Trump and Xi meeting , Bomb threat Sept. 25
A meeting between world leaders half a country away has big implications here at home in South Dakota. Jackson Dircks reports. South Dakota farmers are coming off the sting of a 2025 harvest where China bought significantly less U.S. soybeans. That includes South Dakota soybeans. China dominates the global soybean market - accounting for 60% of it. So, when China isn’t buying, soybeans from South Dakota and other places don’t have many places to go. The state’s tried to find other markets, but it’s hard to replace a buyer that large. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are meeting this week to discuss trade policy. To what extent isn’t known yet. One farmer in Colton, South Dakota, hopes it’ll lead to progress for farmers. “Well we just need to keep dialect going and keep things open and keep the markets open so we can move the products both ways, you know” Thompson said. That’s Jeff Thompson. He spoke to SDPB after giving a tour of his farm to the Asia Society. Its goal is to help Americans and Asian countries understand one another and cooperate. Trump has won in South Dakota by 60% the last three elections. However, his tariff policy has led to negative impacts on some in his voter base: farmers. Kevin Scott is another soybean producer and the Executive Director of the state’s Soybean Association. “We’ve had two years, like you say, where they were not buying a lot of beans,” Scott said. “And it’s not because the people that were processing didn’t want them. It was government relations that were not great.” In his role, he tries to encourage the Administration to be favorable to trade. This week’s gathering marks Trump’s and XI’s first in-person meeting since May. I’m SDPB’s Jackson Dircks. Thirteen million dollars will come to South Dakota to create a day and night crisis response service for the state. Officials say the money will also expand provider capacity and behavioral healthcare options. The funding supports providers in the South Dakota Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic initiative. This specifically targets mental health and substance abuse challenges. The money comes from the Department of Health and Human Services. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy writes, quote, “we are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce.” A bomb threat called into Rapid City’s main hospital was ultimately deemed a hoax. It comes amid a string of supposed bombs across the nation, and local leaders say the origin of such calls remains unclear. C.J. Keene reports. The decision to evacuate a hospital for a bomb threat is not an easy one. While an outpatient clinic may have less challenges, Monument Health Rapid City is West Rivers main surgery and inpatient care hub, making a proper evacuation much more delicate. That, according to Rapid City PD captain Scott Sitts, contributed to the decision not to evacuate. “We have to weigh patient safety and care, along with the staff safety and everyone’s safety. Our first indication was to get there and see what we saw. See if this was a hoax. Was there anything that validates this threat?” It comes amid a string of hoax hospital bomb threats. Considering Rapid City has faced international cyberattacks recently, it begs a question of origin of the hoaxers. “Federal partner of ours who will be investigating and following through with this is the FBI. They’re in the loop, they’re helping us with this call. I can’t speak regarding the threats in other states. Typically, when we see these hoaxes, it happens in multiple areas.” For Jason Callahan, director of safety services at Monument Health, today was a success for both the PD and in-house security team. “For us were here to support law enforcement. Our security team is out and about with the K-9 teams. Really, we’re here in a support capacity, and very thankful for their response.” Ultimately, Thursday’s sweep resulted in a headache for local authorities and hospital staff, as nothing was impacted long-term. “We’re open for business as usual. We’re very confident things are safe.” The response included K-9 units, the state Division of Criminal Investigation, and explosive detection resources from Ellsworth Air Force Base, which were deployed throughout the hospital complex. I’m SDPB’s C.J. Keene in Rapid City. A man charged in a 2024 homicide in Sioux Falls is taking a plea deal. It stems from an assault in the east side of Sioux Falls in September of 2024. Police say the victim was found severely beaten, and he later died from his injuries. Robin Swallow of Pine Ridge was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree murder. He originally pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Court documents say Swallow has now pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge. The more serious murder charges were dismissed. A sentencing date hasn’t been set. A federal judge is ordering a South Dakota man detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to remain in the U.S. Jackson Dircks reports. Federal Judge Jerry Blackwell ordered ICE could not remove or transfer Nathan Samudzi from the District of Minnesota. That’s according to court documents. Samudzi was previously detained in St. Louis earlier this year then released, the Yankton Press and Dakotan reports. Samudzi is married to a U.S. citizen and has been working his way toward citizenship. He was detained again this week. SDPB confirmed with the ICE detainee locator system that Samudzi is being held at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building. It’s in Fort Snelling, Minnesota. SDPB reached out to ICE. A Media spokesperson confirmed the detainment and said quote “Samudzi has been subject to a final order of removal since 2006 and has a conviction for drug possession and distribution.” Friends and family posted on social media pleading for help. They asked people to contact their Congressional representatives to ask them to step in. They’ve since updated the posts, saying he will be able to remain in the U.S. “while his case continues through the courts.” SDPB asked South Dakota’s federal delegates if they were aware of the situation. Both Representative Dusty Johnson and Senator Mike Rounds said they are. A spokesperson for Rounds’ Office said they are “actively evaluating available courses of action.” Johnson’s office said they’ve been in communication with ICE about the situation. I’m SDPB’s Jackson Dircks A new exhibition at the Dahl Arts Center in Rapid city will highlight the work of the Dream Catchers Artists Guild. Lakota artist Keith BraveHeart has curated Woihanblapi, which translates to “Group of Dreams.” The exhibition, which will travel, displays the diversity of indigenous artists and their projects. Additionally, a goal of the project is to foster intercultural understanding for South Dakotans and members of native nations. The Dream Catchers Artists Guild started in 1983 as a way for indigenous artists to tell their own stories, separate from narratives popular in western art. The exhibit opens Friday. A reception is scheduled for October 11 at the Dahl to coincide with the Rapid City powwow. The Worldwide Day of Play is tomorrow (Saturday) – and the Children’s Museum of South Dakota is celebrating the day. It’s a partnership between the museum…Association of Children’s Museums and Nickelodeon. Kerrie Vilhauer is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the museum, which is located in Brookings. She says it’s a day for all ages. “The world's really heavy sometimes, and the world's really busy sometimes, and when you take time for fun and frivolry, it's not frivolous. It's learning, it's connecting, it's growing, and it's just a great way to reduce stress. It's a great way to learn something new. It's a great way just to be creative and problem solve and It's really powerful. I think at the end of the day, we just want to promote that play is powerful, and if things are heavy for you, play can help make it better.” There are events throughou
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