Math ➕ matters! Edmunds County #SouthDakota needs to check Riverview's math with their proposed 25K head #dairy - it actually equals over 35,000 animal units. #CAFOs

More than 1,500 data centers are planned nationwide, many in rural communities. Each day this week we are breaking down their water use, environmental impact and the growing opposition. #investigatemidwest #datacenters #fivethingstoknow

“Consolidation means that if something goes wrong, it goes wrong big time” www.cnbc.com/2026/07/27/c...

Consolidated food supply may be worsening cyclospora outbreaks, experts say

Experts say food industry consolidation may be amplifying the cyclospora outbreak, allowing contaminated produce to spread farther.

cnbc.com

It's exciting to see this development! Would love to see this move forward in #SouthDakota.

Canary Media Inc.@canarymedia.com · last wk.

Plug-in solar panels are taking off in the U.S. Here’s one way to get your hands on one.

Your polling place might have changed for today - check before you head to the polls. Meade County has a notable change - voters should go to Sturgis Brown High School. #sodakelections #governorrunoff

South Dakota News Watch@sdnewswatch.bsky.social · last wk.

Polls are now open for the first gubernatorial runoff in state history. Find out where you can vote here.

This would be more meaningful if state public utilities/services commissions signed on. Governors don't control #electricityrates in their states. Investor-owned #utilities are regulated by these commissions. And what about the rural co-ops? There are some holes to plug.

South Dakota Searchlight@southdakotasearchlight.com · 2w ago

President Donald Trump announced the addition of Republican governors, legislators, utility services and tech companies into his voluntary pledge aimed at keeping the construction and operation costs of #DataCenters off the shoulders of American consumers. Via @statesnewsroom.com

#Carboncapture isn't commercially viable anywhere - not in the US, not in Canada. It's a false climate solution. #carbongrifters

IEEFA North America@ieefa-northamerica.bsky.social · last wk.

Costs for commercial-scale carbon capture plants in Alberta are approaching thresholds that threaten profitability. Even under optimal conditions, our research finds that the Pathways CCS project may struggle to break even. via @thenarwhal.ca

The proposed Riverview Dairy would be the largest in the state. What is lost for Minnesota's rural communities, water and the environment, when big dairies move in & small/mid-sized farms are pushed out. The MN Dept of Ag is taking public comments on this ? app.publicnewsservice.org/story/minnes...

Minnesota's mega-dairy movement crosses paths with public scrutiny

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is hosting virtual meetings July 28 about the growing influence of large-scale dairy operations.On the heels of a controversial decision, the public is asked to

app.publicnewsservice.org

Yep, #carboncapture & #datacenters go together like peas & carrots. These corporate interests are deeply intertwined & they have legions of lobbyists. This is where #localcontrol & #zoning are vital to communities determining their future carbonherald.com/41-of-onsite...

This is when #zoning & #localcontrol are important. When the feds want to promote #bigtech & #fossilfuel corporate interests, counties can hold the line. #datacenters

Food & Water Watch@foodandwater.bsky.social · 2w ago

ICYMI: The EPA recently proposed eliminating public comment periods for some data center permits 😡 That means “less transparency” and it’s a blatant attempt to silence growing opposition around these extractive facilities.

Make those calls to Senators Thune & Rounds!

Dakota Rural Action@dakotarural.bsky.social · 2w ago

Tell SD Senators Thune & Rounds to fund Local Food Purchasing in the #FarmBill! This successful program was cut in 2025 but the Farm Bill can restore it & help #SouthDakota farmers & ranchers. #localfood

Tell SD Senators Thune & Rounds to fund Local Food Purchasing in the #FarmBill! This successful program was cut in 2025 but the Farm Bill can restore it & help #SouthDakota farmers & ranchers. #localfood

In a new OpEd, NFFC's director Tim Gibbons writes: "Our economies rise and fall with family farms... The roots of this crisis run deep, spurred on by the corporate capture of our institutions and the erosion of our democratic process." @kansascity.com #agsky #foodsovereignty #agriculture #FarmBill

Missouri farmers are going bankrupt under the same old US farm policy | Opinion

Congress needs to listen to family producers, not corporate agribusiness billionaires. | Opinion

kansascity.com

Exciting to see Yankton County passing a 6-month moratorium on #datacenters to give the county time to work on a comprehensive ordinance. They can extend it another 6 months if they need more time. This is a community acting proactively! www.ktiv.com/2026/07/22/d... #sodak #localcontrol

Data center moratorium passes in Yankton County, South Dakota

Southeast South Dakota county approves temporary moratorium on data center projects

ktiv.com

Another example of how #SNAP cuts have wide consequences that hurt people. We need to restore SNAP in the #FarmBill!

Public News Service@publicnewsservice.bsky.social · 2w ago

#Veterans in #Arizona are expressing concerns about proposed changes to the VA #disability rating system. The ratings help determine benefit levels, and some veterans worry changes could affect access to services they rely on..

Meta (worth $1.6 trillion), founded by Mark Zuckerberg (worth $232 billion) is trying to claw back $10,000 from the City of Cheyenne 🙄 The city's budget is $162 million so Zuck's personal wealth is 1,450X the city budget. This is a tactic to get communities to just give up #datacenters #bigtech

Dakota Rural Action@dakotarural.bsky.social · 2w ago

Happy Monday! News flash - #bigtech is exploting #rural communities unless we work together to enact some guardrails & then enforce them. #datacenters

Happy Monday! News flash - #bigtech is exploting #rural communities unless we work together to enact some guardrails & then enforce them. #datacenters

Dakota Rural Action@dakotarural.bsky.social · 2w ago

✋Raise your hand if you're not surprised that Big Tech is appealing the city's decision to terminate their discharge privileges for this #datacenter. They don't think the rules apply to them wyofile.com/as-data-cent... @wyofile.com

✋Raise your hand if you're not surprised that Big Tech is appealing the city's decision to terminate their discharge privileges for this #datacenter. They don't think the rules apply to them wyofile.com/as-data-cent... @wyofile.com

Notable that Summit is still fighting to keep its #carbonpipeline route intact in ND even though they didn't get a permit in SD & can't use #eminentdomain so had to scrap their route. Well, we're all still watching 👀https://kscj.com/2026/07/16/summit-carbon-continues-project-fight-in-north-dakota/

SUMMIT CARBON CONTINUES PROJECT FIGHT IN NORTH DAKOTA - KSCJ 1360

NORTH DAKOTA’S PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IS DEFENDING ITS APPROVAL OF THE SUMMIT CARBON SOLUTIONS PIPELINE. LAWYERS FOR P-S-C AND SUMMIT WERE IN COURT TUESDAY AFTER A LAWSUIT FILED BY TWO COUNTIES AND...

kscj.com

Kudos to Vermillion for being proactive about discussing #datacenters with the public. We hope they keep the conversation going & together come up w/a vision for their community. #transparency #opengovernment

Dakota News Now@dakotanewsnow.com · 3w ago

While no plans exist to place a data center in or around Vermillion, the area's Chamber and Development Company is holding discussions on the topic to garner public feedback. Story>> https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2026/07/16/vermillion-area-chamber-hosts-community-conversation-data-centers/ 

There are rate increases everywhere you look. #SouthDakota #ratepayers are getting hit too.

South Dakota Searchlight@southdakotasearchlight.com · 3w ago

Consumers are unlikely to see any relief in gas and electric bills as utilities proposed more than $18 billion in rate hikes across the country over the first half of the year. Via @stateline.org

Safety is NOT a factor in determining #pipeline routes? Seems like it's time to change the laws. Protecting #publicsafety is a basic tenet of why we have government.

South Dakota Searchlight@southdakotasearchlight.com · 3w ago

An attorney for ND's Public Service Commission said the agency can’t consider public safety when issuing a pipeline permit. The comment came during a hearing in a lawsuit brought by counties and landowners against the commission and #SummitCarbonSolutions over the permit process.

Finally - #KXL to pay a $30 million penalty plus another $40 million to prevent future accidents. Too bad it's taken nearly 4 years to get here. Make no mistake, the company was not proactive here, dragging their feet. #pipelines #oilandgas apnews.com/article/keys...

Keystone Pipeline system's operator agrees to pay a $26.9M penalty over a major Kansas oil spill

A proposed legal settlement with the U.S. government would require the Keystone Pipeline system’s operator to pay a civil penalty of nearly $27 million over a major oil spill in Kansas in December 202...

apnews.com

Closed loop systems do use less water but remember that there is some wastewater & that can contaminate water systems - see Cheyenne, WY. #datacenters

Public News Service@publicnewsservice.bsky.social · 3w ago

A midsize data center can use as much water as an 18-hole golf course. Idaho just passed a law requiring closed-loop cooling — but tax breaks for data centers remain. #DataCenters #Idaho #WaterUse

Upcoming funding shifts in the federal food stamp program are poised to cost states billions of dollars, heightening fears that more Americans will lose access to the nation’s largest food assistance program. Via @stateline.org

Food stamp changes will cost states billions, raising fears about SNAP’s future • South Dakota Searchlight

Upcoming funding shifts in the federal food stamp program are poised to cost states billions of dollars as federal changes take effect.

buff.ly

Why should #ruralcommunities be sacrifice zones for #CCS? It's a false #climatesolution so there are only risks to communities for these risky projects. Make no mistake, the companies make $$$ while communities risk their #water, health & safety www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

‘Huge wave’ of carbon storage projects causes alarm in small-town USA as oil firms eye billions in subsidies

Dozens of projects are in development across US despite concerns over environmental and health risks

theguardian.com

It's good to see Yankton County talking about this & setting a public hearing about #datacenters. If folks are interested, they need to show up & participate in the process!

Dakota News Now@dakotanewsnow.com · 4w ago

The moratorium was first raised at the commission’s meeting last month but was delayed for procedural reasons.

Why should #ruralcommunities be sacrifice zones for #CCS? It's a false #climatesolution so there are only risks to communities for these risky projects. Make no mistake, the companies make $$$ while communities risk their #water, health & safety www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

‘Huge wave’ of carbon storage projects causes alarm in small-town USA as oil firms eye billions in subsidies

Dozens of projects are in development across US despite concerns over environmental and health risks

theguardian.com

TODAY is the last day to register to vote in the July 28th gubernatorial runoff. Register at your county auditor's office. #southdakota #sodak #voterregistration

Very disappointed to see that actual #SouthDakota people do not have standing as "persons" in this petition. What exactly are we doing here? #sdleg #votingrights #voters

Dakota News Now@dakotanewsnow.com · 3w ago

South Dakota’s Board of Elections voted 5-2 to dismiss a League of Women Voters petition seeking rule changes for a new proof-of-citizenship registration law, citing legal standing limits. Story>> https://shorturl.at/0vHQ3