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

USD Law School facing challenges but seeing opportunities

VERMILLION, S.D. – One of South Dakota’s most venerable institutions, the law school at the University of South Dakota, is facing academic and financial challenges unprecedented in the school’s 117-year history. Applications are historically down. The balance sheet is barely in the black. More marginally qualified students have

New federal plan emerges to save SD habitat and species in peril

BUFFALO NATIONAL GAP GRASSLAND, S.D. – Since 1937, South Dakota and other states have relied on the same inadequate federal funding plan to help save endangered species. Since then, those revenues have proven to be uneven and generally in decline. Coupled with human population growth and destruction of wildlife habitat,

Family members among those charged in elder fraud prosecutions

A 2017 forgery case in northeast South Dakota has the hallmarks of many elderly exploitation cases. An 85-year-old victim. A young family member as suspect. Money stolen, a family torn apart, hearts broken. According to court papers, the case began when 21-year-old Brett J. Moffenbier of Florence, S.D. was

South Dakota a national leader in battling elder fraud

As the Baby Boomer generation ages and financial exploitation of the elderly increases, the state of South Dakota is taking an aggressive approach to fighting fraud against the elderly and has suddenly become a national leader in catching scammers and preventing victimization. South Dakota has one of the nation’s

Taste test draws clear distinction between patties

To discover the truth about the new, more advanced meatless burgers by Beyond Meat, South Dakota News Watch arranged a side-by-side comparison with traditional American ground beef. We grilled up one pre-formed beef patty bought at Walmart and one pre-formed patty of The Beyond Burger by Beyond Meat. Here is

SD cattle industry pushes for stricter labeling of newest meatless burgers

Producers of meat substitute products have developed technologically advanced non-meat hamburgers – some that even mimic the bloody juices of real beef – and the new products have South Dakota beef industry groups concerned and fighting back. Some in the beef industry claim that plant-based producers are misleading consumers through inventive packaging

Concerns grow as more kids are caught vaping in SD schools

School districts from Sioux Falls to Spearfish are grappling with an increase in students who are “vaping” on campus. Students – some as young as middle schoolers – inhale from hand-held devices that heat liquid gels into an aerosol containing nicotine and flavored compounds. Generically known as e-cigarettes, the vaping pens and