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Pennington County State’s Attorney Requests Budget Increase to Meet Growing Demands
RAPID CITY, SD — The Pennington County State’s Attorney has presented their proposed budget to county commissioners. Lara Roetzel is requesting an increase to address rising case-loads, staffing needs, digital evidence demands and diversion program support. She told commissioners her attorneys have more than double the amount of case-loads compared to other jurisdictions. The board will consider the proposal as part of the broader county budget process later this summer.
Here’s why the Baken Park Sign is Coming Down.
RAPID CITY, SD — Onlookers to Rapid City’s Baken Park shopping center may have noticed a difference in the skyline of the complex within the last several weeks– namely, that the historic sign which Baken Park has become known for has been slowly coming down. “The High Rise Baken Park sign had little to no effectiveness with today’s technology of trying to locate any retail business, it also was a hindrance for traffic flow, and it did not complement the new remodeled Baken Park,” said Tanner Pruess, executive assistant for MG Oil, the owners of Baken Park. The sign, which has been a mainstay for the Center before the 1972 Rapid City flood, and whose origin likely dates back to the 1950s is also slated for replacement as part of recent renovation efforts, Pruess said, “We wanted to clean up the landscape and plan on having a new modern Baken Park Sign”. And what for the old sign? Exact details are unclear, however Pruess stated that the sign may be available for purchase in the future.
Meade County, State Reach Agreement on New Underwood Road Project
STURGIS, S.D. — The Meade County Commission this week approved a joint powers agreement with the State to begin design and environmental work for a portion of New Underwood Road. The county is working with the D.O.T. in hopes of transferring ownership of the heavily traveled road over to the state. New Underwood Road is an important corridor, especially for trucks, that connects State Highway 34 to I-90 at Rapid City. A portion of the road in Meade County is in desperate need of repair. The agreement approved by the commission outlines the State’s proposal for a jurisdictional transfer and defines financial responsibility for design and environmental work.
Meade 46-1 School Board Advances Cell Phone and Smartwatch Policy
STURGIS, S.D. — The Meade 46-1 School Board has passed the first reading of a new policy that will govern the use of cell phones and smartwatches for the upcoming school year. Meade 46-1 School Superintendent Wayne Wormstadt says the new policy will limit the use of personal digital devices during the school day. That means students will need to have their devices shut down while in school. Second reading of the new policy is set for the July 16th meeting with third and final reading scheduled for August 11th.
South Dakota DOT Distributes $40 Million to Local Governments for Highway Projects
PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) provided nearly $40 million in state highway funding to counties and Class I city governments in June 2025. The funds will be provided to the local governments in either state highway funds or through federal aid projects. This funding provides counties and Class 1 cities additional resources to improve their highways and bridges and to address immediate critical infrastructure needs.
Sturgis LoudFest to Rock Downtown with Free Concert Series During Rally
STURGIS, S.D. — Downtown Sturgis will come alive with music during this year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally as the Loud American presents “Sturgis LoudFest,” a free multi-day concert series. From July 25 to August 10, rally-goers can enjoy daily outdoor shows in the Jack Daniel’s Pavilion beginning at noon, featuring artists like Kat Perkins & The Country Roads, Pop Rocks, and the Brandon Jones Band. From July 31 to August 9, Nashville artist David Graham will headline nightly on the Budweiser Stage in an exclusive Black Hills residency. The event is free and open to the public.
Trump Administration’s Vaccine Panel Endorses Thimerosal-Free Flu Shots Amid Controversy
ATLANTA (AP) — The Trump administration’s newly appointed vaccine advisory panel voted Thursday to recommend that Americans receive only thimerosal-free flu vaccines this fall. The seven-member panel, reshaped by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., backed annual flu shots for nearly everyone age 6 months and older but advised against vaccines containing thimerosal, a preservative found in less than 5% of flu shots. The vote came after the panel reviewed a presentation by a former antivaccine advocate, bypassing standard CDC data. Critics, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, raised concerns about transparency and scientific rigor, while panel members cited public concern over mercury. The CDC director nominee has not been confirmed, so Kennedy will make the final decision.
US stocks rise to the brink of a record and recover nearly all their 20% springtime drop
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks ran up to the edge of another record. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% Thursday and is just 0.05% below its all-time closing high, which was set in February. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 0.9%, and the Nasdaq gained 1%. McCormick helped lead the market after the seller of cooking spices delivered a better-than-expected profit report. Treasury yields eased in the bond market following a couple of better-than-expected reports on the U.S. economy, including jobless claims and orders for long-lasting manufactured goods. Stock indexes were mixed across much of Europe and Asia.
More refunds are being sent to Fortnite players ‘tricked’ into unwanted purchases. How you can apply
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission is issuing more refunds to Fortnite players who it says were charged for unwanted purchases. The U.S. regulator says it’s sending more than 969,000 payments amounting to over $126 million this week. This is part of a $520 million settlement Epic Games agreed to in 2022, addressing complaints about deceptive practices and children’s privacy. The settlement included $245 million for customer refunds. Between this week’s payments and a first round of refunds in December, $198 million of that has been distributed. Eligible players who haven’t received compensation can still file claims until July 9.
