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

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

As 2022 election approaches, vast majority of South Dakota voters see civility declining in America

As 2022 election approaches, vast majority of South Dakota voters see civility declining in America

Editor’s note: This is the fourth and final article based on a recent statewide poll conducted by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota, and is the latest segment in the ongoing “South Dakota Matters” series of polls and panel

An artist's rendering of a Sanford research building showing about three floors with lots of glass construction.

Experts: Timing is right for Sanford Health’s $350M expansion in telemedicine

For those who have watched the slow but steady evolution of telemedicine in South Dakota and across the U.S., the recent announcement by Sanford Health that it is building a $350 million virtual health center in Sioux Falls might seem a bit perplexing. After all, the telemedicine services provided

Statewide poll shows referendum on recreational marijuana legalization in SD could fail in November

Statewide poll shows referendum on recreational marijuana legalization in SD could fail in November

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of articles based on a July 2022 statewide poll conducted by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota, and is the latest segment in the ongoing “South Dakota Matters” series of