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Rapid City Man Arrested in Connection with Father’s Death
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Police say 46-year-old Brian LeBeau has been arrested in connection with the death of his father, 66-year-old Timothy Branch. Police say LeBeau’s arrest stems from a recent investigation into the death of Branch, who died at a hospital on October 8th. Police say they received information that Branch had been assaulted by LeBeau the day prior and an autopsy indicated Branch had died as a result of a brain bleed consistent with injuries received during the assault. LeBeau was located by police and arrested for First Degree Manslaughter in the morning hours of October 15th.
Spearfish Woman Indicted for Falsifying Child Protective Services Reports
PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a Spearfish woman has been indicted on four felony counts and one misdemeanor count of falsifying investigative reports while an employee of the South Dakota Department of Social Services’ Child Protective Services. Nova Collins, 56, was indicted Wednesday, Oct. 15, by a Lawrence County Grand Jury. She is accused of falsifying reports related to a child abuse investigation. This is the first criminal case resulting from this year’s passage of Senate Bill 62 which established mandatory reporting requirements related to state employee crimes, improper government conduct, and conflicts of interest.
Rapid City Reports Record Summer Sales Tax Collections
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City has collected more than $59.1 million in total sales tax receipts for the first two-thirds – the first eight months – of 2025. The total is 3.18 percent higher, or nearly $1.82 million more than collections for the first eight months of 2024. For the traditional summer months of June, July and August, the City set a record for the three-month summer period, surpassing $25 million in sales tax receipt collections, nearly $1 million more than the summer period in 2024. For August, the sales tax receipts totaled more than $8.28 million, a record for sales tax collections for any August month on record.
Pennington County Auditor Cindy Mohler Announces Retirement
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Pennington County Auditor Cindy Mohler has announced her retirement effective November 7, 2025, creating a vacancy in the office. County commissioners will appoint a qualified individual to serve the remainder of the term, with the position appearing on the 2026 general election ballot. The board will discuss the appointment during its October 21 meeting.
Public Meeting Scheduled for Chapel Lane Bridge Replacement Project
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The City of Rapid City will host a public open house Tuesday, October 28, from 5-7 p.m. at City Hall to discuss the Chapel Lane Bridge Replacement Project. The session will include the updated bridge design, project objectives, and timeline, and will provide an opportunity for public feedback.
Deadwood Commissioner Recall Election Halted by Restraining Order
DEADWOOD, S.D. — A recall election targeting Deadwood City Commissioner Blake Joseph has been temporarily halted after he filed a restraining order. The verified petition accused Joseph of misconduct and abuse of office related to a 2024 incident. The restraining order prevents the city from scheduling the election until the court reviews the petitions.
Reporters Leave Pentagon After Rejecting New Press Restrictions
NEW YORK (AP) — Dozens of journalists turned in their Pentagon badges and vacated offices Wednesday after refusing to agree to new Defense Department rules that restrict reporting on unapproved information. The policy, introduced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and supported by President Donald Trump, would allow the Pentagon to revoke press access for reporters seeking information not cleared for release. Around 40 to 50 journalists left the building together at a 4 p.m. deadline, packing up years of materials from their workspaces. Reporters, including The Atlantic’s Nancy Youssef, said the press corps acted in solidarity, while news organizations vowed to continue covering the U.S. military from outside the Pentagon.
County judge in Chicago area bars ICE from arresting people at court
CHICAGO (AP) — Cook County’s top judge has signed an order barring ICE from arresting people at court. The county includes Chicago, which has seen a federal immigration crackdown in recent months. Detaining residents outside courthouses has been a common tactic for federal agents, who have been stationed outside county courthouses for weeks, making arrests and drawing crowds of protesters. The order, which takes effect Wednesday, bars the civil arrest of any “party, witness, or potential witness” while going to court proceedings. It includes arrests inside courthouses and in parking lots, surrounding sidewalks and entryways.
Trump Confirms CIA Covert Operations in Venezuela, Weighs Land Strikes
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela and is considering additional U.S. military action on land. The confirmation follows recent U.S. strikes in the Caribbean that destroyed at least five boats, four of which originated from Venezuela, and resulted in 27 deaths. Trump said the CIA operations were approved to address drug trafficking and the movement of prisoners from Venezuela into the United States. He did not specify whether the agency’s actions target Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The statement marked a rare public acknowledgment of CIA activity and came shortly after The New York Times reported on the authorization.