Happy Wednesday! Megan here.
Weather check: A bit breezy
Status check: Are you ready for election season? You'll find information on how to register to vote in today's issue, and in the coming weeks, you'll find guides to the ballot measures, local candidates and what you need to know for Election Day.
Oh! And one more quick thing: I found another way for you to very, very easily support the local journalism you're reading right here. No need to commit to a membership, you can just leave me a tip! (I also accept news tips and/or extra vegetables from your garden.)
This week, you'll find some new information on the Riverline District's next steps – including, essentially, a "use it or lose it" clause in the proposed purchase agreement. Plus, I've got the first little tidbit of much more election guide-y stuff to come.
- P.S. I would love to have some community support to translate my election resources into other languages to help as many folks in our community feel empowered at the ballot box as possible.
- Want to help? Respond to this email, and I think together we can make some really cool stuff happen.
And now, news:
CITY
Why the '2050 vision' for downtown may be on a quicker timeline
Simplified: Plans to build a brand new convention center on the east side of downtown were originally pitched as part of a "2050 vision" for the city. But new details shared this week about the proposed purchase agreement have more of a "use it or lose it" tone on the Riverline District site.
Why it matters
- Members of the Sioux Falls City Council have one more week to decide whether they'll allocate $8 million to purchase a nearly eight-acre parcel of land east of downtown that city leaders are calling the "Riverline District."
- But councilors were left with more questions than answers Tuesday when city and community leaders presented the latest on future plans to build a downtown convention center, full-service hotel and more in that space as part of what Mayor Paul TenHaken initially pitched as a "2050 vision."
- And one big question mark hovered over a mention of a "repurchase option." That would give the people who currently own the land a chance to buy it back from the city if the city doesn't break ground on a project within three years in the Riverline District, according to Keith Severson, member of the Friends of the Riverline District and board member for the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.
"My confidence has been shaken that the city can do anything in that short a period of time," Councilor Curt Soehl said during a council informational meeting Tuesday.
Tell me more – how did we get here?
ELECTIONS
How to register to vote – and why to do it now
Simplified: It's election season, and there's a lot more on the November ballot than the presidential race. If you want to have a say in who's representing you in Pierre, whether South Dakotans pay sales tax on groceries, our state's abortion access, and much more, now is the time to make a plan to register to vote.
Why it matters
- In order to vote in the November 5 election – including the presidential race, various ballot measures, Congressional and South Dakota legislative races – you must be registered to vote by Oct. 21.
- Aside from the obvious significance of a presidential election, there are also dozens of Statehouse races and about a half-dozen ballot measures that would impact how the state reguleates everything from sales tax to abortion to Medicaid to marijuana.
- South Dakota does not have same-day voter registration, so if you wait until Election Day to make sure you're signed up, it's going to be too late.
"If something comes in (October) 22, we're not even going to look at it for registering for the general election," said Mike Mathis, election coordinator for Minnehaha County.
So, how do I register?
Or update my registration? Or see if I'm already registered? All the answers you need here.
EVENTS
Stuff to do: Sept. 4-10
- Check out the Sidewalk Arts Festival. It's the 61st Annual Sidewalk Arts Festival downtown this weekend. The event, a fundraiser for the Washington Pavilion, will feature more than 260 vendors, as well as food, live music and children's activities. More details here.
- Give your input. The city is hosting a community listening session about the Shape Sioux Falls 2050 comprehensive plan at 6 p.m. Monday at the Ronning Branch library. Get more background on the planning process here (and, of course, the simplified version here.)
- Loop the lake. Race around Lake Lorraine on Sunday as part of the Loop the Lake event with Flow and Paddle. Racers can use either a stand-up paddleboard or kayak. Registration and more details here.
- Get your tix. Weekend passes to the new Lallycooler Music Festival go on sale Friday at an early bird offer of $129. The festival will take place at Great Bear in July 2025. Learn more and get your passes here.
- Support United Way. Sioux Empire United Way's kickoff week continues with a special event at the Levitt Friday evening and the second edition of SEUW Brew with Severance Brewing on Thursday. Get all the details on kickoff week events here.
- Beer, art and babies. No, the beer isn't for the babies...but the diapers you'll bring to Woodgrain as part of the "Brushes and Brews" event are. Get $2 off a beer for donating diapers, wipes or baby shampoo, and check out live music, art from SuFu Creative and a variety of vendors. Donations benefit the Teddy Bear Den. Details here.
- Check out some food trucks. It's a Food Truck Festival on Wednesday night at Brandon Lutheran Church with 14 food trucks. Details here.
- Go fishin'. Bring the whole family to learn the basics of fishing at the Outdoor Campus on Saturday. Details and registration here.
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
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Megan Raposa
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