Your week, simplified: April 16, 2025
Happy Wednesday! Megan here.
Weather check: Rain? Rain? Anyone?
🩷 A Little Help check: This month, Sioux Falls Simplified is highlighting the work of local nonprofit Owen's Outfitters. If you haven't read this story yet, go do that right now. Also this one. I seriously dare you to read it and not fall in love with the family behind this organization that's making it simple for folks to get the medical supplies they need. Then, kick a few bucks their way if you can. A Little Help goes a long way, right?
📩 Save the date: Sioux Falls Simplified is officially a member of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce (only took me four years – ope!) But I'm using it as an excuse to celebrate four years of smarter, easier local news with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 27 at Startup Sioux Falls downtown. RSVP here!
This week, I'll catch you up on what you may have missed in Mayor Paul TenHaken's State of the City address earlier this week. Plus, as libraries nationwide face federal funding cuts, I've got a look at what that might look like for Sioux Falls library users. Then, you'll find a whole bunch of little Super Simplified Stories and lots of fun events to take you into Easter weekend and Earth Day.
And now, news:
CITY
Why the State of the City was a bit more staid this year
Simplified: Sioux Falls didn't get to be the community it is today by accident, Mayor Paul TenHaken said, and his seventh State of the City address this week painted a picture of some of the challenges future leaders might face when it comes to keeping Sioux Falls growing and thriving.
Why it matters
- This year's State of the City address struck a different tone than previous ones during TenHaken's term. He took the stage at the Canopy Hotel in the Steel District Monday afternoon with no podium, no new, fancy renderings of parks and pools, and an overall no-nonsense demeanor about the real challenges Sioux Falls is facing from finances to finding future civic leaders.
- While he did mention new projects like Jacobsen Plaza and the new pools in-the-works, the majority of his speech focused on wins in affordable housing, public safety, infrastructure, addressing homelessness and a detailed explanation of how the city takes on debt when big projects are needed.
- TenHaken also left with a bit of a warning, stressing the need for Sioux Falls to develop the next generation of leaders and not to take the community as it is now for granted. He shared that he was 39 when he decided to run for mayor, but in the years since he's seen fewer people taking initiative to run for office.
"We have to be careful not to just let the loud voices be the ones we listen to," TenHaken said. "We have to make sure the smart, pragmatic, level-headed leaders are also in the room ... people who have no agenda other than to make Sioux Falls better."
Tell me more about the State of the City
COMMUNITY
How federal cuts are shrinking South Dakotans' access to information
Simplified: Planned federal funding cuts to public library services are already impacting Sioux Falls, Siouxland Libraries Director Jodi Fick said Tuesday. And though cuts come from the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Fick notes in many ways they'll make delivering library services significantly less efficient.
Why it matters
- DOGE announced cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) earlier this month, and in the uncertainty around whether those cuts will take effect, the South Dakota Library has shut its doors to the public and discontinued couriers for inter-library loans.
- The planned federal cuts come just a few weeks after South Dakota state lawmakers agreed to maintain most of the state funding for the library system. But now, the approximately $1.3 million in federal cuts to the state library are expected to have a dramatic impact.
- In South Dakota, that includes the potential to lose access to a number of online resources like ancestry databases, research hubs, digital early learning resources and more. When delivered at the state level, these services are more cost-efficient, Fick said, and it's unlikely Siouxland Libraries will be able to sustain them on their own.
- Fick said the library will do what it can to keep inter-library loans, but without state couriers, the costs will go up significantly.
"These are core services that are being delivered very efficiently now," Fick said. "And now, in order to provide them, it's going to cost at least double what it currently does."
Tell me more
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- School board approves budget. Sioux Falls school board members on Monday voted to give tentative approval to a $235 million budget – including some belt tightening to the tune of about $3 million. Board members lauded administrators for finding ways to make those cuts without firing anyone or raising class sizes.
- During the same meeting, the board also approved the calendar for the 2026-27 school year. You can see that here.
- Don't start fires. Minnehaha County Commissioners once again enacted a burn ban Tuesday morning because of the dry and windy conditions. It's unclear how long it'll be in effect, but we're essentially just waiting on the rain.
- County working on cybersecurity. Minnehaha County Commissioners on Tuesday morning approved a memorandum of understanding with Dakota State University to work on improving the cybersecurity of the county. This was made possible by some state funding approved last year with the goal of increasing local government cybersecurity through a program called SecureSD.
- Reading to support readers. The fourth annual "Everybody Reads" initiative in March surpassed its goal of 350,000 books read throughout the month with 429,845 total books between Augustana University, University of Sioux Falls, Siouxland Libraries and the Sioux Falls School District. The initiative also raised $1,700 with the help of some corporate sponsorships, and the money was donated this week to REACH Literacy.
EVENTS
Stuff to do: April 16-22
- Tour some lofts.* Get a taste of downtown living during DTSF,Inc.'s annual Spring Downtown Loft Tour on Saturday, April 26. You'll get exclusive access to a variety of lofts including newly available spaces and uniquely decorated occupied residences. Whether you’re considering downtown living or simply curious about these hidden gems, the self-guided tour gives you a chance to explore. The event, which is sponsored by Pendar Properties and Lloyd Company, runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and you can find more details here.
- Do some spring cleaning. Camp Leif Ericson is looking for volunteers to help clean up the camp and get it ready for summer. Projects include spreading wood chips, staining the pirate ship, painting picnic tables and general camp pickup. You can show up to help between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Saturday. More details here.
- Do some spring shopping. More than two dozen downtown retailers are hosting a "Spring Fling" this week. Shoppers can stop by participating locations and enter to win a $25 gift card to one of the retailers. Plus, some shops also have additional deals – you can find all the details here.
- Talk about housing. The city's human relations commission is inviting the public to attend a "Let's Talk Housing" event Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. at Carnegie Town Hall. There will be a panel discussion followed by Q&A, and topics include affordable housing, property maintenance, housing discrimination and what resources are available in the city. More details here.
- Celebrate Earth Day. There are a number of ways to celebrate Earth Day over the next couple of weeks including the newly expanded Big Sioux Stewardship Summit on Thursday, an Earth Day Festival at Great Bear on Friday, a clean-up event with Friends of the Big Sioux River next Saturday, and a 5K in Fawick Park also next Saturday.
- Drink bubbly & shop for plants. Honestly, say less. Down Home by DeBoers is hosting a "Potted & Poppin'" Plant Sale and social event Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. as the business shares a new selection of live plants and an exclusive sale. Details here.
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
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