Your weekend, simplified: Oct. 25, 2024

Happy Friday! Megan here.

Weather check: A chilly, windy weekend

A quick favor: Can you share Sioux Falls Simplified's election coverage? Either on social media or by forwarding links to a friend – whatever you can do to help empower voters is going to make for a better community in the long run. Some links:

Meet the people who want to represent you in Pierre
Sioux Falls Simplified reached out to all of the Sioux Falls-area candidates to create the most comprehensive voter guide in town.
Your guide to South Dakota ballot measures
Here’s your simplified guide to the seven statewide ballot measures, where they came from, and what your vote will mean.

This week, I've got a look at how a local nonprofit is helping get out the vote in a unique way. You'll also learn about a rise in pertussis cases – aka whooping cough – in Sioux Falls.

And now, news:

COMMUNITY

This nonprofit is helping get out the vote in multilingual communities

Simplified: South Dakota Voices for Peace has translated and distributed more than 25,000 sample ballots to help multilingual communities prepare for Election Day.

Why it matters

  • South Dakota has a growing multilingual population. The most recent American Community Survey data shows nearly 63,000 use a language other than English when they're speaking at home.
    • Of those, some of the most common languages spoken are Spanish, Amharic, Arabic and Nepali – and sample ballots in all of those languages are available here.
  • Being able to access civic information in different languages is important to empower all voters and, ultimately, ensure South Dakota's elected officials are as representative of the community as possible, said Taneeza Islam, CEO of South Dakota Voices for Peace (SDVFP).
  • The nonprofit was not only able to translate the ballot into several languages but it also mailed 20,000 ballots across Minnehaha and Yankton counties where the organization has a strong presence. Another 3,500 Spanish ballots have been distributed in Sioux Falls by canvassers and by Nikki's La Mexicana Grocery Store.
"The voter turnout (statewide) is so low," Islam said. "We are trying to concentrate on one segment of our growing community to make sure they have access to make informed decisions. At the end of the day, this is all our community whether we speak English or not. We do have a voice."

Tell me more


HEALTH

What to know about whooping cough

Simplified: Sioux Falls is seeing an increase in cases of pertussis – also known as whooping cough. Here's what you need to know.

Photo by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography / Unsplash

Why it matters

  • Nationally, pertussis cases have been gradually on the rise since the mid-1980s, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). After a drop in 2020, pertussis cases are returning to a pre-coronavirus pandemic rate this year of about 10,000 cases per year.
  • In South Dakota, there have been 68 confirmed cases of pertussis so far this year, per CDC data. That's double the amount the state saw over the same period in 2023.
  • Pertussis cases tend to rise every five years, said Dr. Margo Free, a pediatrics infections disease physician at Sanford Health. Part of that rise is because of "suboptimal vaccination rates."
  • Avera Pediatrician Dr. Shari Eich said the best way to prevent further spread of pertussis is to ensure everyone in your family is up-to-date on vaccines. Kids should receive five DTaP vaccines – which prevent pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria before starting kindergarten and a Tdap booster before starting sixth grade. Adults should receive a booster vaccine every 10 years.
"This is especially important for people who are around infants, because the disease tends to be worse for them," Eich said.

What are the symptoms?


TL;DR

Super Simplified Stories

  • Seeing red. Poll data from South Dakota News Watch shows that South Dakota voters are favoring Republican candidates in the presidential and congressional races. Learn more here.
  • Lincoln County prison gets green light from courts. The state doesn't have to abide by county rules, a judge ordered earlier this week in dismissing a lawsuit from Lincoln County landowners trying to fight plans to build a new men's prison in their community. South Dakota Searchlight has the full story here.

THIS AND THAT

What I'm falling for this week:


ICYMI

More Simplified Stories

Stuff to do: Oct. 23-29
Here’s a look at what’s happening in Sioux Falls this week. Spoiler: It’s a LOT of trick or treating.
Why rape and abuse victims are at risk of losing services
South Dakota’s only 24/7 rape crisis center is facing a significant funding shortfall, and without more support, The Compass Center could be forced to cut both staff and services.
How Sioux Falls is preparing for more electric vehicles on the road
Sioux Falls could see anywhere from 7,500 to 20,000 more electric vehicles on the road in the next decade.

WANT TO HELP MORE PEOPLE FEEL THIS SMART?

Support Sioux Falls Simplified

Here are a few ways to ensure this smarter, easier local news outlet is here to stay:

  • Forward this to a friend. Sharing is caring, and the best gifts are the ones that make your life easier – like this smarter, easier local news.
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  • Advertise with us. Tell the "simplified" story of your business to your target audience. Want more info? Reach out to megan@sfsimplified.com.

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

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