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Good Samaritan Founder's Crossing Welcomes First Residents in Sioux Falls Senior Living Development

Good Samaritan Founder's Crossing Welcomes First Residents in Sioux Falls Senior Living Development

The first residents have moved into the Good Samaritan Founder’s Crossing development in southeast Sioux Falls, marking the initial phase of the nearly 100-acre senior living campus. Located at the northeast corner of 57th Street and Veterans Parkway, the development aims to provide a full continuum of senior living options, integrated with a Sanford Health clinic and a Lewis Drug store. Currently, 16 of the first 20 villas are occupied, with 42 villas expected to be open by spring. These rental units offer customization options for residents, including backsplashes, cabinet colors, and the choice of a patio or fireplace. The villas are two-bedroom units ranging from 1,200 to 1,690 square feet, with attached garages proving particularly popular. The entire villa component, totaling 146 units, is projected to be completed by 2028 or 2029. According to Aimee Middleton, Good Samaritan Society chief operating officer, interest in the development has exceeded expectations, attracting both local retirees and ind...
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Crooks Residents Sue Sioux Falls Over Conditional Use Permit for New Smithfield Plant

Crooks Residents Sue Sioux Falls Over Conditional Use Permit for New Smithfield Plant

More than 20 residents from Crooks, South Dakota, have filed a lawsuit against the City of Sioux Falls regarding its approval of a conditional use permit (CUP) for a new Smithfield meatpacking plant. The lawsuit, heard on August 3, challenges the city's decision to allow the new Smithfield facility to be built less than 1,000 feet from residential areas in Crooks, a distance that violates Sioux Falls' zoning ordinances for heavy industrial sites. Plaintiffs allege that the city did not follow proper procedures when granting the CUP. The new Smithfield plant is slated for Foundation Park, an 800-acre industrial mega-site zoned for heavy industrial use, which typically requires a 1,000-foot buffer from residential properties. The Sioux Falls Planning Commission recommended approval of the CUP on March 4, and the City Council formally approved it on March 17. Residents expressed concerns about truck traffic, odor, and a lack of prior notification about the plant's relocation plans.
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Former Foster Youth Sam Uwizeyimana Pursues Law Degree with Support from Community Resource Program

Former Foster Youth Sam Uwizeyimana Pursues Law Degree with Support from Community Resource Program

Sam Uwizeyimana, a 28-year-old former foster youth who experienced homelessness during high school in Sioux Falls, is now on track to earn a law degree from the USD Knudson School of Law in 2028. Uwizeyimana's journey was significantly aided by the Community Resource Program, a state contract administered by LSS of South Dakota. This program supports youths aged 16 to 21 in foster care or those transitioning to adulthood, providing assistance with employment, education, housing, life skills, and health resources. Uwizeyimana, who once lived in motels and on the streets while ensuring his younger brothers had shelter, connected with the program after the South Dakota Department of Social Services became custodians of him and his siblings. The program helped him secure scholarship funding for his undergraduate education at USD and provided starter items for his first apartment, enabling him to pursue his academic and career aspirations.
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Crooks Residents Sue Sioux Falls Over Smithfield Foods Permit Near Residential Area

Crooks Residents Sue Sioux Falls Over Smithfield Foods Permit Near Residential Area

Residents of Crooks are pursuing legal action against the city of Sioux Falls concerning a conditional use permit (CUP) granted to Smithfield Foods. The permit allows the construction of a new pork processing facility within 1,000 feet of residential land. This approval is contentious because the city's zoning ordinance mandates a 1,000-foot buffer zone between industrial and residential areas. The Smithfield site is situated within Foundation Park, a large industrial complex that also hosts a CJ Schwans' Asian food factory and an Amazon distribution center. The lawsuit aims to obtain a writ of certiorari from the state court, challenging the legality of the permit based on the alleged violation of the established zoning regulations.
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Sioux Falls City Council Approves Partnership with USD Dental Hygiene Program

Sioux Falls City Council Approves Partnership with USD Dental Hygiene Program

The Sioux Falls City Council unanimously approved a partnership with the University of South Dakota (USD) Dental Hygiene Program. This measure will transition USD's current operations to the Falls Community Health Dental Clinic. The partnership is designed to establish and maintain a clinical education component, providing dental hygiene students with valuable learning experiences. This collaboration is set to commence at the beginning of September. The approval came after a hearing held by the City Council, indicating a clear path forward for integrating the university's program with local health services. This move aims to enhance both the educational opportunities for students and the dental care services available within the community.
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Sioux Falls Boutique Rust Co. to Close Physical Storefront as Owners Relocate

Sioux Falls Boutique Rust Co. to Close Physical Storefront as Owners Relocate

Sioux Falls Boutique Rust Co. to Close Physical Storefront as Owners Relocate
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Memorial Services Scheduled for T. Denny Sanford in Sioux Falls

Memorial Services Scheduled for T. Denny Sanford in Sioux Falls

A public celebration of life, titled “A Life of Significance,” has been scheduled for T. Denny Sanford in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The event will take place at 2 p.m. on August 29 at the Washington Pavilion. Doors will open at 1 p.m. for open seating in the Mary W. Sommervold Hall, with a public reception following the program from 3 to 4 p.m. The celebration aims to honor Mr. Sanford's remarkable life, the individuals he inspired, and the lasting impact of his vision and philanthropy. T. Denny Sanford passed away on July 18 at the age of 90.
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Sioux Falls Resident Expresses Frustration Over Tree Removal During Street Construction

Sioux Falls Resident Expresses Frustration Over Tree Removal During Street Construction

Karen O’Connor, a resident of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is frustrated by the loss of six trees on her street, which she attributes to recent construction work. The construction involved trimming the base and roots of the trees for curb and gutter replacement. O’Connor believes the damage was preventable and led to the trees needing to be demolished. She contacted the city for compensation, citing potential increases in her utility bills due to the loss of shade. However, she was informed that under current city ordinance, she has no recourse. The City of Sioux Falls acknowledged the situation, stating that their forestry team determined the trees were at risk of falling and posed a public safety hazard, necessitating their removal. They emphasized the challenge of balancing infrastructure maintenance with tree preservation, especially in narrow right-of-way areas.
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HSG, Formerly Sequoia China, Raises $1.2 Billion Fund for AI, Healthcare, and Consumer Sectors

HSG, Formerly Sequoia China, Raises $1.2 Billion Fund for AI, Healthcare, and Consumer Sectors

HSG, Formerly Sequoia China, Raises $1.2 Billion Fund for AI, Healthcare, and Consumer Sectors
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Yarmouth Businesses Thrive by Catering to Maine's Fishing Enthusiasts

Yarmouth Businesses Thrive by Catering to Maine's Fishing Enthusiasts

Yarmouth Businesses Thrive by Catering to Maine's Fishing Enthusiasts
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NIU Anthropologist Receives NSF Grant for Bolivian Rainforest Research on Tamarin Monkeys

NIU Anthropologist Receives NSF Grant for Bolivian Rainforest Research on Tamarin Monkeys

Northern Illinois University (NIU) anthropologist Leila Porter has been awarded a $123,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support her research on wild saddleback tamarin monkeys in the Bolivian rainforests. The project, which launched this summer, aims to understand how these monkeys meet their nutritional needs for survival and reproduction. Porter's research integrates primatology, nutritional ecology, and microbiome science, making it one of the first studies to examine all three aspects in a wild primate with a diet rich in tree gums and insects. The research team, including NIU's Mitchell Irwin and Washington University's Liz Mallott, will monitor tamarin diets, map food availability, and analyze nutritional content and gut microbial changes over time.
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Department of the Interior Faces Criticism Over Budget Cuts and Politicization of Grant Process

Department of the Interior Faces Criticism Over Budget Cuts and Politicization of Grant Process

The Department of the Interior (DOI) is currently undergoing significant reorganizations under the leadership of Secretary Doug Burgum, drawing criticism for alleged budget and staffing cuts. These changes are seen by some as part of a broader effort to politicize the federal grant process. Historically, the DOI distributes approximately $12 billion annually in grants to various entities including states, tribes, universities, local governments, nonprofits, and conservation organizations. These grants traditionally support initiatives such as wetland restoration, abandoned mine cleanup, wildlife habitat conservation, water infrastructure improvements, outdoor recreation expansion, and scientific research. The concern is that a proposed Office of Management and Budget initiative, reportedly championed by Secretary Burgum, would allow political appointees to override the decisions of career experts and peer reviewers in grant allocations, potentially replacing merit-based decisions with political favoritism....