Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: Perfection (but eyes on the weekend)
A little moment of real talk: Friends, I'll level with you: this newsletter is free to read, but it is absolutely not free to produce. And, right now, only about 5% of the people reading this newsletter are contributing financially to ensure it sticks around and keeps empowering the people of Sioux Falls to feel like they have the know-how to shape our community's future.
- And then a little treat: So, with that said, I'm a big fan of mutually beneficial situations. That's why I want to give you a little treat as a thank you for your one-time financial support for Sioux Falls Simplified.
- If you contribute $30, you'll get a coupon from me for a free coffee from our pals over at The Breaks.
- If you contribute $60, you'll get a Sioux Falls Simplified tote bag (which, if you haven't seen the design, it's absolutely the coolest thanks, Kristi Wire!!).
- If you contribute $90, you'll get both the coffee AND the tote bag.
- And if you contribute $200 or more, you get all that stuff AND I'll personally meet you for coffee and we can discuss how to solve all of the world's problems together.
This week, you'll get a look at how minivans are helping meet the transportation needs for Sioux Falls students. Plus, it's the last week of South Dakota's 100th legislative session, which means there's quite a bit of news from Pierre (HUGE shoutout to South Dakota Searchlight and all the other outlets that are actually on the ground reporting on all of this so folks like you and I can easily and quickly get up-to-speed). And, don't miss some more Super Simplified news and a ton of St. Paddy's Day fun coming up this weekend.
And now, news:
EDUCATION
How Sioux Falls schools are using microtransit
Simplified: Thousands of kids in Sioux Falls rely on buses to get them to and from school, but a much smaller group of kids need rides to and from various district programs. For them, the district has created a series of "express" routes via minivan.
Why it matters
- About 8,100 kids ride the bus to or from school each day, according to Transportation Supervisor Missy Braak. A smaller subset – about 75 kids – use the district's microtransit system to catch a ride in a van during the day.
- The district has been on the microtransit trend long before the city's Sioux Area Metro developed its SAM on Demand option. Braak said she does see students also benefit from the citywide transit system, but the district needed its own system to ensure kids can get where they need to go when they need to be there.
- Using minivans instead of larger buses for trips with one to a small handful of students at a time is not only more efficient, Braak said, but it's also helpful when it comes to recruiting drivers – a regular challenge for School Bus, Inc. amid driver shortages.
"We can recruit people to drive these smaller vehicles, and they're not required to have a CDL (commercial driver's license) to drive," Braak said.
Tell me more
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- City reworks Sustainability Summit. The City of Sioux Falls is reimagining its annual sustainability summit as a new "Big Sioux Stewardship Summit. The two-day event will include bus tours to showcase various conservation efforts and other ways local governments are working to reduce environmental impact. Learn more about the event here.
- Nominate women doing cool stuff. SD CEO Women's Business Center is now accepting applications for the "Outstanding Women in Business Awards" recognizing women in entrepreneurship. Learn more an nominate folks here.
- Council OKs exhibition driving with permit. The City Council voted Tuesday night to allow temporary racing events with approval and permits from the police department. Read the full ordinance here.
SODAK SIMPLIFIED
A bunch of things from Pierre
- 'Locking up librarians' bill chills out a bit. Lawmakers opted not to hold librarians criminally liable if kids check out content deemed "harmful to minors." Instead, an extensive amendment to the bill would implement an appeals process by which concerned community members challenge librarians' decisions about what type of content is available. That's headed now to Gov. Larry Rhoden's desk. South Dakota Searchlight has more context.
- Lawmakers OK governor's property tax relief plan. The last bill standing in the state legislature's mission to cut property taxes is headed to Gov. Larry Rhoden's desk. It essentially puts a cap on how much a homeowner's property's assessed value can go up over the next five years. The Dakota Scout has a better, more in-depth explanation here.
- SDPB keeps its funding. Lawmakers on Tuesday voted to maintain funding for South Dakota Public Broadcasting – rejecting former Gov. Kristi Noem's proposed $3.6 million cut to the service. Searchlight has more.
- Bathroom bill advances. A bill to prohibit transgender people from using bathrooms and changing rooms aligned with their gender identity is headed back to the House of Representatives after passing the Senate with amendments.
- The bill defines "male" and "female" as individuals whose reproductive systems that "has, had, will have, or would have, but for a congenital anomaly or intentional or unintentional disruption" produce sperm and eggs, respectively. Searchlight has more.
- Raising the bar for constitutional amendments. Lawmakers this week voted to pass House Joint Resolution 5003. The resolution will let voters decide if the state should make it more challenging for voters to amend the state constitution by requiring constitutional amendments to pass with 60% of the vote instead of a simple majority.
EVENTS
Stuff to do: March 12-18
- Celebrate St. Paddy's. The festivities downtown will kick off at 9 a.m. with the Lucky 7's run and then continue with the annual painting of the shamrock at 11 a.m. in front of First National Bank. The parade starts at 2 p.m. and will run down Phillips Avenue from 13th Street to about 5th Street. You can also keep the fun going with green beers at Severance, Blarney Stone and probably most bars, to be honest.
- Support transcendent musicians. Hear from local musicians Arlinda Peacock and Etta & the Vendetta at Icon Lounge this Thursday evening as part of a "Transcendent Musician Showcase." Learn more here.
- Test your aerial skills. South Dakota Aerial and Arts is hosting a special "Me and My Mini" class for parents and kids age 3-6 to learn how to fly on aerial fabrics. The $20 class will take place Saturday afternoon. Learn more here.
- March Fam-ness. Get the whole family together for the Sioux Falls Skyforce "Family Fun Night" starting at 6 p.m. Monday at the Sanford Pentagon. This free event will feature an open gym, a meet-and-greet with players and a chance to win prizes. Learn more here.
- Play bingo – but not your granny's bingo. It's like Bingo meets the club at the "Not Your Granny's Bingo" event at The District Thursday evening. Learn more here.
- Find a splash of hope. Head over to Nordic Hall midday Friday for a Lunch and Learn with nonprofit Journey of Hope. You can learn about how they're bringing healing through art to kids at the juvenile detention center, and a portion of purchases at Rose & Eugene Presents will go back to support the nonprofit. More details here.
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Why the city is looking to get out of leading the Riverline District vision
If Sioux Fallsians want a downtown convention center, it’s going to have to be a community-led decision, not a city-led one, Mayor Paul TenHaken told the Riverline Steering Committee Thursday afternoon.
Megan Raposa
Meet the women making space for healing through movement
Meet Conscious Connections.
Megan Raposa
Council OKs fence, calls for ‘more collaboration’ moving forward
Sioux Falls City Councilors voted unanimously to move forward with building a $70,000 fence around the vacant lot adjacent to the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House as part of a five-year lease agreement with St. Joseph Catholic Housing.
Megan Raposa
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Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc., Live on Stage, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion, and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.
Oh, by the way
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