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:
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.
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
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