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

Weekly newspapers in SD in peril amid COVID-19 pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic upends the South Dakota economy, leading to temporary business closures and skyrocketing unemployment, one of the state’s most venerable, trusted and beloved institutions is falling victim to the financial free fall: the small-town weekly newspaper. The recent reductions in circulation and advertising caused by the

Ethanol industry and corn growers in SD facing economic ‘bloodbath’ due to COVID-19

The ethanol industry in South Dakota and across the Midwest is in an economic free-fall due to decreased global demand for ethanol-infused gasoline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fear of spreading the deadly virus has led governments around the world to cancel gatherings and urge or require people to stay home,

Tourism slowdown could devastate Keystone, gateway to Mount Rushmore

As the tourism industry across South Dakota faces potential economic disaster in 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the small town of Keystone is in a particularly precarious position. The town of 327 people nestled in the central Black Hills at the base of Mount Rushmore National Memorial survives almost

SD businesses and governments brace for ‘almost non-existent’ 2020 tourism season due to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has almost completely shut down tourism in South Dakota, one of the state’s largest industries. The loss of visitors now and potentially into the summer tourism season threatens to cut off a vital economic lifeline for businesses and their employees and eliminate a major source of

Municipal elections and SD presidential primary could be delayed due to COVID-19

Amid growing concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, South Dakota lawmakers will consider a bill to postpone upcoming city elections in Sioux Falls, Brookings and other cities at least until June, and to allow Gov. Kristi Noem to delay the presidential primary from June 2 to July 28. The elections bill

Legislative special session likely needed to redo state budget due to COVID-19 pandemic

The South Dakota Legislature will likely hold a special session by the end of June to address financial uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and to potentially remake the coming year’s spending plan passed earlier this month, legislative fiscal leaders say. Members of the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee

Beef producers in SD reeling from COVID-19 epidemic and price irregularities

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned a bad situation for South Dakota beef producers into a crisis in which low market prices and corresponding revenue losses may force some ranchers into bankruptcy. Beef producers are seeing what in January was an $80 profit on each animal sold fall to a $75