Jackie Hendry
Host of South Dakota Focus, Senior ProducerJackie is based out of SDPB's Sioux Falls Studio.
Jackie produces and hosts SDPB’s flagship public affairs TV program, South Dakota Focus.
Her favorite part of working for SDPB is getting to visit a variety of communities and see parts of the state that are off the beaten path. She came to South Dakota from Illinois as a college student (Go Yotes!) and interned with SDPB in 2014 and again in 2017.
Hendry joined SDPB full time as the education and health care beat reporter in 2018 and moved to her current role in 2021.
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The state Department of Health is partnering with Avel eCare to give emergency medical personnel continuing education credit while they respond to calls. -
Lack of funding is a growing concern for first responders nation wide and in South Dakota. Local lawmakers are studying the issue, but what some say is the most obvious solution is a political non-starter. -
When the Mitchell Fire and EMS department considered ending services for people outside city limits, first responders had to rally support for a new tax to keep the service running. -
Watertown almost lost one of its largest child care centers last year. Instead, the city recently celebrated its newest child care center on the same campus hosting assisted living apartments and memory care facilities. -
A community effort led by the Mother of God monastery brings a new child care facility to Watertown. -
Despite consistent visitation in recent years and record-breaking visitor spending, critical South Dakota tourist attractions remain subject to broader concerns as the peak tourist season begins. The most common challenge is finding adequate workforce. -
The first leg of a new hiking and biking trail along Highway 14 will materialize just east of De Smet this summer from the edge of town to the Big Slough immortalized in the "Little House on the Prairie" series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Organizers hope it eventually grows into a statewide byway. -
While the short-term rental industry represents a business opportunity for local property owners, others worry vacation rentals contribute to the region’s housing shortage. -
Rather than waiting for veto day on March 31, House lawmakers upheld Gov.Rhoden's veto of HB 1132 on Thursday. -
Gov. Larry Rhoden has vetoed a bill extending child care assistance to child care employees. It’s his first veto this session.
