The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
State Affairs Committee Discusses Property Tax Reform and the Need for Spending Cuts
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Property tax reform should start with government spending cuts and include difficult discussions about public education funding, House of Representatives leaders on the State Affairs Committee said Wednesday at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre. The committee rejected legislation that would shift the property tax burden from homeowners to sales taxes and endorsed a proposed legislative summer study to investigate property tax policy. Property tax revenue goes to cities, counties and schools, while the state depends on sales tax revenue and cities also receive sales tax revenue. The House State Affairs Committee is scheduled to consider several other property tax proposals on Friday.
Senate Passes Resolution to Support Long-Term Health of Black Hills National Forest
SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Senate passed a resolution Wednesday to promote the long-term health and viability of the Black Hills National Forest. Brought by Spearfish Republican Sen. Randy Deibert, the bill was widely supported. Though that doesn’t mean it went without questions. Oglala Lakota Democratic Sen. Red Dawn Foster questioned issues like tribal involvement in the long-term forest plan and the treatment of old growth trees. Deibert said tribal involvement is important to plans moving forward. The Black Hills are considered a sacred site in Lakota culture, and indigenous peoples have historically been underrepresented in decision-making for forest management.
Senate Committee Rejects Bill to Increase Childcare Assistance Rates
PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Senate Appropriations Committee has effectively killed a bill Thursday to increase childcare assistance rates. The measure would have raised payments from 75 to 90 percent of the market rate for eligible low-income families. Supporters said it would help address worker shortages, while opponents cited the $8.25 million cost. The bill failed on a 5-3 vote.
Senate Committee Advances Bill Requiring Legislative Approval for Major State Building Leases
PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday advanced a bill requiring legislative approval for major state building leases. The measure responds to controversial 30-year One Stop leases in Rapid City and Sioux Falls that increased annual payments by up to 270 percent. The bipartisan legislation would require full Senate and House approval for any lease exceeding 15 years or $5 million. The bill moves to the Senate for consideration.
Federal judge allows Trump’s mass firings of federal workers to move forward
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge in Washington has allowed President Donald Trump’s mass firings of federal workers to move forward. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper decided Thursday he could not grant a motion from unions representing the workers to stop the layoffs, though he acknowledged chaos caused by Trump’s blitz of second-term executive actions. The judge found the unions’ lawsuit amounted to an employment dispute and must follow a different complaint process outlined in federal employment law. The ruling comes as thousands of federal government employees are laid off. Trump’s Republican administration argued the unions failed to show they’re facing the kind of irreparable, immediate harm that would justify an emergency order stopping layoffs.
Middle East latest: Netanyahu says body Hamas released was a woman from Gaza, not a hostage
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a body that Hamas militants released during the handover of remains of Israeli hostages is that of a woman from Gaza instead of that of Shiri Bibas, the mother of two young boys whose bodies were returned on Thursday. Netanyahu criticized the handover of the wrong remains as a “cruel and malicious violation” of the ceasefire agreement, which has halted fighting in the Gaza Strip, and said Hamas would “pay the full price” for the action. Hamas turned over four bodies on Thursday under the ceasefire. Israeli identified three as belonging to Oded Lifshitz and Shiri Bibas’ two young sons. Hamas insisted it has adhered to all terms of the deal.
Senate Republicans approve budget framework, pushing past Democratic objections after all-night vote
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican senators pushed a $340 billion budget framework to passage over Democratic objections after a nearly all-night vote. The early Friday vote was a key step toward providing money the Trump administration says it needs funds for mass deportations and security measures that top the Republican agenda. Senators chugged through the “vote-a-rama” considering dozens of amendments before the package was approved on a largely party-line vote. But it still needs to be merged with one from the House. House Republicans are preparing President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” that includes some $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and up to $2 trillion less spending. With Republicans in control of Congress, they are using the budget process to advance Trump’s agenda.
Apple Unveils Budget-Friendly iPhone 16e Amid Rising Competition
Apple has officially launched the iPhone 16e for pre-sale in key markets today, targeting budget-conscious consumers with a $599 price tag and built-in artificial intelligence features. The release comes in the same week that Chinese competitor Huawei introduced its high-end trifold smartphone at a rare launch event. Analysts suggest Apple’s mid-range pricing strategy is designed to attract cost-sensitive buyers in major markets like China and India while expanding its presence in lower-tier segments. However, Apple continues to face challenges in growing its global customer base, as its smartphone sales have declined since their peak in 2022. According to Counterpoint Research, the company’s worldwide shipment share dropped from 19.3% in 2023 to 18.2% last year.
