND SOMETIMES WHEN THEY DON'T COMMUNICATE THAT WAY, IT ENDS UP IN A SITUATION WHERE ONE STUDENT FEELS LIKE THERE WAS A SEXUAL ASSAULT OR SOME SEXUAL ACTIVITY OCCURRED WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT.

>> HAVE YOU SEEN THAT STUDENTS HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT THE DEFINITION OF CONSENT?

>> STUDENTS DEFINITELY WILL VARY WITH THEIR DEFINITION OF CONSENT.

I WILL TALK TO STUDENTS SOMETIMES AND SAY, "WELL, THE STUDENT FEELS LIKE YOU SEXUALLY ASSAULTED THEM."

AND THE STUDENT WILL SAY, "OH, I WOULD NEVER DO THAT.

I WOULD NEVER SEXUALLY ASSAULT SOMEBODY."

AND THEN I SAY, "WELL, YOU WENT TO THIS PARTY, RIGHT?"

"YEAH."

"AND YOU GAVE THIS PERSON A LOT OF ALCOHOL, RIGHT?"

"WELL YEAH."

"WAS THE INTENT TO GET THEM DRUNK, TO LOOSEN THEM UP SO THEY WOULD AGREE TO HAVE SEX WITH YOU?"

"OH, WELL, YEAH."

OKAY, WELL, IT'S NOT CONSENT.

AND THEY DON'T REALIZE.

THEY THINK THAT A SEXUAL ASSAULT IS GOING BEHIND A BUSH AND JUMPING OUT AT A STRANGER AND PHYSICALLY, VIOLENTLY RAPING SOMEBODY.

THAT IS ONE DEFINITION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THAT'S NOT THE ONLY DEFINITION.

AND SOMETIMES THE ACQUAINTANCE RAPES ARE JUST AS DEVASTATING AS THOSE STRANGER ATTACKS CAN BE.

>> TITLE IX OFFICES CAN CONNECT STUDENTS WITH SUPPORT AND COUNSELING SERVICES.

THEY CAN ALSO DETERMINE WHETHER AN INCIDENT WARRANTS PUNISHMENT.

BUT TITLE IX OFFICES DO NOT ACT AS AN AGENCY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AS OF 2020, THEY CANNOT DISCIPLINE STUDENTS FOR AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENS OFF-CAMPUS.

>> SO IF THERE'S A HOUSE PARTY TWO BLOCKS OFF CAMPUS, THE UNIVERSITY WILL PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE MEASURES TO ANY VICTIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THAT HOUSE PARTY.

BUT WE CANNOT PUNISH A STUDENT WHO MAYBE SEXUALLY ASSAULTS SOMEBODY ELSE AT THAT LOCATION.

>> BUT JOHNSON STILL ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO REACH OUT AND ASK QUESTIONS, EVEN IF THEY AREN'T SURE IF THEIR SITUATION IS PROTECTED UNDER TITLE IX.

>> IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING, IF YOU ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU CAN'T FOCUS IN CLASS AND YOUR GRADES ARE DECREASING OR DECLINING, YOU ARE IMPORTANT.

IT DOES MATTER.

EVERY INDIVIDUAL STUDENT MATTERS, AND WE WILL HELP YOU.

WE WILL PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROCEED TOWARD GRADUATION.

>> WE'LL LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH TWO STORIES ABOUT OUR STATE'S GREAT OUTDOORS AND THE CHALLENGES THEY'RE FACING.

SOUTH DAKOTA ANGLERS ARE GEARING UP FOR FISHING SEASON.

BUT BEWARE.

AN INVASIVE SPECIES IS NOW ONE OF THE TOP CONCERNS FOR RIVERS AND LAKES.

SDPB'S LAURA JOHNSON SHARES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ZEBRA MUSSELS.

>> ZEBRA MUSSELS HAVE STRIPED SHELLS THAT GROW ABOUT AS BIG AS A THUMB.

THEY ARE ALSO INCREDIBLY PROLIFIC.

A SINGLE FEMALE CAN RELEASE MORE THAN A MILLION EGGS EACH YEAR.

THEIR MICROSCOPIC OFF-SPRING ARE CALLED VELIGERS AND ARE SO SMALL, THEY CAN'T BE SEEN BY THE NAKED EYE.

AT FIRST, THEY FLOAT AROUND LOOKING FOR A SURFACE TO ATTACH TO.

THEN, THEY CAN TRANSFER FROM ONE WATERWAY TO ANOTHER.

WHEN THE INVASIVE MUSSELS ENTER A WATERWAY, THEY THROW OFF THE ECOSYSTEM.

THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE THE MUSSELS EAT ORGANIC MATERIAL THAT NATIVE SPECIES RELY ON.

THE INVASIVE MUSSELS OUTCOMPETE NATIVE MUSSELS.

VELIGERS ENCIRCLE THE NATIVE SPECIES.

AS THE ZEBRA MUSSELS GROW, THEY PREVENT THE NATIVE MUSSEL FROM OPENING, EFFECTIVELY KILLING IT.

ZEBRA MUSSELS HAVE FEW NATURAL PREDATORS IN NORTH AMERICA.

SOME WATERFOWL AND FISH EAT THEM BUT CAN'T KEEP PACE WITH THE INVASIVE MUSSEL'S REPRODUCTIVE ABILITIES.

THE MUSSELS ALSO CAUSE DAMAGE TO MUNICIPAL WATER INTAKE AND FILTRATION SYSTEMS.

THE U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION REPORTS HYDROELECTRIC DAMS PRODUCE HALF OF SOUTH DAKOTA'S ENERGY.

ZEBRA MUSSELS COLONIZE IN THE PIPES AND DISRUPT THE FLOW OF WATER.

IT CAN COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO RESTORE THE SYSTEM.

IN 2018, GAVIN'S POINT DAM NEAR YANKTON SHUT DOWN FOR FIFTY DAYS.

ENGINEERS CLEANED THE INTAKE PIPES AND COOLING SYSTEM BUT ARE STILL BATTLING LONG-TERM EFFECTS.

EACH WEEK, THE SYSTEM WAS CLOSED COST MORE THAN $50,000 IN REVENUE.

LAST SUMMER, FORT RANDALL DAM USED A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

ENGINEERS INJECTED A DILUTED COPPER SOLUTION TO GET RID OF ZEBRA MUSSEL COLONIES.

COPPER IS KRYPTONITE TO THE MUSSELS.

IT KILLS VELIGERS AND STERILIZES ADULT MUSSELS.

WHILE THE COPPER SOLUTION IS CLASSIFIED AS A PESTICIDE, ECOLOGISTS SAY IF IT REACHES A WATERWAY, IT'S FAR TOO DILUTED TO HAVE A SERIOUS IMPACT.

PIERRE HAS COPPER SCREENS INSTALLED IN THE SYSTEM THAT DRAWS WATER FROM THE MISSOURI RIVER.

ZEBRA MUSSELS HAVE NOT REACHED LAKE OAHE YET, BUT THE SCREENS SHOULD PROTECT THE SYSTEM.

STATE OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF ZEBRA MUSSELS AND SAY KEEPING THEM OUT OF WATERWAYS IS THE BEST METHOD.

A RECENT STATE LAW SAYS PEOPLE NEED TO DRAIN AND CLEAN BOATS WHEN THEY LEAVE A RIVER OR LAKE.

THERE ARE BOAT WASHING STATIONS IN SOME PLACES LIKE LAKE SHARP AND LAKE CLARK.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, STATE LAWMAKERS CONSIDERED A COUPLE MEASURES FOCUSED ON INVASIVE ZEBRA MUSSELS.

THEY PASSED ONE RESOLUTION THAT CREATES A NEW BOARD TO EVALUATE MITIGATION METHODS.

THEY VOTED DOWN FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL BOAT WASHING STATIONS.

ZEBRA MUSSELS FIRST SHOWED UP IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION IN THE 1980S.

THEY CAME TO NORTH AMERICA IN THE BALLAST WATER OF OCEAN-GOING SHIPS.

THE INVASIVE MUSSELS ARE NOW FOUND IN THE MIDWEST AND ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

THEY CONTINUE TO SPREAD AND HAVE BEEN FOUND AS FAR AWAY AS CALIFORNIA.

FOR SDPB, I'M LAURA JOHNSON.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE OF LAURA'S COVERAGE ONLINE AT SDPB.ORG/NEWS.

AND IF FISHING ISN'T YOUR STYLE, IT'S NOT TOO SOON TO PLAN FOR PHEASANT SEASON.

EVERY FALL, HUNTERS TAKE TO THE PRAIRIES TO BAG THE STATE BIRD.

BUT NOW, THE HUNT ON PUBLIC LANDS FACES A CHALLENGE.

SOME SAY THE STATE IS REDEFINING THE TRADITION.

SDPB'S JOSHUA HAIAR REPORTS.

TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT HIM.

HE'S ONE OF THE GREAT PRIZES OF AMERICAN HUNTING.

BUT SOUTH DAKOTA IS WHERE HE FEELS MOST AT HOME.

>> SOUTH DAKOTA HAS MADE ITS REPUTATION AND ITS HERITAGE BASED UPON WILD BIRDS.

WILD BIRDS IN WILD GREAT PLACES TO HUNT.

NOW WE GO TO PEN-RAISED BIRDS.

WHAT'S HAPPENED, OF COURSE, IS WHEN YOU PUSH, WHEN PEOPLE PUSH COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE RESOURCE, OR THEY PROMISE IN THEIR FANCY BROCHURE THAT YOU COME TO ABC LODGE OR YOU COME TO THE ABC HOTEL, MOTEL, IN SUCH AND SUCH A PLACE AND YOU'LL HAVE ARE, QUOTE, GUARANTEED PHEASANT HUNTING.

WELL, ONCE YOU MOVE IT OUT OF HUNTING, WHICH IS NEVER A GUARANTEE, AND UNDER THE NORTH AMERICAN MODEL IS NOT A GUARANTEE, AND YOU MOVE IT OVER IN HERE TO THE ASSEMBLYLINE PRODUCTION OF PENN-RAISED BIRDS BEING RELEASED OUT ON THIS GROUND OUT HERE, WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS YOU'VE APPEALED TO A WHOLE 'NOTHER ASPECT OF THIS HUNTING AND IT'S SHOOTING.

THEY WANT TO SHOOT.

>> THE CAPITAL JOURNAL REPORTED IN 2017, THE STATE WAS ADDING ALMOST 20 MORE PRIVATE SHOOTING PRESERVES.

BUT THE GROWING POP YOU LAIRLTD OF PRESERVES ISN'T THE ONLY THING CHANGING.

COOPER SEES FEWER WILD PHEASANTS WHEN HE HUNTS.

HE SAYS THERE'S A DISCONNECT WITH THE STATE TOURISM MATERIAL PROMISING PLENTY OF PHEASANTS.

>> BUT THE ONLY PLACE YOU COULD GUARANTEE THAT IS -- NOW IS OVER ON THE PEN-RAISED BIRD SIDE OF THE ALLEGE ERR, ON THE OTHER SIDE, NO, AND TO MY WAY OF THINKING, THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE I HUNT WITH, THEY WON'T GO TO A PRESERVE BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THE HUNT IS THE CRITICAL THING THAT THEY LIKE, AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE KISSING YOUR SISTER WHEN YOU'RE GOING OVER INTO THE -- INTO THE PEN-RAISED BIRDS AREA.

>> PEN-RAISED PHEASANTS ARE BREDS ON A FARM, LIKE CHICKENS.

PRODUCERS TYPICALLY SELL THE BIRDS TO A SHOOTING PRESERVE.

EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THE SPORT COME AS QUESTIONS CONTINUE ABOUT THE STATE'S WILD PHEASANT NUMBERS.

IN 1978, SOUTH DAKOTA REDUCED THE WILD PHEASANT BAG LIMIT FROM THREE BIRDS TO TWO.

THE MOVE CAME BECAUSE THE STATE'S PHEASANT COUNT HAD DROPPED TO FOUR AND A HALF MILLION BIRDS.

JOHN COOPER SAYS THAT WAS A WAKE-UP CALL.

>> IT'S ALARMING ECONOMICALLY TO SOUTH DAKOTA, IT'S ALARMING FROM THE STANDPOINT OF OUR HUNTING HERITAGE.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PROBABLY IN THAT FOUR OR FIVE-MILLION-BIRD AREA.

>> BUT, THAT'S HARD TO PROVE.

THE STATE STOPPED COUNTING WILD PHEASANTS, CALLED THE BROAD COUNT IN 2019.

STATE EMPLOYEES WOULD DRIVE THE SAME ROUTES EVERY YEAR AND COUNT THE NUMBER OF PHEASANTS THEY SAW.

THEY WOULD EXTRAPOLATE A TOTAL POPULATION ESTIMATE FROM THAT.

IN EARLY 020, THE SOUTH DAKOTA GAME FISH AND PARKS DEPARTMENT TEAMED UP WITH THE STATE TOURISM DEPARTMENT.

TOGETHER THEY DEVELOPED A MARKETING PLAN TO INCREASE PHEASANT NUMBERS IN THE STATE.

EACH DEPARTMENT IS INVESTING $350,000 A YEAR ON THE EFFORT THROUGH THIS YEAR.

AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ON THE PROGRAM ALSO TOUCHES ON WHY THE BROAD COUNT ENDED.

QUOTE, TO ENSURE THAT SOUTH DAKOTA IS NOT UNINTENTIONALLY DETERING HUNTERS FROM COMING TO OUR STATE BASED ON THE MEDIA HEADLINES REPORTING OF LOW BIRD NUMBERS.

CHRIS HAS BEEN SECTSDTIVE DIRECTOR OF SOUTH DAKOTA'S WILDLIFE FEDERATION FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS.

HE SAYS THE STATE'S TRASH NATURAL DOESN'T ADD UP.

>> THEY THREW IT OUT THE WINDOW AND NOW THEY'RE ASKING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, PRODUCURES WHO MAKE MONEY OFF OF PHEASANT HUNTING, THEY'RE ASKING THEM HOW THEIR PHEASANTS ARE.

WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY?

THEY'RE GREAT, THE BEST I'VE SEEN.

I JUST THINK WE'RE GOING DOWN THE WRONG PATH.

WE NEED TO KEEP SCIENCE IN OUR WILDLIFE AND MANAGE IT FOR EVERYBODY.

>> HESLA SAYS SUCCESSFUL PHEASANT SEASONS ARE NOW DEFINED BY THE NUMBER OF HUNTERS WHO BUY A LICENSE.

SDPB REQUESTED AN INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR FOR THIS STORY.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE REFERRED US TO GAME, FISH AND PARKS.

AFTER REPEATED REQUESTS FOR AN INTERVIEW, GPF SECRETARY KEVIN ROBLING REPLAYED TO QUESTIONS VIA EMAIL.

HE SAID IT WAS NEVER JUST ABOUT AN INCREASE INFEST ANT LICENSE SALES.

QUOTE, THE MARKETING EFFORTS ARE MORE ABOUT INVESTING IN THE STORY TELLING OF WHAT SOUTH DAKOTA HAS TO OFFER AND ENSURING THERE IS A SPACE FOR EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE.

IN HIS EMAIL, HE SAYS THE CON INVESTIGATION PROGRAM ARE THERE TO ASSURE ABUNDANT PUBLIC HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES.

QUOTE, THERE ARE MANY PHEASANTS HUNTERS WHO WISH TO ENJOY DO IT YOURSELF HUNTS, WHERE THEY CAN EXPLORE THE VARIOUS PUBLIC HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

GOVERNOR KRISTY NOEM WANTS TO CONVERT MORE LAND INTO HABITAT THROUGH THE SECOND CENTURY INITIATIVE.

SHE SPOKE VIRTUALLY TO A CONFERENCE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

>> SO MY GOAL IS TO REALLY GROW THAT PROGRAM AND CONTINUE TO GET MORE DOLLARS IN THERE, OPEN UP MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE ACRES TO BE COVERED AND IT HAS SEEN SOME BIG BENEFITS FOR FOLKS AND THE MORE PEOPLE SEE IT OUT, THERE THE MORE THEY'RE WILLING TO INVEST AND WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, TOO.

>> THE EFFORT IS ENROLLING ACRES BUT CRITICS SAY ONLY SOME ARE ENROLLED IN PARTS OF THE STATE THAT COULD BE PRIME PHEASANT HABITAT AND THOSE ACRES CAN BE HARVESTED FOR HAY EVERY OTHER YEAR.

JOHN LOCKEN SITS OPT GFAND P DEPARTMENT.

HE SAYS HABITAT CREATION IS A PRIMARY FOCUS.

>> ONE OF THE GREAT TOOLS THAT WE HAVE IS THE HABITAT STAMP NOW.

WE'RE ABLE TO ACCESS SOME MORE MONEY TO FACILITATE THOSE PROGRAMS AND THAT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL THING FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

>> THE HABITAT STAMP IS SOMETHING HUNTERS PURCHASE WITH THEIR LICENSE.

THE REVENUE GOES DIRECTLY TO IMPROVE AND DEVELOP MORE PUBLIC LAND FOR HUNTERS.

HOWEVER, PEOPLE BUYING A LICENSE TO HUNT ON A PRESERVE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BUY A HABITAT STAMP.

WILD BIRD HUNTERS SAY THAT IS ESPECIALLY UNFAIR AT A TIME WHEN THEY ARE SEEING FEWER WILD BIRDS.

RECENT ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE DEALT WITH THE QUESTION OF LOW PHEASANT NUMBERS DIFFERENTLY.

THE 2013 PHEASANT BROAD SURVEY SHOWED A 64% DROP FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.

IT ALSO REPORTED A 76% DECLINE FROM THE TEN-YEAR AVERAGE.

THOSE STATISTICS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THEN GOVERNOR DENNIS DAUGAARD, IN RESPONSE, THE GOVERNOR CALLED TOGETHER A SUMMIT.

BUT WITH MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE REGISTERED, I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE COMING AND GOING THROUGHOUT THE DAY BUT I'M GOING TO BE HERE THE WHOLE DAY.

>> THE DAY OFFERED DISCUSSIONS, EXPERT INSIGHTS AND PREVENT' OF FETE BACK FROM THE PUBLIC.

JON -- COOPER HELPED WRITE THE FINAL REPORT.

HE SAYS THE NOEM ADMINISTRATION APPEARS TO HAVE IGNORED THE FINDINGS.

>> HOW FAR ARE WE WILLING TO SUB SVELTE WHAT BASICALLY IS THE TRADITIONAL HUNTING ETHICS AND THE ENJOYMENT OF HUNTING AND HOW MUCH DO WE PUT IT INTO SOME KIND OF A DISNEYLAND?

THAT'S -- FOR ME, THAT'S THE WAY IT BOILS DOWN TO.

>> COOPER SAYS SOME OF THE PRESERVE HUNTERS DON'T KNOW THEY'RE SHOOTING AT PEN-RAISED BIRDS.

JUST OUTSIDE OF WINFORD SOUTH DAKOTA, THERE IS A 1200-ACRE SHOOTING PRESERVE.

TREVOR STARTED THE OPERATION A FEW YEARS AGO.

HE SAYS PRESERVES AND PUBLIC LAND HUNTERS ARE NOT IN COMPETITION.

>> AS FAR AS BIRD COUNTS GO, I WOULD SAY THAT WE ACTUALLY HELP THE BIRD COUNTS BECAUSE WE'RE REQUIRED TO REPLACE EVERY BIRD THAT GETS SHOT AND THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY CONTROL WHERE THE BIRDS GO WHEN WE RELEASE THEM.

>> REIL SAYS SOME OF HIS CUSTOMERS CONFIRM THE REALITY OF WILD BIRD NUMBERS.

>> WE'RE STARTING TO GET PEOPLE THAT DON'T NORMALLY GO ON PRESERVES THAT ARE STARTING TO TURN TO US BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT FINDING THE BIRDS ON PUBLIC LAND.

>> AND HE EMPATHIZES WITH THE HUNTER WHO COULDN'T AFFORD TO STAY AT A PRESERVE WHERE MOST PACKAGES RAISE FROM $200 TO $2,000 PER PERSON.

>> NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO SPEND MONEY TO GO HUNT ON A PRESERVE, I CAN DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT.

FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT'S PRETTY EXPENSIVE TO GO SHOOT THREE BIRDS SOUTH DAKOTA HUNTING PRESERVES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY PEN-RAISED PHEASANTS WITH A MARKER.

>>AND ACCORDING TO PHEASANTS FOREVER, THE ODDS OF THOSE BIRDS SURVIVING THEIR FIRST WINTER ARE DRAMATCALLY LESS THAN WILD BIRDS.

FOR MANY HUNTERS, PRESERVES NOW PLAY A ROLE IN THE ANNUAL TRADITION, JUST LIKE WILD PHEASANT HUNTING, THOSE WHO GO AFTER PEN-RAISED BIRDS CONTRIBUTE TO A MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY.

TREVOR REIL SAYS SOUTH DAKOTA'S SHOOTING PRESERVES ALSO PLAY A ROLE IN CONSERVATION EFFORTS.

THE LAND IS HOME TO MANY SPECIES, DEER, DUCKS, BUTTERFLIES AND BEES ALL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HABITAT THAT COULD OTHERWISE BE DRAINED, PLOWED AND PLANTED.

FOR SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M JOSHUA HAD.

AIER.

>> THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR, TONIGHT AND FOR THIS SEASON!

WE'RE OFF FOR THE SUMMER...

BUT NOT REALLY.

THIS IS THE TIME TO TRAVEL THE STATE FOR THE NEXT BIG STORY BUT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT YOUR HELP.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE ON THE NEXT "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS"?

AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN SEND US AN EMAIL OR FIND ME ON TWITTER @JACKIEHENDRYSD.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, HAVE A GREAT SUMMER.

AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

♪♪