Your week, simplified: Jan. 29, 2025

Happy Wednesday! Megan here.

First things first: This issue is sponsored by The Good Night Theatre Collective.

• The Good Night Theatre Collective is bringing entertaining, elevated live theater to Sioux Falls and giving professional experience to local performers. Next week, the collective is presenting a production of Tony-award winning musical comedy, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." Performances run Feb. 6-8, and you can snag your tickets here.

Weather check: 50 degrees in January? What kind of South Dakota winter is this?

Status check: How are you, really? There's no shortage of chaos in the world right now. Make sure you're taking time for yourself. Then, when you're ready to get back to work making the world better, start local. (e.g. call your state lawmakers – as well as your Congressional delegates, support local news, support local businesses, find the helpers, etc.)

This week, you'll hear from some local nonprofits who are feeling immediate ripple effects from a (temporarily frozen) federal spending freeze. You'll also get a ton of Super Simplified news, a look at how Great Bear is staying open for the season, and, as always, you'll find our weekly round-up of events.

And now, news:

COMMUNITY

How federal funding cuts could hit Sioux Falls

Simplified: Several Sioux Falls nonprofits on Tuesday expressed concern that a pause in federal loans and grants – a directive from President Donald Trump that, as of Tuesday evening, was temporarily blocked by a federal judge – would prevent them from helping people in need of their services. Meanwhile, local government agencies are relatively unconcerned.

Why it matters

• The initial letter from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget left many Sioux Falls service providers with more questions than answers.
  • That includes The Compass Center, who announced an immediate pause on their Youth Voices in Prevention Program and also noted that federal funds make up anywhere from 40 to 60% of their annual budget.
• It's unclear the extent to which the pause could potentially impact the city, county or state budget. City Finance Director Shawn Pritchett said grants represent a "relatively minor" portion of the city budget, and in the short term, the city should be able to cover the gaps.
  • County officials didn't respond to requests for comment, and a state Department of Social Services spokesperson also declined comment but sent along a memo detailing guidance on what the freeze will or will not apply to.
• There's also concern among other nonprofits, many of whom rely on federal grants for a significant portion of their budgets. Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota President and CEO Rebecca Kiesow-Knudsen said her organization typically receives $6.5 million – just shy of a quarter of the overall budget.

"This is harming people," Kiesow-Knudsen said. "It's harming services and agencies providing services. I don't know how we'll withstand it if it holds up. There is definitely an immediate harm if it stays."

What happens next?

SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS

No snow? No problem: Great Bear is open for business

This is a paid piece from Great Bear Ski Valley.

Simplified: The lack of natural snowfall in Sioux Falls this winter hasn't slowed down the winter sports fun at Great Bear Ski Valley. They sat down with us to chat about how they're making their own snow to keep the mountain 100% open.

Why it matters

• This is the second year in a row with a relatively snow-less winter season, but because temperatures have remained low, Great Bear staff have been able to make enough snow to cover all runs for skiing, snowboarding and tubing.
• The snow-making started in November, and by mid-December, the park was open for business, hosting visitors from all over the country (and even beyond).
• The man-made snow holds up better to warmer temperatures than natural snow, Great Bear Director of Communications Alexa Jerstad said. That's because it's more compacted than natural snowflakes, which also means it'll melt more slowly.

"Natural snow these days is just good advertising," Jerstad said. "We’re almost exclusively dependent on manmade snow."

Tell me more about Great Bear

TL;DR

Super Simplified Stories

• 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.

EVENTS

Stuff to do: Jan. 29-Feb. 4

• See some eagles. Not the ones in the Super Bowl...the city parks department is hosting an "Eagle Watch" event starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Family Park. No registration is needed, and there will be coffee and hot chocolate to help you keep warm, as well as binoculars and a spotting scope (though you're of course welcome to bring your own).
• Spend a night on Broadway. The Rainbow Chorus of Sioux Falls is putting on performances this weekend sharing all of your favorite broadway hits from shows including Wicked, Pippin, Into the Woods, the Sound of Music and more. No need to purchase tickets – admission is a free will donation. The show kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday at First Congregational United Church of Christ at 300 S. Minnesota Avenue. Details here.
• Meet furry singles in your area. Cats, guys. Come on. I'm talking about cats. Sioux Empire TNR Coalition is hosting a "Meet Your Feline Valentine" event on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. You'll be able to meet single cats who are ready to mingle, drink coffee, or bring your own cats for a photo-op. Ticket proceeds will support the coalition. Snag tickets here.
• Enjoy literature. Augustana Library Associates will present their annual "A Winter's Tale" event Sunday afternoon starting at 2 p.m. in the Mikkelson Library on campus. This year's theme is "Everyday Epiphanies," and you can register to attend here.
• Meet Lou Ferrigno. The actor and bodybuilder will be making an appearance at Rainbow Comics, Cards and Collectibles on Friday afternoon from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. You can bring your memorabilia to get it signed for $50/signature. Just don't make him angry.

THIS AND THAT

What I'm falling for this week:

• Competitive food
• Noodles
• Putting what I want for Valentine's Day in the newsletter and seeing if my husband clocks it. (Will report back).

ICYMI

More Simplified Stories

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Thank you

Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including Dakota Adventure Supply, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, Panther Premier Print Solutions, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Great Plains Zoo, and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.

Oh, by the way

Your feedback is extremely helpful – hit the reply button and send any news tips, typos, complaints, compliments or cups of coffee my way. ❤️

Special thanks to the Good Night Theatre Collective!

Don't miss your chance to catch "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" on Feb. 6-8. Get your T-I-C-K-E-T-S here.