Happy Wednesday! Megan here.
Weather check: Warm and dry
This week, you'll learn about a record number of kids in Sioux Falls qualifying for free lunches – and why that might not be the case for long. You'll also find a story from our friends at South Dakota Searchlight about the special legislative session held Tuesday in Pierre (spoiler: new prison is a go). Plus, find a ton of local events and some Super Simplified Stories to getcha through the week.
And now, news:
EDUCATION
How federal changes could impact kids' access to free school lunch
Simplified: Changes to eligibility requirements for federal food assistance programs will mean some families will need to jump through a few extra hoops to ensure their kids can still receive free lunches. And those same changes could also impact the workload for Sioux Falls School District staff.
Why it matters
- The "One Big, Beautiful Bill" passed by Congress this summer brought changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – including stricter work requirements. And those requirements may mean some families no longer qualify for SNAP or choose not to re-apply, according to Child Nutrition Services Coordinator Gay Anderson.
- Right now, about 5,300 students are automatically qualified for free lunches at school because their families receive SNAP benefits. But without that direct route to qualify, families will need to take extra steps to fill out an application to income-qualify for free lunches.
- Additional federal changes could require the district to conduct income verifications (i.e. gather pay stubs, etc.) for every single one of those families, when in the past the district has verified around 3% of applications.
- Meanwhile, the Sioux Falls School District is seeing a record high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced lunches at 49.76%, which amounts to more than 12,300 kids.
"I have not seen it this high," Anderson said, noting that it'll likely drop by a few percentage points once the grace period for families to re-apply for SNAP ends.
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SODAK SIMPLIFIED
It's official: Sioux Falls will be home to a new, $650M prison
By John Hult, South Dakota Searchlight
After 144 years, South Dakota lawmakers decided Tuesday it’s time for “the Hill” to retire.
The required two-thirds of each legislative chamber voted to endorse a 1,500-bed, $650 million replacement for the state penitentiary building that opened its doors when South Dakota was still Dakota Territory. The new men’s prison will be the most expensive capital project ever funded by the state’s taxpayers.
The prison will be built in northeast Sioux Falls, on an undeveloped patch of industrial land near the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society. The location is about 3 miles northeast of the penitentiary, which is nicknamed “the Hill” for its perch overlooking the Big Sioux River.
The votes came during a one-day special session at the Capitol called by Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden after a prison construction task force he created via executive order had recommended a new prison with that size, price tag and location. The Senate approved the prison plan legislation 24-11, with exactly the required two-thirds support, and the House approved it 51-18, with four yes votes to spare and with one House member, Rep. Jeff Bathke, R-Mitchell, excused while on a military deployment. Bathke said last week that he supports the prison plan.
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TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- County budget gets final OK. Minnehaha County Commissioners on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a $132.6 million budget for 2026. There are no additional opt-outs (i.e. no additional tax levies on property owners), and most of the budget is funding public safety and the county court system. You can watch highlights from the meeting here.
- Clarity starts here.* Sioux Falls' newest eye clinic, VRA Vision, is celebrating its opening with a ribbon cutting Thursday at its East Arrowhead Parkway location. VRA Vision offers specialized retinal care and is positioning itself to be a Center of Excellence in Macular Degeneration with an approach that combines the latest technology with personalized patient care. Learn more here.
- Meet the new neighborhood association. University Heights is a new neighborhood association in the area of Augustana University, University of Sioux Falls and the Sanford main campus. You can learn more about them via Sioux Falls Live and Pigeon605 (Editor's note: Not only is this my neighborhood association, but I also serve as board secretary. So, I'll let my peers at other news outlets take the lead on this one to avoid the incredibly obvious bias about how cool this neighborhood is.)
- Where are Sioux Falls kids going to college? The Sioux Falls School District this week got an update on where students are going after they graduate. About 56% of 2024 graduates were enrolled in some type of postsecondary school in the first year after graduation. Here's a look at where they went:
*Denotes a paid partnership
EVENTS
Stuff to do: Sept. 24-30
- Celebrate 10 years of good nights guaranteed.*The Good Night Theatre Collective has been bringing professional, local theater to the Sioux Falls area with 10 years of good nights guaranteed. They're celebrating this milestone anniversary with the Decade Gala: 10 Years of Good Night. The cabaret-style performance will feature a live band, and the event also includes a cocktail hour and exclusive retrospective experience. Get your tickets here.
- Celebrate Oktoberfest. There are a couple of ways to get a taste of Munich right here in Sioux Falls this week. Fernson is hosting an Oktoberfest event downtown starting at 11 a.m. with food, beer and games. Details on that here. Then, later in the evening the Holiday Inn City Centre is hosting its Stacks and Steins event from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with beer, music, food and a stein holding competition. Details here.
- Run with your pup. The Sioux Falls Area Humane Society is hosting Bark in the Park this weekend. This annual fundraiser supports the humane society and gives you a chance to get out and run (or walk) with your own four-legged friend. Registration is $35, and you can learn more here.
- Snag some pumpkins. It's Pumpkin Festival season at the Riverview Christmas Tree Farm in Canton, and for the next five weekends, you can swing by to enjoy inflatables, train rides, hanging with farm animals, a pumpkin cannon and a chance to pick out some pumpkins to bring home. Details here.
- Support Feeding South Dakota. The nonprofit food pantry is celebrating 50 years of fighting hunger, and you can learn more at an open house Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. at Feeding South Dakota's Sioux Falls location. Learn more about the anniversary here, and RSVP here.
- Check out some reptiles. It's the Sioux Falls Reptile Expo this weekend at the convention center. You can learn about reptiles, see some in real life and explore various vendors starting Sunday at 10 a.m. You can also get early access at 9 a.m. for an extra $20. Details here.
- Catch some college theater. Augustana University students are staging their first production of the school year with "The Outsiders." Shows run Thursday through Sunday, and you can find tickets here.
- Help keep the city clean. Tre Ministries is teaming up with the All Saints neighborhood for a railroad clean-up event on Thursday evening. Help pick up trash from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Learn more here.
*Denotes paid partnership
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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