- The latest from Pierre. Tuesday is Crossover Day – the day any bills that aren't passed out of their house of origin die – so things are pretty busy in the Capitol right now. A couple noteworthy things to watch include airport funding, a failed attempt to reduce state sales tax, looking at 'alternative settings' for kids with behavior issues, 'parental rights' (and concerns that teachers would have to 'out' students to their parents), allowing charter schools and soda bans.
- Midwest Street Medicine expanding. Midwest Street Medicine, which provides street-level outreach and medical care to unhoused folks, announced this week it'll expand its efforts to Pierre. The Pierre outreach team is expected to start work in March, and the nonprofit is already operating in both Sioux Falls and Rapid City.
- “Street medicine works when everything else has failed,” Executive Director Melissa Dittberner said. “By bringing services directly to individuals in Pierre, alongside our extraordinary volunteers and partners, we are strengthening our commitment to practical solutions rooted in dignity, connection and community partnership.”
- Hang with the butterflies.* The Butterfly House and Aquarium is hosting a Member Appreciation event on Saturday, Feb. 21 to recognize the support of those with a Monarch Membership for the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium. Members get early access starting at 9 a.m., complimentary refreshments from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and a chance to see a butterfly release at 9:45 a.m. Members also get a free butterfly feeder per group and a free gift, while supplies last. Learn more here.
- ☕ The tea on the TIF. After a little confusion earlier in the week, I wanted to clarify that the $90 million tax-increment financing proposal for Smithfield covers a separate piece of land than the existing $94 million TIF at Foundation Park.
- The $94 million TIF (background here) covers a good chunk of Foundation Park, but it's expanded north in the years since, and that northern bit is the area where Smithfield is slated to go. And that's where the new, $90 million TIF would go, if approved by council.
- So, it's not a TIF on a TIF. It's the (potential) second-largest TIF in city history right next to the largest TIF in city history.
- TIF.
- Say goodbye to ski season. Great Bear Ski Valley is ending its season with the annual SnirtFest (snow + dirt = snirt) on Sunday, Feb. 22. The hill will be closed Friday to renovate the snow and then reopen for one last weekend of winter sports. This year's SnirtFest theme is Disney, with a costume contest at noon Sunday, and several events throughout the afternoon. Learn more here.
- Does your website need help?* The folks at Web Funnel Express have your back. They've helped build, fix and manage worry-free websites across industries, including small- to medium sized businesses, nonprofits and associations. Whether you're seeing slow load times, broken links, missing access or a problem you just can't figure out, they'll jump on a free, one-hour call and do their best to fix things right then and there. Learn more and book your free website checkup call here.
*Denotes a paid partnership
