The Daily Slice: Wednesday August 06, 2025

The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice

Second Fatality Reported in Sturgis Rally as Motorcycle Crash Claims Life

STURGIS, S.D. — The South Dakota Highway Patrol has reported a second fatality in as many days in their rally report. The fatality occurred on U.S. Highway 16A as a motorcyclist lost control attempting to negotiate a right-hand corner at mile marker 43. The 2019 Harley Davidson slid across oncoming traffic and struck a 2000 Indian Motorcycle and a 2008 Can-Am Roadster. The 60-year-old male driver of the Harley sustained fatal injuries in the crash. In all, there were 15 injury crashes Monday, with 7 of those resulting in serious, non-life-threatening injuries. One other crash resulted in life-threatening injuries to a rider who laid down his bike in Vanocker Canyon outside Sturgis.

Sturgis Police Report Increased Arrests and Crime Activity During Rally

STURGIS, S.D. — The Sturgis Police Department has released its Monday Rally Report. Sturgis Police Chief Geody Vandewater says law enforcement made 7 D.U.I. arrests in the latest reporting period, along with 5 misdemeanor drug arrests and 7 felony drug arrests. All numbers are ahead of last year. Police also responded to 4 fight calls, one domestic disturbance call, handed out three citations for weapons violations but issued no illegal parking citations Monday. That keeps the year-to-date parking violations at 51.

Sturgis Celebrates Military Appreciation Day at the Rally

STURGIS, S.D. — It was Military Appreciation Day at the Rally Tuesday. This year, the City of Sturgis recognized all city employees who are veterans. Speakers at the event included Sturgis Mayor Kevin Forrester and South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden, who has been taking in the Rally the past few days. Also speaking were members from the South Dakota National Guard, Ellsworth Air Force Base 28th Bomb Wing, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, who all offered their gratitude and commended those city employees involved with the military. The scheduled B-1 flyover was canceled due to mechanical issues.

Sturgis Rally Sees Significant Increase in Traffic, Up 19% From 5-Year Average

STURGIS, S.D. — The South Dakota Department of Transportation says it recorded 68,495 vehicles entering Sturgis Monday. In its latest update on daily traffic counts, the numbers are up 19 percent from the previous five-year average. Monday’s count brings the year-to-date total to 247,901 vehicles since Friday. That is up 10.5 percent. The previous five-year average was 224,320 vehicles. The D.O.T. is gathering information from nine traffic counters strategically placed around Sturgis for this year’s rally.

Rapid City Hosts ‘Fill a Patrol Car with School Supplies’ Event to Support Students in Need

RAPID CITY, S.D. — For a fourth consecutive year, local law enforcement officials are encouraging the public to participate in the ‘Fill a Patrol Car with School Supplies’ effort, supporting the dedicated work of a Rapid City Central high school senior to collect school supplies for students in need. The Rapid City Police Department’s Community Engagement Team, in partnership with WalMart, is hosting the annual event, scheduled at both Rapid City WalMart stores this Friday from 12-6 p.m. Patrol cars and officers will be located near the entrances of both facilities to accept donations.

Governor Rhoden, Rusty Wallace, and Local Officials Attend Groundbreaking for Bocce Complex Expansion

RAPID CITY, S.D. — South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden headlined a list of notable officials and celebrities who attended Tuesday’s official groundbreaking ceremony in Rapid City to add eight new courts to Rapid City’s Bocce Complex. The event was hosted by the Rapid City Flame and Special Olympics South Dakota. In addition to Governor Rhoden, the event also featured former NASCAR racing great Rusty Wallace, Buffalo Chip founder Rod Woodruff, and Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun. The expansion of the complex is made possible through collaborations with the City of Rapid City, Rapid City’s Vision Funds, the Buffalo Chip’s Legends Ride, and the Buffalo Chip’s Rusty Wallace Ride.

South Dakota Secretary of State Apologizes for Voter Data Leak Linked to Public Assistance

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson has issued a public apology after her office released voter registration data that inadvertently revealed whether individuals registered at public assistance agencies. The spreadsheet, made public to comply with a new state law, included a column showing if voters registered through agencies offering food, housing, or other aid—prompting privacy concerns and criticism from the ACLU. Federal law prohibits disclosing public assistance information, and Johnson said the data was promptly removed once the issue was discovered. Those affected are being notified by mail, and recipients of the leaked data are being asked to delete it. Legal counsel has been appointed by Attorney General Marty Jackley in anticipation of potential lawsuits.

How nonprofits are teaming up to fight hunger in South Dakota

Forty South Dakota organizations have formed a collaborative to help people who don’t have enough to eat at a time of reduced government support and increased demand. A “meeting place” is how Jennifer Folliard characterizes the South Dakota Healthy Nutrition Collaborative. She’s a steering committee member and coordinator for the collaborative, which launched in September. It’s the first organization of its kind in the state dedicated to helping the 113,500 South Dakotans who were food insecure in 2023, meaning they had limited or inconsistent access to enough food. Folliard says the goal is to improve their health through education, sharing resources and aligning actions across the state.

Gaza aid truck drivers face increasing danger from desperate crowds and armed gangs

Truck drivers delivering aid in Gaza say their work has become increasingly dangerous. Since Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas in March, the situation has worsened. Hungry crowds often rip aid from moving trucks and armed gangs hijack them to sell the aid at high prices. Drivers have been killed in the chaos. Israel has made recent moves to allow more aid into Gaza. But drivers say it’s still not enough and the situation remains extremely dangerous. Some drivers have quit due to the risks. The U.N. says flooding Gaza with aid could ease the desperation and improve drivers’ safety.

HHS Halts $500 Million in mRNA Vaccine Projects Under Kennedy’s Leadership

The Department of Health and Human Services will cancel 22 mRNA vaccine development projects totaling $500 million, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine critic, said the focus will shift to “safer, broader vaccine strategies” such as whole-virus vaccines, citing concerns about mRNA technology’s adaptability to viral mutations. The decision affects projects by major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Moderna, which were working on vaccines for COVID-19, flu, and H5N1. Infectious disease experts called the move “dangerous” and warned it could hinder responses to future pandemics. Kennedy said HHS still supports “safe, effective vaccines” and is exploring a “universal vaccine” aimed at mimicking natural immunity.

Confederate Statues to Be Restored in D.C. and Arlington Under Trump-Era Initiative

Two Confederate monuments in Washington, D.C., will be restored, reflecting President Donald Trump’s efforts to preserve historical statues. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the “Reconciliation Monument” will return to Arlington National Cemetery after being removed in 2023. Additionally, the National Park Service plans to reinstall the statue of Confederate General Albert Pike in Judiciary Square, near the U.S. Capitol, by October. The Pike statue was toppled during Juneteenth protests in 2020 following George Floyd’s death. Officials say the restorations fulfill federal preservation laws and executive orders aimed at “beautifying” the nation’s capital.