The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Fire Crews Quickly Contain Multiple Wildfires in the Black Hills
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Fire crews in the northern and southern hills battled a handful of wildfires on Monday. Two fires were reported in the Spearfish area. The Dry Creek Fire was reported just before 10:00 a.m. Monday five miles northeast of Spearfish. The human-caused fire burned just under an acre before being put out. A second fire initially reported Sunday evening burned about 6 acres a mile northwest of Spearfish. The West View Fire was reported on private land and also was human caused. And, the Perrin Fire, a mile northeast of Pactola Reservoir, burned a tenth of an acre on Sunday evening. The human-caused fire was on federal land and has since been controlled.
Arizona Man in South Dakota Jail for Alleged Threats Against Former President Trump
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A man wanted in Arizona is in a South Dakota jail cell – accused of threatening President Donald Trump. 46-year-old David Combe is scheduled to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Rapid City on Wednesday. He’s charged with two counts of making threats against the President and one count of false information and hoaxes. He’s accused of mailing threatening letters to the President in 2020. The indictment and arrest warrant weren’t filed until February of this year.
Rapid City Firefighters had an interesting call for service over the weekend
PIERRE, S.D. — Rapid City Firefighters had an interesting call for service over the weekend. According to a Facebook post from the Rapid City Professional Firefighters, crews were called to assist Game, Fish and Parks in rescuing a young mountain lion from a neighborhood tree on the south side of the city. Crews tranquilized the cat and then relocated it back in the Black Hills.
Pennington County Sees Crime Drop, But Jail Expansion Still Needed
RAPID CITY, S.D. — While Pennington County continues to grow, the county’s sheriff’s office’s 2024 annual report shows a drop in major crime categories. However, Sheriff Brian Mueller believes there is still a need for improvements at the jail. Mueller said the Pennington County Jail has either been at or over capacity since 2014 and has infrastructure needs of $35 million. He said he believes the jail expansion project needs to be taken on.
Israeli strikes across Gaza kill more than 400 Palestinians and shatter ceasefire with Hamas
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel has launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip. The territory’s Health Ministry said they killed at least 400 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Tuesday’s surprise bombardment shattered a ceasefire in place since January and threatened to fully reignite the 17-month-old war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes after Hamas refused Israeli demands to change the ceasefire agreement. Officials said the operation was open-ended and was expected to expand. The White House said it had been consulted and voiced support for Israel’s actions. The Israeli military ordered people to evacuate eastern Gaza and head toward the center of the territory, indicating that Israel could soon launch renewed ground operations.
Trump, Putin to Discuss Ceasefire Proposal as Ukraine Remains Skeptical
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is set to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, aiming to secure support for a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan to end the war in Ukraine. While the White House remains optimistic about reaching a peace deal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains skeptical of Putin’s intentions as Russian forces continue their offensive. The negotiations come amid shifting U.S.-Russia relations, with Trump prioritizing a swift resolution to the conflict, even at the risk of straining ties with American allies. Discussions may include territorial control and the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, a critical energy source in Ukraine. As momentum builds for a ceasefire, questions remain about Putin’s willingness to end the war and the potential impact on Ukraine’s negotiating position.
Trump to Release 80,000 JFK Assassination Files Without Redactions
DALLAS — President Donald Trump announced Monday that his administration will release 80,000 files related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, stating they will be made public without redactions. The documents, set for release Tuesday, add to the millions of pages already available in the National Archives. While experts caution against expecting major new revelations, the files may shed further light on intelligence operations of the era. Trump initially ordered the release of all remaining records after taking office in 2017 but previously withheld some over national security concerns. The FBI recently discovered 2,400 additional records, which will also be included in the declassification process.
NASA Astronauts Returning to Earth After 286 Days in Space
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally heading home after their planned week-long mission turned into a 286-day stay aboard the International Space Station. The pair became stranded when their Boeing Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned last year. Despite the unexpected extension, they conducted spacewalks, performed station maintenance, and set records. Williams reflected on the experience, saying it provided a unique perspective on problem-solving and inspiration. The astronauts are set to splash down off the coast of Florida this afternoon.
