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Articles by Makayla Voris
Experimenting with content strategies on Instagram, LinkedIn
What we’ve learned as we grow Sioux Falls Simplified’s social presence Makayla Voris is a 2025 RJI Student Innovation Fellow partnered with Sioux Falls Simplified. The RJI Student Innovation Fellows will be sharing their innovative work throughout the summer in Innovation in Focus. Social media can be a wacky place — often we’re at the mercy of algorithms and trends that change every few weeks.
Your guide to the school board
A quick note: For the sake of brevity, we’re focusing on the Sioux Falls School District, but most (if not all) districts in the region operate similarly. You can learn more below about your district if you’re outside of the SFSD boundaries. As you can see in the infographic above, there's three main facets of Sioux Falls School District’s inner-workings: the five board members, the superintendent, and a combination of administration and community partnerships.
Your guide to state government
Although state government is very important, we're not going to get too in the weeds with it because we’re Sioux FallsSimplified, not South Dakota Simplified (yet 😉). We’re firm believers that the biggest impact comes when you start at the local level, but sometimes that means going straight to your state lawmakers. The state government organizes and sets the budget each year, which influences other local governments that oversee school boards, cities and counties.
Your guide to the county commission
Sioux Falls falls within two different counties: Lincoln and Minnehaha. For each county, there are five elected commissioners. These individuals work on a part-time basis, similar to city council members, and serve four-year terms. They also are appointed to boards and committees that correspond with their individual strengths and experiences. What's the county in charge of?
How to take action at your pace
Congratulations, you've made it to the action part of this guide! Before you start, an important part of taking action is knowing what's going on at any given point in time. That's where local news can be a big help (brace for a quick sales pitch and then we'll go back to the content, promise!). Sioux Falls Simplified members can get exclusive access to our "what to watch this week" emails outlining upcoming public meetings.
Sioux Falls 101
What is this guide all about? Civic health (i.e. how you can influence the future of Sioux Falls by participating in local democracy and community building.) Let’s start with a definition of civic health: Civic health is how people in communities organize to define and address public problems, as defined by the National Conference on Citizenship. Others define civic health as the degree to which citizens participate in their community via local and state governance.
Simplifying civic engagement with local government
Hello from Sioux Falls, South Dakota! Makayla Voris is a 2025 RJI Student Innovation Fellow partnered with Sioux Falls Simplified. The RJI Student Innovation Fellows will be sharing their innovative work throughout the summer in Innovation in Focus. Sioux Falls Simplified is a weekly email newsletter that takes the news of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and breaks it down into bite-sized pieces with the occasional pop culture reference.
Morning Newscast for April 16, 2025
Here's a roundup of regional headlines from the KBIA newsroom: Missouri Farm Bureau wants to offer health insurance alternatives for members Senate committee adds $300 million to Missouri public education budget A bill in the Missouri legislature seeks to allow Missouri gun laws to supersede federal law. Protests in the Missouri House on Tuesday over a measure that could put an abortion ban on Missouri’s ballot.
Afternoon Newscast for October 29, 2024
Here's a roundup of regional headlines from the KBIA Newsroom: International observers visit no-excuse absentee voting on University of Missouri campus Missouri governor rescinds purchasing goals order for businesses owned by women and minorities A central Missouri district renamed its elementary school after Claudine Wilson. Boone County Family Resources and the Columbia Disability Issues Coalition held a candidate forum last night.
Business Brief: What would a $15 minimum wage mean for Missouri?
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines potential consequences of a measure that would raise Missouri’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. Then, the show features a conversation with the state official tasked with making things more equitable in the booming cannabis industry. Business Brief is a podcast covering business news and issues shaping the state. Find more Business Brief on our website or wherever you get podcasts.
Afternoon Newscast for Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Here's a roundup of headlines from across the region, including: Marcellus Williams’ fight for his innocence hits a major roadblock Planned Parenthood seeks to overturn law cutting Missouri Medicaid payments to clinics Missouri abortion-rights amendment faces last-minute legal challenges Court tosses Missouri law that barred police from enforcing federal gun laws KBIA Newscast Afternoon Newscastkbia newscast
How farmers and livestock producers are using drones, another tool in the toolbox
Midwest farmers like Gebhardt are increasingly using drones to lower production costs and for their convenience. In an Iowa State University survey completed last year, 21% farmers who responded reported using drones and 32% percent said they plan on using drones in the future. Doug Houser, a digital agriculture extension specialist from Iowa State University, said farmers adopt technology that they know will ultimately help their business.
How farmers and livestock producers are using drones, another tool in the toolbox
Drones are an important tool on Jeremiah Gebhardt’s farm in rural Salisbury, Missouri. For the last few years, he’s used them to spray his corn, soybean and wheat fields. Since adding the new farm equipment came with a large up-front cost, it was not a decision he made overnight. “I came up with, if we applied our own aerial spraying fungicide on our ground, plus I could do some for some other farmers in the area, I thought it'd be worth it,” said Gebhardt.
MU researchers seek to protect chickens from bird flu through gene editing
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments.
MU researchers seek to protect chickens from bird flu through gene editing
Researchers with the USDA and the University of Missouri are partnering to genetically edit chickens so they are resistant to bird flu. The hope is to help farmers protect their flocks from the virus. In recent months, bird flu has appeared in lactating dairy cattle. Wenjun Ma and Paula Chen co-lead the research project at the University of Missouri’s Animal Science Research Center.
Whirlwind Ranch Alpaca Store in Lebanon celebrates the joy of working with fibers
By Makayla Voris In 1996, a herd of alpacas arrived in Lebanon, Missouri, to settle down at Whirlwind Ranch. This year, the ranch turned 28 and, although the alpacas have now been re-homed, fiber arts classes and alpaca-fiber products are still underway. According to Liz Mitchko, owner and operator of Whirlwind Ranch, it sources the alpaca fibers from herds across the Midwest and some of its own alpacas that have been adopted. Mitchko co-owns the ranch with her mother, Linda.
The Creative Palette in Warsaw offers art classes and handmade items for every age
By Makayla Voris The Creative Palette on Main Street in Warsaw has been offering art classes for all ages since 2020. Kimberly Pearcy, a former art teacher and owner of the Creative Palette, began by teaching two to three classes each week out of local businesses. When the COVID-19 pandemic ended, she bought the current studio on Main Street.
Shortleaf Brewing shares eco-friendly beer, spirits and friendly atmosphere in O'Fallon
By Makayla Voris Shortleaf Brewing is a brewpub in O'Fallon dedicated to eco-friendly beer, spirits and an inviting atmosphere. There is also a sister location in Camdenton. Founded in 2019 by brothers Michael and Jonathan Crowell, Shortleaf Brewing's O'Fallon location offers more than 24 beers on tap, 105 whiskeys and bourbons, and a mostly made-from-scratch food menu. The Camdenton location, owned by Matthew Crowell and Robert Hoffman, has 19 beers on tap.
How to Plant and Grow Butterkin Squash
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How to Grow and Care for Persian Violets
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