Bart Pfankuch

Bart Pfankuch

Title: content director; expertise: agriculture, state government, education, rural issues, Indigenous people, poverty; language spoken: English; contact: 605-937-9398 / bart.pfankuch@sdnewswatch.org

Hurdles to Homeownership in South Dakota: Sign up now to watch Dec. 15 online panel discussion

Is the American Dream of homeownership fading in South Dakota? Experts differ on whether that is completely true, but it’s clear to everyone in the South Dakota housing ecosystem that in the current real estate market, purchasing a home has become harder than ever if not impossible for many

Dangerous, potentially deadly distracted driving remains a hard habit to break in South Dakota

South Dakota lawmaker Doug Barthel, a former police chief in Sioux Falls, tried to make state roadways safer from distracted drivers by spearheading passage of a law in 2020 to restrict cell phone use behind the wheel. The South Dakota law allows cell phone use in a vehicle, but only

With a campaign focused on character, Jamie Smith sees ‘genuine’ shot at upsetting Gov. Kristi Noem

RAPID CITY, S.D. – On debate night in South Dakota, Karen Marso parked her car and quickly scooted across a road in Rapid City to join a group of three dozen backers of gubernatorial candidate Jamie Smith. The gaggle of Smith supporters was there to await the arrival of the

Student meals part 2: Congressional action sought to revive free meal program

Supporters of universal free meals for all schoolchildren in America are looking to the U.S. Congress for continued funding, either in a spending measure or the 2023 Farm Bill. Bu so far, no measure to extend the free meal program exists in Washington, D.C., and South Dakota’s

More South Dakota students going hungry after federal free meal program ends

Thousands of schoolchildren across South Dakota are facing new barriers to getting proper nutrition at school due to the end of a pandemic-era federal program that provided free meals to all students regardless of parental income. Parents in South Dakota, meanwhile, are facing new financial challenges as they try to

As lawmakers raise questions, election officials in South Dakota defend state’s electoral system

Despite the concerns of some lawmakers and citizens, South Dakota election officials are “very confident” that the state electoral process is sound and that the 2022 general election results will be accurate and valid. As is the case in almost all states, the South Dakota electoral process has come under

News Watch to host online panel discussion on civility in government and politics on Sept. 29, 2022

News Watch to host online panel discussion on civility in government and politics on Sept. 29, 2022

In response to recent polling data showing that 79% of registered South Dakota voters believe that civility in America has declined over the past five years, and that only 2.3% of poll respondents said civility is improving, South Dakota News Watch will host an online panel discussion with civility