• It's time to talk density. City Council member Rich Merkouris said he'd like to see the city create incentives for developers to choose density over sprawl. The conversation came up in a 2026 budget work session Tuesday afternoon, in which Merkouris noted that, while it's "really unpopular" to talk density, right now the city is spending 60% of second penny sales tax revenue on roads and infrastructure. He added that it'd be more cost effective in the long run to create density in areas that already have established roads/infrastructure.
  • Augie announces 2025 Boe Forum speaker. Augustana University's Center for Western Studies announced that Jon Meacham, presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, will be the speaker for the 28th Boe Forum, which is expected to take place March 19 in the Elmen Center on campus. The forum is a free, but ticketed, event, and you can get tickets here starting at 8 a.m. Feb. 10.
  • Foodies, rejoice! Two Sioux Falls chefs were recognized last week as semifinalists for James Beard Awards. Marcela Salas, founder of BibiSol, and pastry chef Chris Hanmer, of C.H. Patisserie, both received nominations, giving further objective proof that the food scene here does, in fact, rock.
  • You go, Gatorade Girl! O'Gorman senior Libby Castelli was named the 2024-25 Gatorade Cross Country Player of the Year, per a news release from the school. It's a top honor in high school sports, and Castelli is the third O'Gorman cross country runner to receive it. She's also the second Castelli kid to earn the recognition – her big sister Katie won in 2021.

SODAK SIMPLIFIED

Three things from Pierre

  • A new governor. Larry Rhoden was officially sworn in as South Dakota's 34th governor this week, covering the post vacated by Kristi Noem, who is now the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Rhoden addressed lawmakers on Tuesday, saying he'll work to restore some of the budget cuts Noem had proposed and voicing his support for his predecessor's desire to fund a new prison and school choice efforts. South Dakota Searchlight has the full breakdown.
  • Commanding commandments. The South Dakota Senate advanced a bill on an 18-17 vote that would mandate every classroom display the Ten Commandments. That moves now to the state House of Representatives. Searchlight has more.
  • Groups opposing proposed direct democracy changes. Eight South Dakota agencies – including the Farmer's Union, ACLU, Dakota Rural Action and the League of Women Voters, among others – are banding together to form a coalition opposing proposed legislative changes to direct democracy in House Joint Resolution 5003. (Read that here.)
    • The resolution would require amendments to the state constitution to receive 60% of the vote in order to be enacted. Right now, that threshold is 50%.
    • Lawmakers have already passed the resolution through the House, and it moves now to the Senate for final approval.