• Wheel tax hike advances. Minnehaha County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to advance a proposal to increase the county's wheel tax for the first time in 30 years. Right now, there are a couple of options for what that increase will look like.
    • One option would be to increase the cost per wheel by $1, meaning an extra $4 per year for the average four-wheel vehicle with a $60 maximum. That would bring a little over $1 million per year for the road and bridge fund.
    • Another option would be to increase the fee only for cars that are 6,000 pounds or more – meaning those cars would pay $5 per wheel and $60 maximum. That one would bring in $190,000 per year for the road and bridge fund. This is the option commissioners most supported during discussion.
    • The second reading will be June 17, when commissioners will make their final decision on this.
  • New food at Fernson. Local, award-winning chef Beau Vondra is bringing a new restaurant concept to Fernson's downtown taproom. Vondra previously worked at Looks Marketplace, and has been featured on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" and is a winner of "Guy's Grocery Games." The new concept is Totally Rad Eats, and while the full vision hasn't yet been revealed, we do know there will be pizza, pretzels and other snacks in the meantime. More details here.