The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Woman Arrested for Arson in Rapid City Fire
RAPID CITY, SD — Rapid City police have arrested 54-year-old Amy Couture in connection with a structure fire Monday on St. Charles Street. Investigators say security footage showed a tan SUV leaving the property as smoke began emerging from the home. Police later matched the vehicle to Couture, obtained a search warrant for her residence, and reported she smelled of gasoline when detained. Authorities also uncovered threatening messages Couture allegedly sent to a resident of the house before the fire.
Illinois Man Dies in Motorcycle Crash Near Hermosa
HERMOSA, S.D. — A man from Hamilton, Illinois died Monday afternoon in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash west of Hermosa. The South Dakota Highway Patrol says the driver of a 2020 Harley Davidson CVO failed to negotiate a curve on SD Highway 36, entered a ditch, hit a driveway approach, and was thrown from the motorcycle. The man died from his injuries. His name has not yet been released.
New Council Members Sworn In at Rapid City Meeting
RAPID CITY, SD — Five Rapid City Council members took their oaths of office Monday night for new three-year terms, including newcomers Stephen Tamang and Callie Meyer. Finance Director Daniel Ainslie administered the oaths. The council also selected Rod Pettigrew (Ward 5) as its new president and Bill Evans (Ward 2) as vice president.
Injured Hiker Rescued Near Hippie Hole
ROCKERVILLE, S.D. — Emergency crews responded Monday night to Hippie Hole after a hiker fell and broke his wrist while attempting to climb a rock scree near the Foster Gulch parking lot. The hiker and his group had become disoriented while returning to their vehicles. The Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department, Keystone Ambulance, and Pennington County Search and Rescue completed the rescue in just over two hours.
Black Hills Energy Introduces Wildfire Prevention Power Shutoffs in Meade County
STURGIS, S.D. — Black Hills Energy briefed the Sturgis City Council Monday night on the launch of its new Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program, a wildfire prevention measure that may temporarily cut power in high-risk areas during extreme fire conditions. The utility says the strategy, modeled after similar programs in the western U.S., will use factors such as Red Flag Warnings, low humidity, high winds, and vegetation dryness to determine shutoff needs. While the company aims to avoid outages during events like the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, officials noted Meade County ranks in the top 19% nationally for wildfire risk according to a USDA study.
Buffalo Safety Expert Proposes Downtown Rally Exhibit in Sturgis
STURGIS, S.D. — The Sturgis City Council this week heard a proposal from buffalo safety expert T.C. Thorstenson to host daily buffalo behavior demonstrations during the August motorcycle rally. The plan includes a corral with a baby buffalo calf near Main Street and 15-minute safety sessions for visitors. While council members appreciated the concept, concerns over downtown logistics prevented immediate approval. A local business owner has offered space for the exhibit at Main and Middle Street, and if an agreement is reached, the proposal will return to the council for final approval under the city’s livestock exhibition ordinance.
Texas Flood Toll Grows: 161 Missing, Over 100 Dead After Holiday Disaster
HUNT, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday that more than 160 people remain missing in Kerr County following catastrophic flash floods over the July Fourth weekend that killed over 100 people. Many of the missing were staying in the Hill Country region, known for its youth camps and campgrounds along the Guadalupe River, but had not registered at official lodging, complicating recovery efforts. The sharp rise in missing persons came after a family hotline was launched. Search teams continue to comb the flood-ravaged area, where hopes of finding survivors have faded. President Donald Trump has pledged full federal support and plans to visit the state Friday. Officials, still focused on rescue and recovery, have declined to address growing questions about the flood warning timeline and camp evacuations.
Trump Says He’s ‘Not Happy’ With Putin as U.S. Resumes Weapons Shipments to Ukraine
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump expressed rare frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, criticizing Moscow’s continued war in Ukraine as “killing a lot of people” and acknowledging the conflict has been harder to end than he initially believed. Speaking during a Cabinet meeting, Trump confirmed he had approved the resumption of U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine reversing a prior pause and said Putin “is not treating human beings right.” The remarks mark a notable shift in Trump’s tone toward Putin as he navigates escalating pressure to respond to the ongoing conflict.
U.S. Ends Shoe Removal Requirement at Airport Security Checkpoints
WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday that travelers at U.S. airports are no longer required to remove their shoes during security screenings, ending a long-standing post-9/11 procedure. The change, effective immediately, follows successful pilot testing that showed updated TSA equipment can maintain safety without the need for shoe removal. Noem noted that travelers may still be asked to remove shoes if further screening is needed. The practice, implemented in response to the 2001 “shoe bomber” attempt, had been a frequent source of frustration for travelers.
