The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Human Remains Identified as Missing Pine Ridge Woman
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Law enforcement say the human remains found in Jackson County in January have been confirmed to be the remains of a missing Pine Ridge woman. According to the RCPD, Michelle Elbow Shield was reported missing in December 2023 after last being seen in Rapid City in October 2023. In October 2024, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the RCPD issued a $5,000 reward for information regarding Elbow Shield’s disappearance. Police have submitted the remains for analysis to determine the cause and manner of Elbow Shield’s death and the investigation into her disappearance and death remains active and ongoing, officials said.
Spearfish Man Arrested Following Cyber Tip on Child Exploitation
SPEARFISH, S.D. – A Spearfish man has been arrested after the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a cyber tip. ICAC Task Force investigated the cyber tip and arrested the 37-year-old Spearfish man, James Frank, Wednesday on one count of possession of child pornography. His address, listed on the court documents, matches the address listed on business filings for an unlicensed in-home child care center run by his wife. An investigation into the matter continues.
South Dakota House Approves Changes to Constitutional Amendment Process
PIRRE, S.D. — South Dakota House members today (Thursday) revamped how constitutional amendments get on the ballot. Representatives voted 60-9, requiring petition signatures from all Senate districts. They also tightened voter residency rules but rejected changes to deceased voter reporting. The changes come just past the legislative session’s halfway point.
South Dakota Lawmakers Advance Bill to End Child Marriage
PIRRE, S.D. — Lawmakers are taking the first step with a bill that would end child marriage in South Dakota. Senate Bill 156, which would increase the minimum age for marriage from 16 to 18, was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday. South Dakota’s existing law allows the marriage of a person between the ages of 16 and 18 as long as one of their parents or guardians signs for consent. Supporters and opponents testified before the committee voted 4-2 to clear the bill. The bill now goes to the Senate floor.
FAA Fires Hundreds of Employees Amid Federal Job Cuts
Less than three weeks after a deadly midair collision over Washington, D.C., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is terminating hundreds of employees as part of widespread federal workforce reductions. The layoffs primarily affect probationary employees—those with less than a year on the job—who maintain radio and computer systems and develop new flight procedures. Air traffic controllers, already in short supply due to a decadeslong staffing shortage, are not included in the cuts. Officials have targeted probationary workers because they have fewer job protections and no right to appeal the decision.
Netanyahu Vows to “Finish the Job” Against Iran with Trump’s Support
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to “finish the job” against Iran with the backing of President Donald Trump. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel had made significant strides in weakening Iran’s influence, saying, “Over the last 16 months, Israel has dealt a mighty blow to Iran’s terror axis. Under the strong leadership of President Trump … I have no doubt that we can and will finish the job.” Netanyahu made these remarks alongside U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was visiting Israel for his first official trip to the region. Recent U.S. intelligence assessments have warned both the Biden and Trump administrations that Israel is likely to target key Iranian nuclear facilities this year. Officials also cautioned that such strikes could heighten the risk of escalating tensions and potentially spark a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Downloads of DeepSeek’s AI apps paused in South Korea over privacy concerns
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, has temporarily paused downloads of its chatbot apps in South Korea while it works with local authorities to address privacy concerns, according to South Korean officials on Monday. South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission said DeepSeek’s apps were removed from the local versions of Apple’s App Store and Google Play on Saturday evening and that the company agreed to work with the agency to strengthen privacy protections before relaunching the apps. The action does not affect users who have already downloaded DeepSeek on their phones or use it on personal computers.
USDA Issues Conditional License for Bird Flu Vaccine Amid Outbreak
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The USDA has granted a conditional license for a bird flu vaccine to be used in chickens, as a severe outbreak continues to devastate poultry flocks and contribute to soaring egg prices. Historically, bird flu vaccines have raised concerns, including challenges in detecting the virus in vaccinated birds and potential trade issues. However, with the virus now affecting other animals, such as cattle, and becoming harder to control, the strategy is shifting. In the past 30 days, at least 145 flocks have been confirmed with avian flu, impacting more than 20 million birds. Since the outbreak began in 2022, over 150 million birds have been affected.
