The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Inmate Found Dead in Pennington County Jail
RAPID CITY, S.D. — An inmate died in custody in Pennington County over the weekend. The inmate was discovered dead in his cell on Sunday morning during routine cell checks by correctional staff at Pennington County Jail. The 53-year-old male was checked into the facility the night before. Life-saving measures were performed by jail staff and responding paramedic but were unsuccessful and the male was pronounced dead.
Election Packets Available for Rapid City’s Municipal Election
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Election packets for this June’s municipal election are now available from the City finance office. Candidates for positions on the Rapid City Council can begin circulating petitions this Saturday, March 1. One position in each of Rapid City’s five wards is up for election. Rapid City’s municipal election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 3 with a deadline to file petitions for the municipal election set for Tuesday, March 25. City Council candidates will be seeking three-year terms
South Dakota Lawmakers Push for Greater Oversight on State Property Leases
PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota lawmakers are moving to increase oversight on state property leases. Senate Bill 145 would require legislative approval for leases longer than 15 years or exceeding $5 million. The measure seeks to enhance government transparency by requiring legislative review of significant lease agreements. Supporters say the bill will help prevent costly, long-term commitments without proper public scrutiny. The legislation, if passed, would take effect July 1.
The Latest: Trump’s long-threatened tariffs against Canada and Mexico go into effect
President Donald Trump’s long-threatened tariffs against Canada and Mexico went into effect Tuesday, putting global markets on edge and setting up costly retaliations by the United States’ North American allies. Also, Trump will stand before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday to give an accounting of his turbulent first weeks in office as a divided nation struggles to keep pace, with some Americans fearing for the country’s future while others are cheering him on.
White House Halts Military Aid to Ukraine Amid Oval Office Dispute
The White House has announced a pause in military aid to Ukraine following a tense Oval Office exchange between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week. According to officials, Trump and his aides are seeking either an acknowledgment or a public apology from Zelensky before proceeding with a rare earth minerals agreement or any future aid. One official stated that the aid freeze will remain in effect until Trump is satisfied that Zelensky is committed to pursuing peace talks, effectively using the suspension as leverage to push Ukraine toward negotiations while facing continued battlefield challenges.
Trump Administration Pushes Crypto Reserve Plan
The Trump administration is taking steps to establish a cryptocurrency reserve, aligning with the president’s vision of making the U.S. the “Crypto Capital of the World.” The initiative aims to strengthen the country’s position in the digital asset space by stockpiling bitcoin, ethereum, and three other tokens. While some tech and crypto leaders have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest—especially given recent investment plans by Trump’s social media company—supporters see it as a bold move to integrate cryptocurrency into the national economy. Despite recent market fluctuations, advocates believe the strategy could position the U.S. at the forefront of the growing digital finance sector.
SpaceX Scrubs Starship Test Flight, Citing Unresolved Issues
SpaceX called off the eighth test flight of Starship on Monday, delaying the launch of the most powerful rocket ever built. The company did not specify the exact technical issues that led engineers to halt the attempt. SpaceX founder Elon Musk acknowledged the decision on X, stating there were “too many question marks about this flight” and that it would be best to “try again in a day or two.” The previous test in January ended with Starship exploding over the Caribbean. When the next test occurs, key objectives will include restarting a Starship engine in space and deploying a batch of mock satellites.
