Happy Friday! Megan here.

Weather check: Fall Saturday, summer Sunday

🎉 On a personal note: I celebrated my 33rd birthday yesterday, and this year has also marked another fun milestone for me: my 10 year anniversary as a professional journalist. Almost HALF of that time has been doing Sioux Falls Simplified, which will celebrate its fifth birthday in February. I feel like we oughta have a party, right?? #TheLifeOfANewsgirl

This weekend, you'll get a look at a big announcement for the zoo and a "draft day" for businesses. There's also so much news happening this week, I had to Super Simplify a lot of it for you to fit everything in. Give it a skim, and then go enjoy this beautiful fall weekend!

And now, news:

COMMUNITY

How a $2M donation will expand zoo education to thousands

Simplified: The Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium has been in expansion mode for some time now, and a $2 million donation from Midco announced this week will bring an updated education center with capacity to reach thousands of kids each year.

Why it matters

  • The donation will honor former Midco president and longtime zoo board member Joe H. Floyd. In his honor and in recognition of Midco's donation, the facility will be called the Joe H. Floyd Education Center.
  • The center is expected to be 15,000 square feet with space for classrooms and administration, as well as an "Animal Ambassador" wing that'll house mammals, parrots, raptors and reptiles.
  • The additional education space will mean the zoo can triple its early childhood programs and roll out its new literacy project partnerships across the entire Sioux Falls School District, ensuring that all kids K-2 get to experience educational visits to the zoo and aquarium, according to zoo CEO Becky Dewitz.
"This center will open the eyes of children to the wonder of the world around them," Midco CEO Pat McAdaragh said. "It will show them the beauty of nature, science and the environment. It will transport them to new places without having to leave Sioux Falls. It’s a fitting legacy for Joe H. Floyd, a man who saw limitless potential in every student he ever met.”

Tell me more about the facility

SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS

These events connect the future workforce with businesses

This is a paid piece from the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

Simplified: The Sioux Falls Development Foundation is bringing conference-style networking and recruitment to five regional high schools through a series of Talent Draft Day events. The goal is to connect tomorrow's workforce to the business community.

Why it matters

  • The goal of Talent Draft Day is two-fold: connect employers with potential future hires, and expose high schoolers to the wide variety of industries they can enter when they join the workforce.
  • The Sioux Falls Development Foundation started the event in 2018, but for the first time this year, they're bringing the event directly to the schools. Juniors and seniors will all participate at all four public Sioux Falls high schools, as well as Brandon Valley High School.
  • Students will be able to network with 50 colleges and as many as 100 businesses during the events, and they'll also have a chance to attend workshops to hone skills like writing a cover letter and being smart on social media.
    • And businesses will get a chance to connect with students who may become interns and, ultimately, employees.
"Every time you get the opportunity to spend time with high school students, you realize the talent that's here," said Denise Guzetta, vice president of talent and workforce development for the Foundation.

Tell me more

TL;DR

Super Simplified Stories

  • Bracing for a higher electric bill. South Dakota Searchlight reported this week that the average residential electric bill could go up as much as $21/month if regulators approve a rate increase for Xcel Energy. Get the full story here.
  • Learn about AI and it's impacts on society.* Augustana University's third annual Critical Inquiry & Citizenship Colloquium will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 in the Elmen Center. This year's featured speaker is Dr. Joy Buolamwini, an AI expert, bestselling author, MIT researcher and founder of the Algorithmic Justice League. You can learn more and get your free tickets here.
  • 🍌Wacky baseball coming to Sioux Falls. If you're on TikTok, you've probably seen clips of the goofy baseball teams like the Savannah Bananas. Now, the Savannah team isn't coming to Sioux Falls, BUT two other teams in the same "Banana Ball" tour are. The Firefighters and the Indianapolis Clowns will come to The Birdcage in August 2026. Tickets are awarded in a lottery system, and you can learn more here.
  • Support your brain.* Local business SoundMind is a specialized practice offering Neurofeedback and Psychotherapy to support mental health and optimal brain functioning. Through evidence-based approaches, the business helps clients build resilience, enhance focus, and achieve meaningful, lasting change. SoundMind is celebrating its Chamber ribbon cutting next week at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15 at its southeast Sioux Falls location. Learn more here.
  • Art 🤝 Safety. New downtown crosswalk art was installed this week after a neighborhood effort to create both traffic calming and just a more beautiful downtown space. Here's a look at one of the crosswalks:

More Super Simplified Stories

  • Big money for children's health. Sanford Health this week announced that it raised $1.5 million during a gala earlier this month. That money will support a new pediatric emergency department, the first and only in the state. Learn more here.
  • Don't throw your old cell phones in the trash. It's National Fire Prevention Week, and Sioux Falls Fire Rescue wants to remind folks to be safe with lithium ion batteries around the house. That includes making sure you buy devices with safety certification marks, use the chargers intended for the device and dispose of batteries safely at the city's hazardous waste facility. Learn more fire prevention tips here.
  • Meet Solace. Three local nonprofits are banding together to create the region's first integrated healing agency: Solace. The Compass Center, Family Services Inc., and Move to Heal officially announced their consolidation during an event Thursday evening. Services will include crisis intervention, 24/7 advocacy services, immediate support for survivors of sexual assault, clinical therapy services, as well as trauma-informed movement, dance and creative programs. Learn more here.

*Denotes paid partnership

THIS AND THAT

What I'm falling for this week:

ICYMI

More Simplified Stories

As new juvenile justice center readies to open, Minnehaha County plans for future growth
A new, $42 million juvenile justice center is expected to open later this month, according to county officials. And as the project came in under budget, the county is also looking at adding on even more space for the future.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
Stuff to do: Oct. 8-14
It’s getting spooky in Sioux Falls this week. Here’s a round-up of events (for all levels of thrill-seekers).
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
Where the city is looking to expand, fix up bike trails
The Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday got an update on the city’s recreation trail system, including updates on expansions underway as well as improvements to come in the next couple of years.
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.

Oh, by the way

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