The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Zebra Mussels Detected in Sheridan Reservoir
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Game, Fish and Parks officials say they’ve detected zebra mussels in Sheridan Reservoir in the Black Hills. S.D.P.B. reports this is the second confirmation of the invasive species in western South Dakota. The first was at Pactola Reservoir in 2022. Specifically in 2025, there were 1,614 inspections at Sheridan Lake alone, Davis said. Combined, 14,595 inspections were conducted on all five major reservoirs. Zebra mussels are more prevalent in eastern South Dakota. They’ve been found in roughly two dozen lakes since the first confirmation in 2015.
Rapid City Utilities Warn Residents of Phone Scam
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City utility officials are warning residents about a phone scam targeting utility customers. The City’s Public Works Department says it recently received a report from a customer who said she was contacted by someone claiming to represent City Utilities. The caller stated that a double payment had been made and requested bank account information to process a refund. City officials say this is a scam and the City will never call customers to request bank account details over the phone.
Governor Rhoden Announces Participation in Federal Private Education Program
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Gov. Larry Rhoden said South Dakota is participating in a federal program funding private education for students. While similar to waiver programs previously rejected by state lawmakers, these offer a distinction. The program, a part of the President Trump-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, provides tax waivers for people interested in donating to a fund supporting private school education. Where a waiver program would directly take from the tax pool to fund private school scholarships, this program is an opt-in for tax credits. Rhoden said it reflects his, and many others, distrust of the federal government’s education priorities.
Lawmakers Move to Limit Governor’s Control Over State Funds
PIERRE, S.D. — A committee of South Dakota lawmakers expressed support Thursday for legislative efforts to rein in powers that some committee members said Republican former Gov. Kristi Noem abused. The Legislature’s Government Operations and Audit Committee, which met at the Capitol in Pierre, endorsed draft legislation that would take a pool of economic development money known as the Future Fund out of the governor’s exclusive control. Committee members also expressed informal support — but did not formally endorse — another bill draft that would tighten rules governing the use of state-issued credit cards. Both ideas could become bills when legislators gather for their annual lawmaking session in January.
FAA lifts order slashing flights, allowing commercial airlines to resume their regular schedules
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday it is lifting all restrictions on commercial flights that were imposed during the government shutdown at 40 major U.S. airports. The agency says airlines can resume normal flight schedules beginning Monday at 6 a.m. EST. The unprecedented order had been in place since Nov. 7 and affected thousands of flights. The FAA said it was necessary to ease the strain on the aviation system and help manage staffing shortages at its air traffic control facilities during the shutdown. The flight cuts started at 4% as the shutdown entered its second month and later grew to 6% before the FAA on Friday rolled back the restrictions to 3%.
Ford Motor shows off new high-tech HQ. It has a ‘crown jewel’ showroom and room for 4,000 employees
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Company is showing off its new world headquarters building in Dearborn, Michigan. The new HQ is double the size of its old one with room for twice as many employees. It has seven restaurants, design studios and fabrication shops. And, of course, cars. According to Ford Land’s brand manager, the “crown jewel” of the new building is a massive showroom. Ford gave media tours of the new world headquarters this past week. And it is to be the site of a grand-opening celebration on Sunday. Ford’s current headquarters is known as “The Glass House.” It opened in 1956. The plan is for it to be demolished.
Zelenskyy says Ukraine is working on a prisoner exchange with Russia
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine is working to resume prisoner exchanges with Russia that could bring home 1,200 Ukrainian prisoners. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that many meetings and negotiations are taking place to ensure this. Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Secretary, said Saturday he held consultations mediated by Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The parties agreed to activate prisoner exchange agreements brokered in Istanbul. Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes damaged energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odesa region overnight into Sunday. Ukraine’s air force said Sunday that Ukrainian forces shot down or neutralized 139 drones.
