• Minnehaha County approves opt out. But don't worry, it won't increase your property taxes next year. The county commission voted Tuesday morning to authorize a $2.4 million opt out, but Susan Beaman, the county's finance and budget officer, said the plan is to not levy the opt out in 2027 and hopefully delay it as long as possible.
    • "The hope is to not need it," Beaman said. "But with how public safety and justice needs have grown in very recent years, we know from a reality perspective that we need to be prepared."
  • A big groundbreaking. Christensen Development is breaking ground on a 60,000 square foot office building near 8th and Railroad. Jodi Schwan with SiouxFalls.Business has the details and the history of the development here.
  • Pet licensing just got easier. You can now get a pet license online, thanks to a new program the city is rolling out this week called DocuPet. Licensing your pet is required by city ordinance, and you can pay $5 for a one-year license or $15 for a three-year license (unless your pet isn't spayed or neutered, then the fees jump to $25 and $75, respectively). You can learn more and get your pet license here: siouxfallspd.docupet.com.
  • Mourning a loss. City Councilor David Barranco died Monday morning peacefully and surrounded by his family after a battle with cancer, according to a news release from the city. Barranco was elected to the council in 2022 and represented the southeast district. He is survived by his wife, Catherine, and two sons, Christopher, age 14 and William, age 11.
    • More than his work on the council, Barranco will be remembered for how much he loved his boys and his wife, Mayor Paul TenHaken said.
    • "He absolutely loved his boys," TenHaken said. "He was a great dad, a great husband – that's what I'm going to remember about him."
    • Catherine Barranco had previously announced that she'd step in and continue David's work in running for state auditor.
      • A quick personal note: It's hard to be a writer in a time when words don't ever quite do justice to the situation, but what I do have is a very sweet memory of the time David took more than an hour to sit with me, answer a whole bunch of questions about his council campaign and then, later, when his wife Catherine brought cookies for me and the girls because she heard I had little kids. They're just good people – plain and simple, and I'm certain David will be missed by many.