Happy Friday! Megan here.

Weather check: Milder weekend on the way

This week, you'll find EVEN MORE coverage on the mayoral race (city council drops next week). Plus, today was supposed to be the start of early voting, but, well, it's not gonna happen. Our friends at South Dakota Searchlight have that story for you.

And now, news:

2026 CITY ELECTION

Mayoral candidates talk Smithfield, the future of downtown and data centers

(Editor's note: This is just one part of a series of stories about local candidates in the upcoming June 2 primary, municipal and school board election. Find more coverage here.)

Simplified: Sioux Falls Simplified asked all five mayoral candidates a variety of questions on topics important to residents. Here's what they had to say about data centers, Smithfield and the future of downtown.

But first, have you met the candidates?

Meet the candidates for Sioux Falls Mayor
Each candidate sat down with Sioux Falls Simplified for an interview to talk through a number of important issues – including many reader-submitted topics. Here’s your Simplified guide to the mayor’s race.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa

Follow the link above to find information on each candidate, including podcast-style video interviews with each candidate on a variety of issues.

Now, here's a few more topics to check out

Here's what the candidates had to say about data centers:

Mayoral candidates on data centers
Sioux Falls Simplified asked each candidate how they’d approach decisions about data centers in the city.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa

And here's what they had to say about Smithfield and the future of downtown:

Mayoral candidates on Smithfield and the future of downtown
The announcement that Smithfield is moving out of downtown Sioux Falls is one of the most significant changes to the city in recent history. We asked all the mayoral candidates about their vision.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa

2026 CITY ELECTION

What to know about the ‘absolute chaos’ of early voting delays

By Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight

County auditors and the state’s lead election official disagree about how to handle a delay of early and absentee voting for the June 2 primary election in South Dakota.

a person is casting a vote into a box
Photo by Element5 Digital / Unsplash

Codington County Auditor Brenda Hanten told local media on Wednesday that the county would begin early and absentee voting on time by using sample ballots as the county waits for official ballots, under the guidance of South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson.

Hanten walked back those plans on Thursday, telling South Dakota Searchlight she hadn’t yet discussed the plan with her state’s attorney when she made those comments. Codington County will not use sample ballots and will wait until official ballots are mailed.

Ballot printing has been delayed due in part to a quirk of the calendar that created an unusually short window between the filing deadline for candidate petitions and the start of early voting. Earlier this year, lawmakers declined to heed warnings from county auditors and apply a fix for this year’s election, citing concerns about changing the laws governing a candidate petition process that was already underway.

A Thursday press release from the Secretary of State’s Office cited two state laws, one of which doesn’t mention sample ballots, that the office said support the option for county auditors to use sample ballots to accommodate absentee voting until they receive their official ballots.

Early voting is supposed to begin Friday, but county auditors alerted the public this week that it will be delayed. No one knows how long the delay will be, but they hope it will not last longer than April 24.

Find the full story here

SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS

Simplify your home search with this one-day event

This is a paid piece from Lloyd Companies.

Simplified: Looking for your next place to call home? Save yourself the headache of scheduling a bunch of tours by checking out the Lloyd Parade of Apartments from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 25. Tour more than 20 properties in one day – no appointment needed.

Why it matters

  • The Parade of Apartments gives folks a chance to explore new 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.
  • Have a favorite side of town? This event has you covered. Lloyd Companies is featuring properties on all sides of town, from the brand new Harvest Ridge townhomes on the far west side to The Carlton at Dawley Farms to the modern, downtown apartments at the new One2 building.
  • In addition to the convenience, your apartment search can also score you up to a $500 gift card. Everyone who applies to live in a Lloyd property during the Parade of Apartments will be entered to win a $100, $250 or $500 gift card.
"We want to make the renting process as easy as possible, and the Parade of Apartments lets you see as many properties as you want on your own time," Experience Manager Nikki Johnsen said.

Tell me more

PRICE PREDICTOR

Can you guess the price of this Sioux Falls home?

This is a sponsored segment from Destinie Marshall with Discovery Real Estate Co.

This gorgeous townhome hits the market today at 5902 S Whisper Creek Pl. The two-level property has an open floor plan, lots of natural light and is close to Harrisburg's Horizon Elementary on the southeast side of Sioux Falls. Can you guess the price?

  1. $290,000*
  2. $250,000*
  3. $310,000*

(Depending on when you click, it may not be online yet – you can also scroll to the very very bottom of this email to find the correct answer!)

Want to see your listing shared here? Email megan@sfsimplified.com.

THIS AND THAT

What I'm falling for this week:

ICYMI

More Simplified Stories

Meet the candidates for Sioux Falls Mayor
Each candidate sat down with Sioux Falls Simplified for an interview to talk through a number of important issues – including many reader-submitted topics. Here’s your Simplified guide to the mayor’s race.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
Stuff to do: April 15-21
Here’s a look at what’s happening in Sioux Falls this week.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
Mayoral candidates on addressing the childcare crisis
Sioux Falls’ childcare crisis is well-documented, including noting that it costs more in one year to send your kid to a childcare center in Sioux Falls than it would to send them to a South Dakota state university.
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. ❤️

*Answer to Price Predictor: $290,000