The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Regional Powerhouses Merge in Black Hills and NorthWestern Energy Deal
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Black Hills Corp. and NorthWestern Energy announced Tuesday they will merge in an all-stock deal valued at $15.4 billion, creating a new regional utility headquartered in Rapid City. The combined company, which will serve about 2.1 million customers across eight states, will operate 38,000 miles of electric lines and 59,000 miles of natural gas lines with a total rate base of $11.4 billion. NorthWestern shareholders will receive 0.98 shares of Black Hills stock for each share they own, resulting in Black Hills investors holding 56% of the new entity and NorthWestern shareholders 44%. NorthWestern CEO Brian Bird will lead the company, while Black Hills CEO Linn Evans will retire. The merger, expected to close in 12 to 15 months, is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Montana.
First Day of School Safety Reminder from Rapid City Police
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Students in the Rapid City Area School District are heading back to class today. To ensure a safe start, the Rapid City Police Department is reminding motorists and pedestrians to stay alert near school zones. Police say motorists should slow down and obey the 15 mph speed limit in school zones when children are present, and that everyone must follow the rules of the road to keep students and families safe.
Fifth Arrest Made in Sturgis Rally Child Exploitation Investigation
STURGIS, S.D. — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Monday a fifth arrest in connection with a child exploitation operation conducted by the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. A Summerset man, 36-year-old Jackson Wolfgang Witte, was charged with Solicitation of a Minor and Attempted Manufacture of Child Pornography. Four other men had been arrested the previous week for attempting to meet with a person they believed to be a 14-year-old girl for sexual activity.
Mount Rushmore Road BID Board Application Deadline Extended
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The City of Rapid City has extended the deadline to submit applications for the board of directors for the newly-formed Mount Rushmore Road Business Improvement District. The submission window is now open until 5 p.m. Monday, August 25. The board will include five business or property owners from the district, which is primarily made up of businesses and homes along Mount Rushmore Road.
Rapid Transit ‘Youth Ride Free’ Orientation Rides Available
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid Transit System officials are offering parents a chance to take a free orientation ride with their school-aged children through Saturday as part of the 10th year of the ‘Youth Ride Free’ program. The rides allow parents to become familiar with routes and schedules and ask questions about the program, which provides registered youth with free rides on RTS fixed routes.
Kevin Bacon to Headline John T. Vucurevich Foundation Speaker Series
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Actor, musician, and philanthropist Kevin Bacon will appear in Rapid City on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, as part of the John T. Vucurevich Foundation’s “Bright Note” speaker series. The event, An Evening with Kevin Bacon, will take place at 7:30 p.m. at The Monument. Bacon, best known for his roles in films such as Footloose, A Few Good Men, and Tremors, is also the founder of SixDegrees.org, a nonprofit connecting people to create positive change. Tickets go on sale Sept. 3 at 10 a.m., priced at $7 for adults and $3 for students, and will be available at The Monument box office, online at TheMonument.live, or by phone at 800-468-6463.
Special Olympics Athletes to Compete in Black Hills Tournaments
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Hundreds of Special Olympics South Dakota athletes and Unified partners will gather in Rapid City this month for two Black Hills area tournaments ahead of the statewide Fall Classic. The Black Hills Area Bocce Tournament will be held Saturday, Aug. 23, at Memorial Park from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by the Black Hills Area Softball Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Star of the West from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 300 athletes from Belle Fourche, Rapid City, Spearfish, and Sturgis are expected to compete, showcasing their skills and inclusion through sport. Both events are free and open to the public, with the statewide Fall Classic scheduled for Sept. 19-21 in Rapid City. More details are available at sosd.org.
Trump begins planning for Putin-Zelenskyy meeting while affirming US help with security guarantees
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has started arranging a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On Monday, Trump said the U.S. would support European security guarantees to prevent future invasions. Details are still evolving, but European leaders express cautious optimism about Trump’s efforts after their meeting at the White House. French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the U.S. commitment to security guarantees as a key outcome. Trump spoke with Putin during the talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders. Concerns remain that Trump might pressure Ukraine into concessions. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for U.S. involvement in security guarantees for Ukraine.
Air Canada suspends restart plans after flight attendants union defies return to work order
TORONTO (AP) — Air Canada has suspended plans to restart operations after the union representing 10,000 flight attendants decided to defy a return-to-work order. The Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered staff back by Sunday afternoon, but the union refused, calling the order unconstitutional. Air Canada now plans to resume flights Monday evening. The shutdown, which began early Saturday, affects about 130,000 people daily. The airline has canceled hundreds of flights, and it could take days to stabilize operations. Passengers can request refunds or alternative travel options, but rebooking may be difficult due to peak travel demand.
‘Ketamine Queen’ accused of selling fatal dose to Matthew Perry agrees to plead guilty
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A woman charged with selling Matthew Perry the ketamine that killed him has agreed to plead guilty. Jasveen Sangha becomes the fifth and final defendant charged in the overdose death of the “Friends” star to strike a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. The deal means the 42-year-old will avoid a trial that had been planned for September. Prosecutors cast Sangha as a prolific drug dealer who was known to her customers as the “Ketamine Queen.” According to court documents she sold Perry 25 vials of ketamine four days before his death from an overdose of the drug.