Happy Wednesday! Megan here.

First things first: This newsletter is brought to you by Friends of the Big Sioux River.

  • Friends of the Big Sioux River is delighted to invite you to their second annual River Revival, a night for clean water, community, and conservation. Join them on Friday, Sept. 25 as they celebrate and reflect upon continued efforts to protect and restore the Big Sioux River for today’s community and future generations. Find tickets and more details here.

Weather check: Those sweaters are just itchin' to get out of storage

Our annual 'A Little Help' give-back campaign kicked off this week. The goal is to help local nonprofit Bread Break raise $5,000 to support their mission to prevent food waste while feeding the hungry. Learn more about Bread Break here, and consider tossing a few bucks their way if you're able.

Donate here

This week, public safety officials are standing ten toes down on their use of automated license plate readers, e.g. Flock cameras – but they also want to see the state codify restrictions to how the tech can be used. Plus, you'll find the latest on school enrollment, what to do with your now-falling leaves and a whoooole bunch of events.

And now, news:

CITY

Why police are all-in on automated license plate readers – and restricting their use

Simplified: City and county leaders spoke at length Tuesday morning about how law enforcement is using automated license plate readers, e.g. Flock cameras, to solve crimes. Here's a closer look at how ALPRs are used in Sioux Falls, what they do and don't do, and how a new executive order from Mayor Christine Erickson aims to put strict guardrails in place to ensure the technology isn't misused.

A solar panel powers a security camera
Photo by Mother Flocker / Unsplash

Why it matters

  • The Sioux Falls Police Department first began using ALPRs last year after the City Council approved a $168,000 contract with Flock Safety. At that time there were 28 Flock cameras installed across the city.
  • From day one, police have had strict rules in place for how the cameras are used and who has access to the data collected. On Tuesday, Erickson announced an executive order to give "a little bit more teeth" to ensuring those guardrails are in place, and both Erickson and Police Chief Jon Thum alluded to work with state lawmakers to codify ALPR rules into law.
  • Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead joined Erickson and Thum Tuesday in defending the use of the ALPRs, calling them the "greatest crime-fighting tool" he's seen in his 50 years of public safety service.
  • Meanwhile, several Sioux Falls residents told City Council Tuesday evening they still want to see the city stop using ALPRs – citing concerns of surveillance, erosion of privacy, violation of Fourth Amendment rights and data security.
"It's an investigative tool," Milstead said of the cameras. "It's not some deep dark surveillance state that some of the people on social media are trying to sell this as ... This is such a valuable tool, we want to make sure there are good guardrails in place to make sure the system isn't abused."

Tell me more about how the cameras have been used

SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS

Apartment hunting? This one-day event can save you time and money

This is a paid piece from Lloyd Companies.

Simplified: Finding a new apartment can feel overwhelming with so many options available across town. That's why Lloyd Companies makes it simple with the Parade of Apartments, a one-day event featuring more than 30 properties you can tour with no appointment needed.

Why it matters

  • The Parade of Apartments features housing options from studio apartments all the way to three-bedroom townhomes. And you can check out all of the properties on your own schedule knowing there will be people available to answer any questions you have along the way.
  • The Saturday, Sept. 26 event also includes five downtown properties as part of the annual Downtown Loft Tour to give folks a taste of downtown living. This year's downtown event also features an after party – with a free drink ticket at either Dahlia or Big Sioux Diner & Dive for anyone who tours a downtown loft.
  • Anyone who applies for a new home during the one-day event will also be entered for a chance to win either a $100, $250, or $500 visa gift card.
"We always want to make the rental process as easy as possible," said Nikki Johnsen, experience manager with Lloyd Properties.

Tell me more about available apartments

TL;DR

Super Simplified Stories

  • Get nourished this fall.* Feel more grounded, nourished and supported this fall with the Seasonal Nourishment Series from Nourish Collective. Founder Sandrine Pilaz offers a self-paced four-week reset to help you slow down and feel more rooted for the season ahead. Her series will include reflections, recipes and practices to support your journey to living aligned with the seasons, as well as a community of supportive women walking through the season together. Learn more and get signed up here.
  • We all scream (pray?) for ice cream. The owners of the B&G Milkyway at 69th St. and Cliff Ave. have gifted their business to Celebrate Community Church. SiouxFalls.Business has the details.
  • Fewer Sioux Falls students. The Sioux Falls School District's initial enrollment shows a 1.5% drop in enrollment, which is about 350 fewer kids than last year. The final enrollment will be taken Sept. 25, and that's what'll determine the amount of state funding the district receives. See the full board report here.
  • Drop off your leaves and branches. The city has opened its two branch and leaf drop sites, and they'll stay open through Nov. 29. The two sites are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. You can find them at:
    • North Lyon Boulevard, near the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds. Access is available from West 12th Street or West Madison Street.
    • Chambers Street, just west of the city’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 1015 E. Chambers St. Access is available from North Cliff Avenue.

*Denotes a paid partnership

EVENTS

Stuff to do: Sept. 16-22

  • Check out Siouxpercon.* The midwest's largest nonprofit pop culture event is nearly here as Siouxpercon kicks off at the Sioux Falls Convention Center next weekend. Catch over 100 artists and vendors, celebrity guests, a cosplay contest and many more events for all ages from Sept. 25-27. Find the full schedule here.
  • Support the Girl Scouts. The annual Cookies, Corks & Brews fundraiser is taking place this weekend at Monick Yards. The night includes wine and beer pairings, hors d'oeuvres, a variety of fun activities, and fabulous packages and experiences to bid on during our live and silent auctions. Learn more here.
  • Build homes. Habitat for Humanity is hosting a nine-day Women Build event Sept. 15-19 and 23-26. Volunteers can register to build Habitat homes alongside future homebuyers or help repair homes as part of the Neighborhood Revitalization program. Learn more here.
  • Talk tech and innovation. The Innovation Expo is happening Thursday at The District. The conference is dedicated to connecting entrepreneurs, innovators, angel investors, and others in the startup ecosystem to share expertise and support startups. Details here.
  • Check out Pumpkin Palooza. It's Pumpkin Palooza this Saturday at the Brandon Farmers Market featuring giveaways, games and performances from SD Aerial Arts. See the full lineup of vendors here.
  • Get some spooky succulents. Landscape Garden Centers is hosting a "Flowers After Hours" event on Tuesday with an opportunity to make your own haunted succulent dish. Plus, shop the South Side Farmers Market and find discounts on plants.

*Designates a paid partnership

THIS AND THAT

What I'm falling for this week:

ICYMI

More Simplified Stories

Meet Nena, the emotional support dog behind local 911 calls
The people who work at Metro Communications spend their days responding to the most challenging moments in our city – the car accidents, the medical emergencies, the tragedies. But one thing has helped make that job a little bit more palatable: a 4-year-old poodle named Nena.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
What was tossed out of the 2027 city budget
The Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday formally approved a nearly $800 million 2027 city budget, but not before several proposed amendments and a few last-minute changes. Here’s a look at what was tossed and what was kept.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
Why The Link could see a big transition in 2027
The Link downtown triage center has been managed by Avera Health since opening in 2021, but that could all change next year.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa

WANT TO HELP MORE PEOPLE FEEL THIS SMART?

Support Sioux Falls Simplified

Here are a few ways to ensure this smarter, easier local news outlet is here to stay:

  • Forward this to a friend. Sharing is caring, and the best gifts are the ones that make your life easier – like this smarter, easier local news.
  • Become a member. Consider buying into a smarter Sioux Falls by becoming a member and offering financial support to the no B.S. journalism you've been reading here.
  • Give a one-time gift. Not ready to commit to a membership? That's OK! If you want to help in a smaller way, you can give a one-time gift here.
  • Advertise with us. Tell the "simplified" story of your business to your target audience. Want more info? Reach out to megan@sfsimplified.com.

Thank you

Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including SafeSplash Swim School, Wayne & Mary's Nutrition Center, Startup Sioux Falls, 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, The Premiere Playhouse, The Good Night Theatre Collective and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.

Oh, by the way

Your feedback is extremely helpful – hit the reply button and send any news tips, typos, complaints, compliments or cups of coffee my way. ❤️

Special thanks to Friends of the Big Sioux River!

Don't miss the River Revival fundraiser happening Friday, Sept. 25. It'll be a night of community, conservation and supporting the future of the Big Sioux River. Learn more and get your tickets here.