Latest news with #ArgusLeader
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Taskrabbit CEO: I'm a better gig-economy leader because of the empathy I learned in early jobs
It's 5 a.m. on a dark fall morning in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. With temperatures hovering just below freezing, I set out on my paper route. On evenings—weekday or weekend, rain or shine—I step out once again on foot for my second job, selling subscriptions to the same paper, Argus Leader. As a kid, I had one goal: to earn money and afford anything I could call my own. Well, maybe two—if I sold enough subscriptions, I could win prizes like a Walkman or tickets to see Cyndi Lauper. Looking back, this paper route was my first sales job. Even as a young teen, I learned to read subtle differences in the people behind each door. I adjusted my pitch to suit their unique personalities, came to understand their needs, and learned to accept rejection with grace. It was humbling, but it built the resilience to push forward after every "no" and knock on the next door. The previous door didn't matter. At 14, I started working in the service industry, first at Prime Time Burgers, then at TGI Fridays and Applebee's. Moving into management, I learned invaluable lessons in accountability and customer service that became the foundation of my work ethic. One piece of advice from my Prime Time Burgers boss stuck with me: "If you give yourself five minutes extra, you'll always be on time." I've never been late since. Small habits, learned early, shape long-term success. Working in food service taught me that at its core, it's a sales job. Like my paper route, it required understanding each customer's story and developing an intuition for their needs. Instead of asking, "Would you like an appetizer?" I learned to say, "Can I get you started with some warm mozzarella sticks? My last table just had some and said they were amazing." A story is always more compelling than a generic question. As the daughter of Polish immigrants, I saw the fortitude required to forge a path in this country. My parents struggled to find work because their qualifications weren't recognized. My mother, a former teacher, took a job in manufacturing to make ends meet. The determination of my parents, combined with my early work experiences, gave me a unique perspective on the challenges faced by those working in the gig-economy space. When I moved into tech—working at Airbnb, Uber Eats, and now Taskrabbit—I understood first-hand the challenges faced by hosts, drivers, food delivery workers, and Taskers. Drawing upon past experience alone provides only a limited view of the gig economy's ever-evolving challenges. In every corporate role, I signed up for jobs on the supplier side to understand their experiences on the frontlines. How does it feel to be delayed because there's no parking? What if a client forgets to provide an entry code or a job runs overtime, throwing off the whole day's schedule? Working in these roles, I saw how long deliveries actually take, how complex a single task can be, and how frustrating it could be to wait weeks for payment. Time and again, these experiences reinforced the essential role of empathy in business. Many leaders focus on customers, but compassion for employees and partners is just as vital. Being on the frontlines builds an instinct for the challenges faced in the field, helping identify patterns and make informed decisions. At the C-suite level, business decisions are human decisions. Understanding the workforce—through their daily realities—is a leader's greatest strength. The opinions expressed in commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune. This story was originally featured on Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sioux Falls school board president won't seek another term; four board candidates emerge
Sioux Falls School District board president Carly Reiter won't seek another term on the board, she told the Argus Leader on Monday. Reiter has served multiple board terms since she was first elected in 2013, and her term ends June 30, leaving an opportunity for a newcomer to step onto the board in the May 13 election. She told her fellow board members in a March 7 email that she'd recently accepted a new position at work that will require more of her time and attention than she'd be able to provide to school board business. Her LinkedIn page states she currently works as a senior clinical informatics analyst at Sanford Health, and she said her new job title will be Business Partner for Professional Practice. Reiter said she will continue to advocate for public education in the role, just from a different seat. She said she's enjoyed her 12 years on the board, the people she's worked with and the numerous programs and initiatives she's been able to support. Board member Nan Kelly's term is also up June 30, and she told the Argus Leader on Jan. 30 that she planned to run again. She was first elected to the board in 2019. Kelly will join three official candidates who've already filed nominating petitions – Elizabeth Duffy, Patricia Ringold and Thomas Werner. More than 20 people attended a school board candidate information session in January to learn what it takes to be a school board member and how to run for office, so more than the four candidates could come forward. The last date for candidates to file nominating petitions to get their name on the ballot is April 4. More: More than 20 potential Sioux Falls school board candidates attend meeting on how to run After that, candidates have 15 days to file their candidate financial interest statement, then their pre-election campaign finance report is due April 28, and a post-election campaign finance report is due June 24. Voters must register to vote in the election by April 28. Election Day is May 13. The two elected people will take office July 14 and will serve three-year terms. Five candidates entered the 2024 race that saw Marc Murren and Gail Swenson elected. Three candidates entered the 2023 race that saw Dawn Marie Johnson elected, but one recused himself from the race. The 2022 election was canceled as no contenders came forward to challenge Reiter or Kelly's seats on the board. Five candidates entered the 2021 race that merited Murren his first term on the board, and incumbent Kate Serenbetz' final term on the board. The 2026 election, which will be held ahead of when terms end for Johnson, Murren and Swenson, on June 30, 2026, will be for three four-year terms. More: Board sets 2025 election for Reiter's, Kelly's seats for Sioux Falls School District After that, all subsequent elections for board seats beginning in 2028 will be for four-year terms, and alternate between having two or three seats up for grabs every two years. Those changes were part of the 2023 Legislature's decision to pass House Bill 1123, which allowed school boards to increase terms from three to four years, so they could combine elections with other local governments, like city and county elections. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls school board president Carly Reiter won't seek reelection
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania man involved in botched May drug deal sentenced for misprision of a felony
: Reader discretion is advised because of graphic material. An Allentown, PA man accused of aiding and abetting attempted murder in a drug deal gone wrong pleaded guilty to concealing a felony in Lincoln County court Thursday, according to court documents. Rakeem Ali Fitzgerald was involved in a May incident in which then 19-year-old Victor Rios allegedly shot 24-year-old Dylan Jaimes, of Marion, after a drug deal gone wrong. Along with Fitzgerald and Rios, two other men, Antonio Hacker and Danai Cha, were involved in the incident. On April 30, police responded to a vehicle in a ditch in Lincoln County, where they found Jaimes with a gunshot wound to the head, according to previous Argus Leader reporting. An unnamed 15-year-old was also in the vehicle. Earlier that evening, Jaimes and his 15-year-old passenger were involved in a drug transaction in a bar parking lot with the four teens. More: Sioux Falls teen pleads guilty to aiding and abetting attempted first-degree murder When the men failed to pay for half an ounce of marijuana, Jaimes began to follow them in his silver Pontiac, according to previous Argus Leader reporting. The 24-year-old eventually began traveling a different direction. The teens, who were driving a black Toyota Corolla, later 'caught up to (Jaimes') car' before stopping in the roadway, according to previous reporting. Rios exited the vehicle before allegedly pulling a silver handgun from his waistband and firing two shots at the Pontiac. One of the bullets struck Jaimes in the head, lodging in his frontal lobe. The 24-year-old's condition is unknown, according to previous reporting. At the time, he was taken to an area hospital where he regained consciousness and was able to answer questions posed by police. The Toyota Corolla occupied by the teens was found intentionally disabled the next day, according to previous reporting. Someone had attempted to rip off the front license plate, and the back license plate was bent upward to conceal its number. A window on the rear driver's side was smashed. Camera footage showed the group of men leaving an apartment occupied by one of the teens about two hours before the shooting, according to previous reporting. Rios was wearing a black face mask. More: 4 teens face attempted murder charges for shooting man in head near Sioux Falls Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to one count of misprision of a felony Thursday. He was sentenced to one year in jail with 243 days suspended, according to court documents. He received credit for 117 days served. Hacker, the driver of the vehicle, was sentenced to 25 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary with 25 years suspended Dec. 9 on one count of aiding and abetting attempted first-degree murder. The man will be on probation until 2030. Cha pleaded guilty to one count of accessory to a felony in Minnehaha County court on Jan. 27. His sentencing hearing is set for Apr. 1. Rios, the alleged shooter, is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder in the alternative and four counts of aggravated assault, according to a Lincoln County court document. He is set to appear for a jury trial on Jun. 2. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Allentown, PA man involved in botched May drug deal sentenced
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Dakota House kills Lincoln County prison funding bill despite compromise
PIERRE — A hotly debated funding bill that would transfer most of the last batch of money needed to pay for a new men's prison in South Dakota has narrowly failed in the state House. Lawmakers voted 34-35 Friday, rejecting a House bill that would have moved about $148 million from the state's general fund to an incarceration construction fund. Previous coverage: Could the new SD prison be built without $182M appropriation? 'Absolutely,' lawmakers say Newly-appointed Rep. Jack Kolbeck, R-Sioux Falls, moved an amendment removing the appropriation language from the bill. While appropriation bills require a two-thirds majority to pass each chamber, Kolbeck's bill only needed a 36-member majority to survive. The 320-acre, 1,500-bed facility would be located on old Lincoln County farmland south of Harrisburg, near 477th Avenue and 277th Street. But what was, on paper, a bill centered on whether to move money into an account to fund the facility's construction spawned an emotional debate about the legislature's role in criminal justice and fiscal responsibility. Kolbeck told his fellow House lawmakers he has heard "a lot of people say we need to build a new prison," while acknowledging the heartburn over the final price tag. The amendment, Kolbeck said, would allow the discussion on the prison to continue. "This has been a long discussion for the last many months," Kolbeck added. "Many months that I know, for some of you, it's been a tough decision, and I know for some of you it's not been a tough decision." Democrat Rep. Erik Muckey voted "yes" along with most of the House Democrats, though the Sioux Falls lawmaker told the Argus Leader after the Friday vote he had "every reason to vote 'no.'" "You have stakeholders in Lincoln County that, in my view, have gone through a process that was unfair. The inmates that need a safer site, same for the site as well … but you also have a really big problem in South Dakota with our sentencing policies," Muckey said. "Voting 'yes' today functionally transfers funds, but it may send a message to somebody that we're placing one of those three things above others." Muckey said he ultimately voted for the bill's passage, because transferring the money, as opposed to making a true appropriation, would have "preserved options for the future." "Whatever the site or selection may be … we may be able to move forward with the project," Muckey said. "The other reason why I voted 'yes' was, in the balancing act right now, I am wanting to make sure we transfer funds, or choosing to transfer funds sends a message to our staff and for the inmates families that we are looking at a facility that's safer for them." Rep. Peri Pourier of Rapid City was the sole House Democrat to reject the proposed amendment. Pourier told the Argus Leader after the measure died that she doesn't necessarily believe the state doesn't need an updated prison. But the fourth-term representative's rejection of the measure, she told the Argus Leader, stemmed from what she viewed as the state's lack of rehabilitation and prison aftercare funding. In an impassioned speech on the floor, Pourier related a litany of issues she believes the state is not prioritizing and the legislature is not addressing. "Can we acknowledge that we have felony ingestion on the books?" Pourier asked. "Can we acknowledge the lack of mental health facilities?" There's also a message behind the $825 million prison purchase that Pourier interpreted negatively. "This is largest purchase … that we're going to see in our lifetime," Pourier said. "That prison's built for 100 years. My grandchildren, what are they going to say about us, when you have the money [and] you invest it in prisons?" South Dakota Department of Corrections officials and Gov. Larry Rhoden have claimed a delay in meeting the prison's 2025 funding goal could cost the state upwards of $40 million in inflationary costs the next legislative go-around. Which is why Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt, R-Sioux Falls, called on her fellow House members to make a "fiscally responsible decision." "I think we can all recognize that this prison is going to be expensive regardless of where it's located," Rehfeldt said. "What are we going to spend this money on if we don't spend it on this? I couldn't think of a better thing we could spend this on." Speaker Pro Tempore Karla Lems was among the batch of populist Republicans who weren't keen on the transfer. Lems, who is in her second term, criticized the DOC's planned prison project by pointing to "unanswered questions" surrounding "plan A" — the Lincoln County site. Her heartburn was largely focused on the affordability of the project, which has other costs that are not directly wrapped up in the $825 million price tag. That includes the $55.4 million annual cost for operations and personnel services — $21.6 million more than the South Dakota State Penitentiary, which the new site would replace. There's also the cost of paving gravel roads around the prison property that's not included in the final figure, Lems noted. And the state may need to pull from a $24 million fund to cover change orders to the original site plan. The Canton Republican also pointed to other states which are planning to build new prisons at a fraction of the cost or at a more affordable rate. A proposed prison in Nebraska is projected at $350 million, according to a local TV outlet. That's a per-bed price of $231,000, less than half of South Dakota's counterpart at $546,000. Alabama, too, is also building a $1.25 billion, 4,000-bed prison facility with minimum, medium and maximum security areas, as well as specific cells for mental and medical health holds, according to the Associated Press. That's about $312,500 per bed. "To me, this whole prison project … I have an acronym for it: CPR," Lems said. "It's on life support." Fort Pierre Republican Rep. Will Mortenson sympathized with opponents to the bill, saying Friday he would much rather spend the prison dollars in the education sector and on hunting opportunities. Mortenson, formerly the majority leader of the House, characterized the new prison as "a need, not a want." "It's an unwanted need," Mortenson acknowledged. "[But] we have the money now, and it is fiscally conservative to set it aside in a fund … rather than go blow it on pet projects." Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt gave notice of intent to reconsider, meaning the bill could return to the House with some compromises. Tuesday is the deadline for the bill to pass out of the House. "How much does a life cost? Does it cost a dollar? Does it cost $5 billion?" Kolbeck asked. "That life costs your heart. That's what that costs." More: What you should know about crime/public safety bills in South Dakota's legislature now This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Lincoln County prison funding bill fails in South Dakota House
USA Today
28-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Sioux Falls youth violence intervention program suspended amid federal funding freeze
Sioux Falls youth violence intervention program suspended amid federal funding freeze Show Caption Hide Caption White House responds to pause in federal grants and loans White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to questions surrounding the Trump administrations pause in federal grants and loans. The Compass Center in Sioux Falls is suspending its Youth Violence Intervention and Prevention (YVIP) program effective immediately amid a pause on federal grants that President Donald Trump ordered late Monday to give his administration time to review whether they fit his priorities. The YVIP is a 'youth-led, community-based initiative working to eliminate violence among middle and high school youth (ages 12-17) in the Sioux Falls metro area,' according to The Compass Center website. The Compass Center relies on federal funding for 40% to 50% of its overall budget, Executive Director Michelle Trent said. 'This year it's closer to the 60% with all of our federal funds,' Trent said. 'And so a significant portion of our budget is made up of federal dollars.' The freeze went into effect at 4 p.m. Tuesday though several states sued to block the order. The memo ordering the freeze does not specify which grant-making agencies must abide by the order, but the Office of Management and Budget has broad power over the executive branch that touches nearly every agency. The sweeping announcement triggered widespread confusion and panic among government bureaucrats and everyday Americans scrambling to figure out the implications. The government later clarified it doesn't affect Pell Grants, which are government subsidies that help low-income students pay for college, Social Security payments, Medicaid or food stamps — assistance that is going directly to individuals. "This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration," said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, during a briefing Tuesday afternoon. "The reason for this is to ensure that every penny that is going out the door is not conflicting with the executive orders and actions that this president has taken." Youth violence has become a growing problem in Sioux Falls. In early December, 18-year-old Jaden Bingham fired a gun in the Empire Mall, causing the mall to be placed under lockdown status for nearly two hours, according to previous reporting from the Argus Leader. After the shooting, Sioux Falls Police Department Police Chief Jon Thum called on the Sioux Falls community to aid in 'mentoring' youth. While the federal fund freeze does not affect SFPD, police were 'excited' about the prospect of working with The Compass Center on the YVIP program, Sioux Falls Police Department spokesperson Sam Clemens said in an email to the Argus Leader. 'We recognize the greater need and urgency in mentorship with youth in Sioux Falls. Mentors can have a dramatic impact on the lives of youth,' Clemens said. 'This is not something that can be left for other people to do. We want everyone to get involved and volunteer your time to make a difference with today's youth which will make a difference in our community for years to come.' The YVIP program serves Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner and McCook counties, according to the website, and collaborates with 35 community partners to serve youth in the area, Trent said. Teens in the YVIP program experience 'immersive training sessions' and engage in peer education and impact events to gain the knowledge and skills to prevent 'relational and sexual violence, sexual harassment, dating violence, and bullying,' according to the website. While the YVIP is the only program currently suspended at The Compass Center, several other programs are in jeopardy, Trent said. This includes programs that offer walk-in care for victims of violence, programs that help victims with court-related processes, and crisis counseling services. The Compass Center is the only rape crisis center in South Dakota, Trent said, and those services are at risk, too. Trent said the freeze 'feels very out of the blue and sudden, and with minimal preparation or minimal answers.' Trent said The Compass Center was 'heightened to changes in federal funding' before the freeze went into effect primarily because she believes topics such as family, sexual and relationship violence are often things people don't want to talk about. 'I think this is a great time for our community and our state and our nation to step up and say, 'These are important services for the people that live in our community, in our society, and so we're going to fight for them,'' Trent said. USA Today contributed to this report.
