The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Rapid City Woman Found Not Guilty in Infant Niece’s Death
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A Rapid City woman was found not guilty Wednesday in a case in which she was charged in the death of her infant niece. Courtney Martinez-Martin was found not guilty of second-degree murder and abuse or cruelty of a minor. The 7-week-old girl died just days after Martinez and her boyfriend, Shamar Bennett, had watched her in their Rapid City home in November of 2022. Charges against Bennett were later dropped, and Martinez-Martin went to trial for the child’s death.
Crash Near Full Throttle Saloon Closes Highway 79 for Two Hours
STURGIS, S.D. — A crash near the entrance of the Full Throttle Saloon shut down Highway 79 for about two hours Wednesday afternoon as the South Dakota Highway Patrol investigated. Authorities say a 2016 Lincoln MKC was traveling southbound when it struck the rear of a 2022 Dodge Ram that had just entered the highway from the saloon’s parking lot. The Dodge spun off into a ditch, while the Lincoln came to rest in the roadway. The 43-year-old female driver of the Lincoln, from Belle Fourche, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The 31-year-old driver and 19-year-old passenger in the Dodge, both from North Branch, Minnesota, were not injured. Names have not been released as the investigation continues.
City Committee Urges Rallygoers to Respect Accessible Parking as ADA Anniversary Nears
RAPID CITY, S.D. — As the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act approaches Saturday and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally kicks off next week, the Rapid City Disability Awareness and Accessibility Committee is reminding drivers not to park in white or yellow-striped areas next to accessible parking spaces. These striped zones are vital for people using wheelchairs, walkers, or crutches, especially when van ramps need space to extend. Tamie Hopp, committee chairwoman, emphasized the importance of preserving these areas for those who rely on them, noting that violators face fines of up to $100. The campaign, now in its fourth year, aims to raise awareness during one of the busiest times of the year for parking. For more information, visit www.rcgov.org.
Rapid City to Host Open House on Downtown Beautification Plan
RAPID CITY, S.D. — City of Rapid City officials are hosting an open house next week on the development of a Downtown Beautification Plan. The session is scheduled next Wednesday at the Dahl Arts Center from 4-7 p.m. Event organizers indicate the open house will feature maps and infographics for community members to view and provide feedback. The open house is the initial step in the City’s work with the community to obtain feedback on how to revitalize the downtown area.
Temporary Closure of Yard Waste and Recycling Site for Junior Legion Tournament
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Effective next Tuesday, the remote yard waste and recycling collection site adjacent to Fitzgerald Stadium will be closed to public access for a week for the upcoming Junior Legion State A Baseball Tournament. The removal dates include two days before the tournament to allow for the removal of the containers and cleanup of the area. Crews will work to get the containers returned to the site the day after the tournament, August 4th, to minimize any service gaps. The City’s Traffic Operations will place signage near the Fitzgerald remote site to advise the public of the temporary closures.
South Dakota’s Revenue Outlook Declines as New Budget Year Begins
PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota’s revenue outlook is slipping as the new budget year gets underway. State economists now say general fund revenues for 2026 will come in nearly one percent below what lawmakers expected, mostly due to weaker sales tax collections. That’s a concern, since sales tax is the state’s largest source of revenue. Finance officials delivered the updated forecast to lawmakers Wednesday, noting that sales tax fell last year too. It’s something that’s only happened once before during the 2010 recession.
US cuts short Gaza ceasefire talks and accuses Hamas of lacking ‘good faith’
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is cutting short Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar, saying the latest response from Hamas “shows a lack of desire” to reach a truce. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Thursday that mediators have made a great effort but Hamas does not appear to be acting in good faith. Witkoff says the U.S. will “consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.” The State Department offered no details at a press briefing on those “alternative options.” A breakthrough in talks on a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has eluded Trump’s Republican administration for months.
Thailand launches airstrikes on Cambodia as border clashes leave at least 14 dead
SURIN, Thailand (AP) — Thai and Cambodian soldiers have clashed along the two countries’ border in a major escalation of a festering dispute over territory that killed least 14 people, mostly civilians. On Thursday, the two sides fired small arms, artillery and rockets, and Thailand also called in airstrikes. Thai villagers could be seen in videos fleeing their homes. A Thai Defense Ministry spokesperson said fighting was ongoing in at least six areas along the border. The Southeast Asian neighbors have longstanding border disputes that periodically and briefly flare along their 800-kilometer frontier. But the latest clashes were far bigger in scale and intensity. A Cambodian official said clashes resumed early on Friday morning near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple.
Justice Department’s No. 2 Meets with Ghislaine Maxwell in Ongoing Epstein Probe
WASHINGTON — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met Thursday with Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted accomplice of Jeffrey Epstein, as part of a renewed effort by the Trump administration to demonstrate transparency amid growing public pressure over the handling of the Epstein investigation. Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence in Florida, answered questions “truthfully and completely,” according to her attorney. Blanche said the interview will continue Friday, with findings to be released “at the appropriate time.” A House Oversight Committee subpoena has been issued for Maxwell to testify in August, and lawmakers are demanding broader access to Epstein-related files. The Department of Justice maintains that no Epstein client list exists, despite speculation.
Hulk Hogan, icon in professional wrestling, dies at age 71
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing icon in the world of professional wrestling, has died at age 71. Police in Clearwater, Florida, say authorities responded to a call about a cardiac arrest. No foul play is suspected. Hogan’s real name was Terry Bollea, and he was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre the Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon. Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in movies and TV shows, including a reality show on VH1, “Hogan Knows Best.”
