Vanessa Carlson Bender - Journalist

Vanessa Carlson Bender - Journalist Sioux Falls journalist with Argus Leader. Amplifying voices, shedding light on business-related news.

Go out and get your blizzards and/or coupons today!Selah Barrett was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at th...
07/30/2025

Go out and get your blizzards and/or coupons today!

Selah Barrett was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Sanford Castle and diagnosed with necrotizing pneumonia - a severe form of pneumonia where bacteria begins eating away at lung tissue, causing significant damage.

“One time her heart stopped where they had administered CPR in the room…for several minutes…the Crash Team had to come in, and we didn't know if she was going to make it multiple times,” her dad, Adam Barrett, said.

After 26 days in the PICU with “hour by hour” monitoring, Selah was finally discharged.

Jerzey Meeks, now nearly 17, has undergone four open-heart surgeries. One was when she was just 5 days old.

She is hopeful there won’t be another surgery until after high school or maybe even college.

“It depends on how her valve does and how her heart does,” her mom, Liz Meeks, said.

Liz hopes that with future technological advances in healthcare, her daughter may not have to have open heart surgery, but instead undergo a cath lab procedure to replace the valve.

Two Sioux Falls families share how DQ Miracle Treat Day, Sanford Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network made true miracles happen.

"To better understand immigrants and refugees, Sioux Falls panelists emphasized the importance of taking the time to get...
07/16/2025

"To better understand immigrants and refugees, Sioux Falls panelists emphasized the importance of taking the time to get to know one another and each other’s perspectives, to 'create a community among strangers.'"

Sioux Falls Thrive and the South Dakota NewsMedia Association hosted a panel, “Under the Same Sky: Immigration in the Heartland,” at the Sioux Falls State Theatre.

"I’d come out every day if I could,” said rally-goer Mike Tokarczyk, who made a sign that read, Trump is a fascist. “I n...
07/08/2025

"I’d come out every day if I could,” said rally-goer Mike Tokarczyk, who made a sign that read, Trump is a fascist. “I never thought I’d see a day like this, but there are a lot of people who feel the same way I do, and I want them to be less intimidated to come out.”

All-volunteer grassroots movements host another peaceful protest in Sioux Falls against the current federal administration.

All-volunteer grassroots movements host another peaceful protest in Sioux Falls against the current federal administration.

Sioux Falls will hold a Juneteenth cookout from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21 by Fawick Park.In years past, Sioux ...
06/19/2025

Sioux Falls will hold a Juneteenth cookout from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21 by Fawick Park.

In years past, Sioux Falls’ Juneteenth festivities have included a freedom walk, fashion show and more, but this year, organizers wrote on Instagram and Facebook that things will be a bit different.

"Reversing DEIA policies and initiatives, and expecting us to plan and organize a multicultural Juneteenth event, focused on education for free and with no budget, is nasty work,” organizers wrote. “This year, our colleagues will be out of town, out of the country, BBQing, or relaxing on our couches as we celebrate privately. If you've got the invite, COME TO THE FAMILY REUNION COOKOUT!”

Sioux Falls will hold a Juneteenth cookout from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21 by Fawick Park.

After nearly two years of bringing affordable, healthy food directly to neighborhoods in need, the Eat Well Sioux Falls ...
06/19/2025

After nearly two years of bringing affordable, healthy food directly to neighborhoods in need, the Eat Well Sioux Falls Mobile Market pilot program will be put on pause, with its final stop on June 20, according to a press release from Sioux Falls Thrive.

"The data is clear: The demand exists, and the mobile concept works,” said Sioux Falls Thrive President Michelle Erpenbach. “A grocery store on wheels addresses food insecurity for seniors, veterans and families who struggle to access affordable, nutritious food across Sioux Falls. Yet, while the need is undeniable, sustaining this service requires broader local support than has been shown through the pilot phase."

After nearly two years of bringing affordable, healthy food directly to neighborhoods in need, the Eat Well Sioux Falls Mobile Market pilot program will be put on pause, with its final stop on June 20, according to a press release from Sioux Falls Thrive.

Sioux Falls’ finance director told the Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday, May 20, that the city will need to make $8 m...
05/22/2025

Sioux Falls’ finance director told the Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday, May 20, that the city will need to make $8 million - $10 million in cuts the next three years to compensate for the effects of a bill that will soon cap property tax assessments in the state.

Director of Finance Shawn Pritchett told the council that property tax reform means the city needs to be making long-term cuts to services.

Tzadik Property Management in Sioux Falls, a group of multiple apartment complexes that have faced criticism over poor l...
05/21/2025

Tzadik Property Management in Sioux Falls, a group of multiple apartment complexes that have faced criticism over poor living conditions and a lack of communication with residents, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In addition to missed payments to both lenders, Fannie Mae and Merchants Bank of Indiana, the number of Tzadik’s unsecured creditors is 344, of which 33 are Sioux Falls area businesses. Out of the top 20 largest unsecured claims overall, half are located in the Sioux Falls area with the largest being Breit & Boomsma Law Office for $128,506.92.

Tzadik Property Management, a group of multiple apartment complexes that have faced much criticism, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April.

Siehera Behr, known for her appearance on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," passed away on March 30 at age 31.She was we...
04/10/2025

Siehera Behr, known for her appearance on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," passed away on March 30 at age 31.

She was well known and loved by many, including in Sioux Falls as the community mentoring coordinator at Lutheran Social Services and volunteered as a mentor with LSS, rocking babies at the NICU, fostering and adopting dogs with the Sioux Falls Canine Rescue and with Sufu Creative Events.

Note: I was lucky enough to meet Siehera in person once at her booth at a craft fair and we connected over many things, such as dogs and Green Day - our mutual favorite band. We tried to get together many times since then but it just didn't happen. Now, knowing she lived just a few blocks away makes it that much harder that I didn't get the chance to know her more. RIP Siehera. ❤️

Call up your loved ones and make it happen. Start a conversation with someone you recently met. You just never know.

Siehera Behr, who was featured in 2006 on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and was a community mentoring coordinator in Sioux Falls, has died.

It’s been a year since Chelsea and Cole DeBoer opened their retail store, Down Home by DeBoers, in Tea, and the "Down Ho...
03/28/2025

It’s been a year since Chelsea and Cole DeBoer opened their retail store, Down Home by DeBoers, in Tea, and the "Down Home Fab" HGTV stars commemorated the milestone with a one-year anniversary celebration.

Read more about the DeBoers' reflecting on the past year with their brick-and-mortar.

It’s been a year since Chelsea and Cole DeBoer opened their retail store in Tea, as they look forward to a new season of their HGTV show.

The City Council voted 8-0 to move forward with the $70,000 iron fence around the parking lot north of the Bishop Dudley...
03/06/2025

The City Council voted 8-0 to move forward with the $70,000 iron fence around the parking lot north of the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House for safety concerns in the area, but many community members are speaking out about the larger issue of homelessness and the root causes.

Both sides of the argument agree, however, that more can be done from city leaders' transparency to residents getting more involved in the community and "doing the damn work."

Community, Whittier neighborhood eager to rally around solutions for unhoused families.

“One in nine children and one in 12 adults in our state don’t have access to the food they need to thrive. We want to co...
02/27/2025

“One in nine children and one in 12 adults in our state don’t have access to the food they need to thrive. We want to continue to find ways to reach people facing hunger, and Wellness Pantries are an effective model to provide access when food can impact them the most,” Lori Dykstra, CEO of Feeding South Dakota, said.

Avera Health introduced a pilot program providing clinic-based food pantries for patients facing food insecurity in Sioux Falls and Parkston in collaboration with Feeding South Dakota.

If successful, the program may expand to additional clinics, further integrating food access into health care to address broader social determinants of health such as housing, education and transportation.

Avera Health introduces a pilot program to provide clinic-based food pantries for patients facing food insecurity in Sioux Falls and Parkston.

South Dakota’s House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to advance House Bill 1132B to establish child care assistanc...
02/21/2025

South Dakota’s House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to advance House Bill 1132B to establish child care assistance for daycare workers.

“House Bill 1132 is a crucial step towards addressing the child care workforce shortage, expanding access to quality child care by reducing financial barriers for child care workers and encouraging businesses and philanthropic organizations to invest in child care solutions,” said Sen. Tim Reed, R-Brookings.

The South Dakota House voted to advance House Bill 1132B, an act to establish child care funding assistance for qualifying child care employees.

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