The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Sexual Contact with Minors
RAPID CITY, SD (Rapid City Post) — Twenty-six-year-old Anthony Padilla of Rapid City has been sentenced to 10 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual contact with a child under the age of 16. Padilla entered guilty pleas earlier this year. The charges stem from offenses that occurred in 2020 and involved two victims, ages 11 and 13. As part of the plea agreement, the State dismissed additional charges in exchange for the Defendant’s guilty plea.
Two Stabbed at I-190 Camp; One Arrested for Attempted Murder
RAPID CITY, SD — Rapid City police say they were dispatched to an improvised camp set up under the I-190 bridge Sunday night for a report of a disturbance. Police discovered two individuals suffering from what appeared to be knife wounds. Police identified 29-year-old Garrett Otto as a suspect and he was arrested for two counts of attempted murder and simple assault. He was transported to the Pennington County Jail. Police spokesman Brendyn Medina says the involved parties knew each other.
Black Hills Fund Aims to Support Struggling Nonprofits Amid Federal Shifts
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Nonprofits across South Dakota are facing pressure as federal priorities are moving around. The Black Hills Area Community Foundation and the John T. Vucurevich Foundation have teamed up to help in the Black Hills. The Sustaining Black Hills Nonprofits Fund looks to offer short-term bridge funding for Black Hills nonprofits. Over the next three months, this fund will provide $90,000 to Feeding South Dakota due to recent USDA food supply cuts.
City Reminds Residents Not to Drain Sump Pumps Into Sewer System
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City officials are reminding the public it is illegal to discharge water from sump pumps into the City’s sanitary sewer system and advise residents to remove sump pump connections to the sanitary sewer. Moderate to heavy spring and summer rains can sometimes result in flooded areas of the home. Residents who rely on sump pumps in their homes sometimes seek to discharge the water into the City’s sanitary sewer system. City officials say such actions can be a contributing factor to sewer backups. Further, connecting a sump pump to a floor drain or other sewer connection is illegal.
Rapid City Announces Memorial Day Closures and Schedule Changes
(Rapid City Post) – Most Rapid City facilities will be closed Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day. City offices, the landfill, RapidRide and Dial-A-Ride services, and The Monument will all be closed. Trash collection will be delayed by one day for Monday pickups, while Tuesday–Friday routes remain on schedule. The Rapid City Library will be closed Sunday and Monday. The Roosevelt Swim Center will be open with regular hours and open swim from noon to 5 p.m., and its outdoor pool opens for the season Saturday. The Roosevelt Ice Arena will host public skate from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Airport and public safety operations continue, though administrative offices will be closed.
Trump Calls Spark Renewed, Cautious Talk of Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Separate phone calls by U.S. President Donald Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have revived international attention on efforts to end the more than three-year war between Russia and Ukraine, though deep divisions remain. Trump announced that ceasefire negotiations would begin “immediately,” despite no confirmed timeline or venue. Ukraine has proposed a 30-day ceasefire and a face-to-face summit, but Russia’s sweeping conditions—including demands for Ukraine to renounce NATO ambitions—have stalled progress. While skepticism runs high in Kyiv and across Europe, the talks marked the first direct contact since the early stages of Russia’s 2022 invasion, offering a tentative step forward even amid stalled diplomacy and persistent fighting.
Trump goes to Capitol Hill to rally divided Republicans around his ‘big beautiful bill’
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is heading to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to rally support for his multitrillion-dollar legislative package, urging House Republicans to unite behind what he calls his “big, beautiful bill.” As negotiations continue, Speaker Mike Johnson is counting on Trump’s influence to advance the measure, which includes tax breaks, border security funding, and Medicaid reforms. Meanwhile, Trump hosted Kennedy Center leadership at the White House Monday as part of his push to reshape national arts programming. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will defend proposed budget cuts to his department before the Senate, while Trump signed the bipartisan Take It Down Act into law to combat online sexual exploitation. In energy news, construction on the Empire Wind project will resume following the Trump administration’s decision to lift a federal pause, preserving an estimated 1,500 jobs.
Home Depot CFO Says Retailer Won’t Raise Prices Due To Tariffs, Reaffirms Full-Year Forecast
ATLANTA (AP) — Home Depot announced Tuesday it will not raise prices in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, setting itself apart from competitors like Walmart that are passing costs to consumers. The retailer cited strong supplier relationships, productivity improvements, and a diversified sourcing strategy that reduces reliance on China, with over half its products now sourced domestically. Despite a slowdown in large renovation projects and weaker earnings, U.S. comparable store sales rose 0.2% last quarter, beating expectations. Home Depot’s pricing stance aims to maintain customer spending amid ongoing economic uncertainty and industry-wide cost pressures.
NASA warns of potential blackouts across Earth due to solar flares erupting on the sun
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A powerful X2.7-class solar flare erupted from sunspot AR4087 on May 14, 2025, disrupting high-frequency radio communications across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, according to NASA. Occurring during the Sun’s solar maximum, the flare caused a temporary 10-minute blackout and raised concerns about possible effects on power grids, GPS systems, and spacecraft. NOAA forecasts a 65% chance of additional M-class flares and a 30% likelihood of new X-class events, as the active sunspot moves into a more Earth-facing position. Agencies have increased monitoring to prepare for potential further disruptions.
