Happy Wednesday! Megan here.

Weather check: Cooler with a chance of storms

Status check: I'm hanging out in St. Louis this week for the Independent News Sustainability Summit, and wowzers, it's been half a day, and I already have a ton of new ideas to help ensure Sioux Falls Simplified is here to stay. Want to be a part of that future? Your support today can ensure this local, independent news outlet is here for the long haul.

I love local news!

This week, I've got a look at how the City Council is looking to adjust Mayor Paul TenHaken's proposed budget – including un-doing some of the proposed cuts to services that impact a lot of people. Plus, while we're talking budgets, there was some drama in Lincoln County this week over what to fund. You'll find a ton of Super Simplified tidbits and also quite a few events to keep you busy this week.

And now, news:

CITY

How City Council is looking to change up TenHaken's proposed budget

Simplified: The Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday discussed possible changes to Mayor Paul TenHaken's proposed 2026 budget – including back-pedaling some of the cuts to services like libraries and pools.

Why it matters

  • Councilors on Tuesday took the first steps to approve the 2026 budget Tuesday night, including holding a public hearing – at which no one from the public opted to weigh in – and advancing the first reading of an ordinance essentially approving the means of financing the city for another year.
  • Before that, though, the council held a separate meeting to get together and talk about what changes each councilor might want to make to the budget as a whole before bringing formal amendments next week.
  • Many of the amendments discussed are relatively minor shifts, but some could have significant impacts for pools, neighborhood associations, a new fire station, the zoo and Sioux Falls Stadium (aka the Birdcage).
    • Councilor Jennifer Sigette said she's likely bringing an amendment to cut plans to spend $11 million on improvements to the stadium.
"We’ve got zoo master plan, we’ve got all these other facilities that need attention," she said. "And I’m just not comfortable with this being in there knowing we don't have a master plan for that part of town."

Tell me more about the changes

TL;DR

Super Simplified Stories

  • Boil before drinking, northeast-siders. The city on Tuesday announced a precautionary boil water advisory after a mishap near Arrowhead Parkway and Veterans Parkway that has potential to release "unsatisfactory" water into the system, per a news release. Folks in the northeast side of town should boil water – a rolling boil for at least three minutes – before drinking it, brushing teeth, cooking or washing dishes with it. Learn more here.
  • 💰Counties advance budgets – but not without drama. Both Lincoln County and Minnehaha County held public hearings for their 2026 budgets Tuesday morning, but not without a little contention, particularly for our neighbors to the south.
    • In Lincoln County, commissioners ultimately voted 3-2 to advance the 2026 budget after Tuesday's hearing.
      • Before that vote, they debated the merits of buying in to local economic development organizations like the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. Ultimately, those memberships were not funded.
      • Additionally, Commissioner Jim Schmidt proposed cutting nearly all government funding for local nonprofits including the Children's Home Shelter for Family Safety, Helpline Center, Compass Center, Sanford Health and LifeScape. That motion failed, and funding stayed in place.
    • Meanwhile, in Minnehaha County, commissioners discussed increasing funding for The Link to help address the opioid epidemic. That'd bump the annual funding up from $400,000 to $600,000.
    • What happens next? Final action on both budgets will come later this month.

More Super Simplified Stories

  • Corrections secretary resigns. South Dakota Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko submit her resignation amid calls for change from state lawmakers. South Dakota Searchlight and SDPB both have great explainers on what this means (and how it paves the way) for a proposed new $650 million jail.
  • Levitt sees record-breaking year. More than 120,000 people participated in Levitt programming this summer, according to a news release sent Tuesday. It's an all-time record for the concert venue in a season that brought more than 100 performance groups and 600 artists to the Levitt stage. Brulé drew the biggest crowd with 15,000 people across two nights, and the That Sounds Decent festival brought in another 5,500 with Soulcrate headlining.
    • What's next? The Levitt recently broke ground on a new expansion adding more indoor space for green rooms that's expected to be completed before the 2026 season. Expanded office and indoor programming spaces is expected to open later in the fall.
  • A milestone local business anniversary. Wayne & Mary's Nutrition Center is celebrating 55 years in business this month, and as part of the celebration, they're having all sorts of special giveaways, BOGO offers and prizes for customers. They're also donating a portion of the proceeds from Wayne & Mary's brand products to local nonprofit Bread Break, which promotes food security and reducing food waste.

EVENTS

Stuff to do: Sept. 3-9

  • Find art on the sidewalk. The 62nd annual Sidewalk Arts Festival takes place this Saturday starting at 9 a.m. More than 230 vendors will take to downtown streets around the Washington Pavilion for a full day of supporting local arts. Learn more here.
    • Oh, and while you're in the area, you can also swing by Nordic Hall to see even more artists and vendors. Details here.
  • Try new foods. Glean for Good is hosting an Indigenous Foods Event Saturday evening in Garretson, and it's about as farm-to-table as a person can get. Glean the garden and field for ingredients, cook and enjoy a free meal together with recipes from Chef Lawrence West. Details here.
  • Let the dogs swim. Before Laurel Oaks Pool closes for the season, you can bring your dogs for a swim. The "Swimming Gone to the Dogs" event takes place 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday. No registration necessary, and pets must be up-to-date on vaccines.
  • Celebrate 10 years of toys. The Toy Lending Library of South Dakota is marking 10 years of helping children learn through the power of play, and they're celebrating with a superpower-themed party at Sertoma Park on Sunday afternoon. From 1 to 3 p.m., enjoy live music, meet your favorite characters and come in costume for maximum fun. Details here.
  • Swap 'til you drop. Switch out some of those clothes you keep not picking from the closet for new-to-you items at the Sioux Falls Swap Til You Drop event Saturday at We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym. Learn more here.
  • Get it right, get it tight. Ms. New Booty himself, hip hop artist Bubba Sparxxx is coming to The Den Sunday night. Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 at the door. Details here.
  • Cheers to 10 years. WoodGrain Brewery is celebrating a decade in business with a full day of beer, music and celebration. It's all happening Saturday starting at noon at the brewery. Details here.

THIS AND THAT

What I'm falling for this week:

ICYMI

More Simplified Stories

How nonprofits feel about the city’s changing approach to supporting them
It’s not so much the process changing that’s concerning – it’s the overall funding cuts.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
Why Siouxland Libraries won’t have to close early next year
The Sioux Falls City Council, alongside the Minnehaha County Commission, voted to restore the proposed cuts to Siouxland Libraries, ensuring that library hours won’t change as a result of a citywide budget “recalibration,” as Mayor Paul TenHaken’s office calls it.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
How nonprofits and donors can shape the future of philanthropy
A new report from consulting firm Maximizing Excellence looks at how donor behaviors have changed over the last five years and what new opportunities are emerging for nonprofits to continue to be successful into the future.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa

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Thank you

Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc., Live on Stage, SafeSplash Swim School, Dakota State University, Redmond Prime Cuts, Great Bear Ski Valley, Encompass Mental Health, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.

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