Jessica Hill, Author at The Rapid City Post

Nathan Chasing Horse, right, talks to his attorney Craig Mueller during his trial on charges of sexually abusing Indigenous women and girls Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

‘Dances with Wolves’ actor Nathan Chasing Horse’s child sex abuse trial set to begin

January 13, 2026

Nathan Chasing Horse’s trial is set to begin with jury selection. The former “Dances with Wolves” actor is accused of sexually abusing Indigenous women and girls in a case that sent shock waves through Indian Country. Prosecutors allege he used his reputation as a medicine man to take advantage of his victims, who came to him for healing. After setbacks and delays, the case finally proceeded to trial after prosecutors said he recorded himself sexually abusing a girl younger than 14. They said the videos were found on cellphones in a locked safe in the house he shared with five wives. Jury selection began Tuesday. Chasing Horse has pleaded not guilty.

FILE - Nathan Chasing Horse sits in court, Feb. 8, 2023, in North Las Vegas, Nev. (AP Photo/Ty O'Neil, File)

‘Dances with Wolves’ actor Nathan Chasing Horse disrupts court week before sex abuse trial

January 5, 2026

“Dances with Wolves” actor Nathan Chasing Horse has been temporarily removed from court after disrupting proceedings with demands he be allowed to fire his attorney a week before his sexual abuse trial. A Las Vegas judge denied that motion Monday. The trial is set to proceed as scheduled on Jan. 12. He is accused of sexually abusing Native American women and girls in a case that has sent shock waves through Indian Country. Prosecutors allege he used his reputation as a medicine man to take advantage of people who came to him for healing.

FILE - Duane Davis, left, looks back during a hearing on claims of juror misconduct in his jailhouse battery case at the Regional Justice Center, July 2, 2025, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP, Pool, File)

Man accused of 1996 Tupac Shakur killing seeks to suppress evidence

December 26, 2025

Attorneys for the man accused of killing iconic rapper Tupac Shakur are pushing to suppress evidence that was collected in what they say was an unlawful nighttime search. The attorneys claim the affidavit seeking to search Duane “Keffe D” Davis’ home in 2023 mischaracterized Davis as a dangerous armed drug dealer in order to get the rare nighttime search approved, when in reality he was a retired cancer survivor living with his wife outside of Las Vegas. Davis was arrested for the 1996 murder of Shakur in 2023, a major development in one of the country’s most well-known unsolved murder cases. He has pleaded not guilty.

Colorado River water negotiators appear no closer to long-term agreement

December 18, 2025

Water leaders in the U.S. West gathered this week with a hefty task hanging over their heads — figuring out a long-term plan for sharing water from the Colorado River. They met as usual at the annual Colorado River Water Users Association conference in Las Vegas, but they don’t appear close to agreement. If they don’t reach consensus, the federal government will impose a plan. Over 40 million people rely on water from the Colorado River. But long-term drought and the effects of climate change are forcing a re-examination on how best to use the water. The federal government is giving states until Feb. 14 to come up with a plan.

Jeff Todd holds horses before loading them up in a horse trailer at the Fly Again Ranch Horse Boarding and Hotel,Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Threat of equine virus looms over nation’s largest rodeo event in Las Vegas

December 12, 2025

Every year the annual National Finals Rodeo draws thousands to Las Vegas for two weeks of rodeo competitions. This year, a contagious horse virus loomed over the festivities, resulting in some changes to curb the spread of the virus. The equine herpesvirus can cause neurologic symptoms among horses, and in some serious cases can result in death. Rodeo organizers, horse boarding facilities and owners took extra precautions this year to curb the spread of the outbreak. Nevada required entry permits for all horses, and rodeos required daily temperature checks and stricter cleaning protocols. Some horse owners chose to bring fewer horses this year, while others decided not to come at all.

FILE - Clark County Sheriff and Nevada Gov.-elect Joe Lombardo during a news conference, Nov. 14, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt, File)

Nevada governor signs sweeping crime bill as state looks to boost tourism

December 2, 2025

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has signed his signature crime legislation, his office announced Tuesday. Known as the Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act, the law paves the way for the reinstitution of the controversial Resort Corridor Court to penalize crimes such as petty theft, assault, drug offenses and loitering originating on the Las Vegas Strip and coinciding with orders banning people from the tourist area for a year. The bill’s passage comes amid a slump in tourism. It marks a significant win for the Republican governor, who faces a tough bid for reelection in 2026.

Tesla Cybertrucks owned by the Las Vegas Metro Police department is on display in Las Vegas on Tuesday Oct, 28th 2025. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

Nation’s largest fleet of police Cybertrucks to patrol Las Vegas

November 1, 2025

The nation’s largest police fleet of Tesla Cybertrucks is set to begin patrolling the streets of Las Vegas in November. The fleet of 10 Cybertrucks was a gift from a billionaire venture capitalist for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill sees the addition of the trucks as part of a larger effort to enhance the department’s technology. The donation has raised concerns from government oversight experts about private donors’ influence on public departments and the boost to the Tesla brand. The department is the latest U.S. city to turn to Tesla models even as Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company has face blowback because of his work earlier in the year to advance the president’s political agenda and downsize the federal government.

FILE - Runners stop to to have photos taken by official photographers at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign during the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

The next major film studios could be in Nevada if some unions have their way

October 19, 2025

Trade unions in Nevada want the state to offer tax incentives to major film studios to bring more movie making to the Vegas area. They are pushing for lawmakers to pass a $95 million tax credit proposal as part of a planned special session. Major studios like Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. say they will build a production studio in the Vegas suburbs if the incentives are available. Nevada unions say it would bring badly needed jobs and attract more tourists to the state. Still, Nevada would have to compete with California and cities like Atlanta that already offer robust financial perks to movie studios.

Jessica Hill.