Business.

BELLE FOURCHE, SD — Pioneer Bank & Trust is proud to announce an $8,000 contribution to Prairie Hills Transit to support essential transportation services in western South Dakota. This donation, when coupled with another $5,000 contribution last March, underscores the bank’s commitment to the community and ensuring residents have reliable access to healthcare, employment, and […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Regional Airport will receive $20 million in federal funding for a major terminal expansion as part of a $145.7 million Congressionally Directed Spending package secured by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds. The funding, included in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies appropriations bill, also allocates $30 million […]

By: Kory LanphearPhotos: Bailey Sadowsky In high school, Danielle Muellenberg wanted to be a court reporter. But after she didsome schooling for it, she didn’t think it was her calling.She found a job at Black Hills Works as manager of Unique Auto Grooming and hasspent the last 14 years supporting her employees’ independence, confidence, andquality […]

By: Wade Ellett Photos: Bailey Sadowsky As a 20-year veteran of the Marine Corps, Gene Coughlin understands the value of good leadership. He started his military career as an enlisted Marine, then became an officer and completed several tours in the Middle East. Throughout his career, he’s experienced firsthand the positive effects a good leader […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Bish’s RV announced plans to open a new dealership in the Rapid City area this spring, bringing new jobs and expanded RV sales and service options to western South Dakota. The dealership will be located in Piedmont at the former Jack’s Campers site and is expected to open in March. The […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Elevate Rapid City announced Monday the appointment of Todd Kenner as interim chief executive officer and Darren Haar as interim chief operating officer as the organization prepares for a national leadership search. Kenner and Haar bring decades of business and civic experience in Rapid City and the Black Hills, according to […]

UNDATED – Average gasoline prices in South Dakota have risen 2.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.56/g

UNDATED – With retirees dealing with inflation while often living on a fixed income, the personal-finance company WalletHub has released

What is your organization, and what does it do? I work for Central State’s Fair and Central State Fair Incorporated.

A decade in the making After more than a decade spent on stages and behind soundboards across the Black Hills,

SPEARFISH, S.D. (Jan. 21, 2026) — Monument Health Foundation has purchased a new ultrasound machine and three wireless fetal monitors for Spearfish Hospital, strengthening OB/GYN services as the Northern Black Hills community continues to grow. Funding from the “fund-a-mission” portion of the Northern Hills Hospice Fundraiser, A Night at the Derby, supported the purchase of […]

PIERRE, S.D. – New numbers show South Dakota’s tourism industry remained a powerful economic driver in 2025, delivering steady visitation,

STURGIS, S.D. – The Sturgis City Council received a welcome December 2025 sales tax report at their meeting Monday night.

By: Kory Lanphear Photos: Bailey Sadowsky Be honest: when was the last time you thought about rocks? Most likely, the answer is “never.” Luckily, there is Chelsea Pederson, Ph.D., Assistant Geology Professor at South Dakota Mines. She thinks about the importance of rocks on a daily basis.  “We have to know what came before us […]

By Alex Strauss Monument Health’s Recruitment Surge Expands Subspecialty Care in Western South Dakota Keely Ulmer was loading cattle trucks in Winner, South Dakota, when her parents called to say that the letter she’d been waiting for from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine had arrived. “They asked me if I wanted them […]

Average gasoline prices in South Dakota have risen 8.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.53/g today, according

With over 20% of new businesses failing within one year and inflation making entrepreneurship even more difficult, the personal-finance company

By: Jerry Steinley Photos: Bailey Sadowsky It was his dream job—a place where discipline, teamwork, and service came together. When Travis Hedrick enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1995, he believed he had found his purpose. Working on A-10 aircrafts in electronic warfare was more than a technical role; it gave him a sense […]

Roam’n Around has been a part of the Rapid City business community for nearly two decades. In that time, they’ve

UNDATED – With the economic costs of smoking totaling more than $600 billion per year, the personal-finance company WalletHub today

By: Kate Meadows Photos: Bailey Sadowsky When Madison Koczersut packed her car last June and pointed it toward South Dakota, she wasn’t entirely sure what she was getting into. Growing up in Bradenton, Florida, a coastal town south of Tampa, the Black Hills felt like a place from storybooks. While in college near Nashville, Tennessee, […]

UNDATED – The personal-finance company WalletHub today released the results of its nationally representative 2026 Banking Survey and its latest

UNDATED – With the cost of raising a child to age 18 exceeding $320,000, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released

UNDATED – Average gasoline prices in South Dakota have fallen 3.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.45/g

STURGIS, S.D. – The Sturgis City Council has approved having the mayor sign, reassign and terminate hanger updated lease agreements

Story and Photos by: Brent Kastner Dr. Lycia Thornburg, a respected dermatologist, author, and dynamic community leader, has been named the recipient of the prestigious Wolfenson Ratner Community Service Award, an honor recognizing the profound impact she has made in her profession and throughout the Rapid City tennis community. In the field of dermatology, Dr. […]

Average gasoline prices in South Dakota have fallen 4.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.49/g today, according

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Regional Airport donated $2,000 to Cornerstone Rescue Mission through its ongoing “Empty Pockets = Full Plates” program, continuing a local partnership aimed at addressing food insecurity in Rapid City and the Black Hills. The program encourages passengers to donate spare change as they pass through the Transportation Security Administration […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Ketel Thorstenson, LLP is celebrating its 90th year of operation in 2026, marking nearly a century of providing accounting and advisory services in Rapid City and the surrounding region. Since its establishment in 1936, the firm has focused on providing tax and accounting solutions for local businesses and individuals. As part […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The YMCA of Rapid City will officially change its name to the YMCA of the Black Hills on Jan. 1, 2026, a move leaders say better reflects the organization’s regional footprint across western South Dakota. The name change is intended to align the YMCA’s identity with the communities it serves through […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The YMCA of Rapid City will officially change its name to the YMCA of the Black Hills on Jan. 1, 2026, a move leaders say better reflects the organization’s regional footprint across western South Dakota. The name change is intended to align the YMCA’s identity with the communities it serves through […]

By: Michelle Pawelski Photos: Bailey Sadowsky In his early twenties, Nate Starkey’s life took a dramatic turn. While applying to be a medic in the military, he discovered he was color blind – a condition he had been unaware of until that moment.  “I didn’t have the money to pay for medical school, so I […]

By: Michelle Pawelski Photos: Bailey Sadowsky In his early twenties, Nate Starkey’s life took a dramatic turn. While applying to be a medic in the military, he discovered he was color blind – a condition he had been unaware of until that moment.  “I didn’t have the money to pay for medical school, so I […]

By: Kory Lanphear Photos: Bailey Sadowsky Reading is usually a solitary activity, but it doesn’t have to be. Book lovers Caitlin and Andrew Nissen invite you to drop by Monarch Books and Boutique, make some friends and maybe pick up a new book or two.  Andy is a welder by trade and Caitlin runs her […]

By: Downtown Rapid CityPhotos: Kyler Hagen, Downtown Rapid City A new year always brings the same familiar pull. People want to try something different, learn a new skill, meet new people, or restart a part of themselves that has been on pause. In Rapid City, one of the newest places helping people do exactly that […]

By: Kory Lanphear Photos: Bailey Sadowsky There’s getting in shape and then there’s staying in shape. But let’s face it, nobody makes a New Year’s resolution to stay in shape. However, at Modern Fitness, owners Danielle and Cory Shafer want to help you meet both of those goals — to get in shape and stay […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Bluepeak is expanding its investment in South Dakota broadband infrastructure, announcing plans for an additional $150 million multi-year expansion to deliver fiber-to-the-home internet to more communities across the state. The company said Tuesday it has already invested more than $95 million in South Dakota to build 100% fiber-to-the-home broadband serving about […]

Pine Ridge, SD – We celebrated Native American Heritage Month in November, a time to celebrate who we are and

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Dec. 8, 2025 — First Interstate Bank has hired Bailey Konst as a Commercial Relationship Manager, strengthening its business banking team in the Rapid City region. Konst will focus on developing new commercial relationships while supporting existing clients across western South Dakota. Her role includes helping local businesses access financial tools […]

BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) — Daktronics Inc. (DAKT) on Wednesday reported net income of $17.5 million in its fiscal second quarter.

UNDATED – Average gasoline prices in South Dakota have fallen 3.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.62/g

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Ketel Thorstenson, LLP (KT), the largest accounting firm in the Black Hills region, is proud to

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Ketel Thorstenson, LLP, the largest accounting firm in the Black Hills, will merge with Casper-based Grooms & Harkins, P.C., in a strategic partnership set to take effect Jan. 1, 2026. The move expands KT’s service reach across South Dakota and Wyoming while strengthening both firms’ longstanding presence in the region. KT […]

DEADWOOD, S.D. — The Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau has selected Amanda Kille as its next executive director, the organization announced this week. Kille has served as the chamber’s marketing and sponsorship director since 2014, leading branding efforts, managing media and marketing budgets, and tripling sponsorship revenue through strategic partnerships and new programming. […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Dec. 1, 2025 — Monument Health and Dialysis Clinic, Inc. are marking one year of a partnership aimed at strengthening access to dialysis care for patients across Rapid City, the Black Hills and western South Dakota. The collaboration, launched in November 2024, supports dialysis operations at Monument Health’s East North Street […]

UNDATED – Average gasoline prices in South Dakota have fallen 5.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.66/g

By: Kory Lanphear Photos: Bailey Sadowsky Issue: November 2025 In 1981, Doug Mastel founded Mastel Surgical with the goal of making the best diamond surgical instruments possible.  “Diamond blades are reusable, and they’re the highest quality instrument you can use,” says Logan Jundt, Business Development Specialist at Mastel Surgical. “A blade is 100 microns thick […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Monument Health Rapid City Hospital has again received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, making it the only hospital in South Dakota to earn the top mark in the latest national ratings released Nov. 24. The grade places Rapid City Hospital among the roughly 30 percent of hospitals […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The YMCA of Rapid City has appointed two new Executive Board Members, adding local leadership experience as the organization continues expanding its community impact across the Black Hills. The Y announced this week that Mike Kirkeby and Jess Gromer have joined the board, bringing decades of professional expertise and a strong […]

By: Michelle Pawelski Photos: Bailey Sadowsky Issue: November 2025 Last September, after a decade of honing his skills with manufacturers across the Black Hills, Brock Smith took a leap of faith. The South Dakota Mines graduate and Wyoming native launched his own venture, Divergent Designs, giving himself one year to see if his dream of […]

UNDATED – With last year’s Black Friday sales drawing 81.7 million Americans to shop in person and 87.3 million to

Spirit Card program supports Custer High and ten other area schools with donations to clubs, scholarships, and student programs RAPID CITY, SD — Highmark Credit Union continues to make a difference in local classrooms through its Spirit Card program, donating more than $34,000 back to area schools, colleges, and student organizations over the past four years. On Thursday, November […]

By: Michelle Pawelski Photos by: Bailey Sadowsky Issue: November 2025 The moment Leah Theunissen opens the garage door, Copper, the family’s spirited cocker spaniel, bolts into the yard, tail wagging and playing, living his best life. It is a much different Copper, now eight, than several years earlier.  When he was just three, he was […]

YANKTON, S.D. (Nov. 3, 2025) — Longtime agricultural lender Dakota Mac has a new name and a renewed mission. First Dakota National Bank announced that the division will now operate as Landera, a rebrand meant to capture a broader service area and continued commitment to the ag community amid shifting economic conditions. The change, effective […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. — New research from Northwest Registered Agent highlights South Dakota as one of the most affordable states in the country to start a business in 2025, thanks to its low taxes and minimal startup costs. The Spokane, Washington-based business formation company ranked South Dakota second overall in its Top 10 Most Affordable […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. – The city of Rapid City, a gateway to the Black Hills, issued 223 building permits in October with a combined valuation exceeding $69.8 million, marking the second-highest October on record for building permit valuation. With two months remaining in the year, the city has issued 2,078 building permits totaling $357.4 million […]

UNDATED – With the rate of credit card delinquency increasing in all 50 states over the first two quarters of

RAPID CITY, SD (Nov. 5, 2025) – In the 20 years since the founding of the South Dakota Mines Engineers Make Great

PIERRE, S.D – The South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), which has offices in Rapid City and across the state, has been named the fastest-growing community foundation in the nation among its peers. The recognition was part of the newly released 2023 Census of Community Foundations by the Community Foundation Research and Training Institute (CFRTI). The […]

UNDATED – Average gasoline prices in South Dakota have risen 0.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.77/g

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Oct. 30, 2025 – TSP, Inc., a multidisciplinary design firm, announced today that Alex Kalmbach has officially earned his licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE), qualifying him as a mechanical engineer. The PE credential represents the highest standard in engineering, underscoring expertise, competence, and public trust. Achieving this license requires a rigorous process, including completing a four-year degree from an accredited engineering program, successfully passing the Fundamentals of […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Oct. 27, 2025) – Monument Health, the largest private employer in South Dakota, will host a hiring event Monday, Nov. 3, from 3 to 6 p.m. at its Human Resources Office, located at 1400 Turbine Drive in Rapid City. The event offers onsite interviews and immediate hiring opportunities for a range of […]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Oct. 16, 2025) — Monument Health has announced the addition of Jake Enos, M.D., a fellowship-trained orthopedic sports medicine specialist, to its Orthopedics & Sports Medicine practice in Spearfish. The move expands access to advanced orthopedic care for athletes and active residents across the northern Black Hills. Dr. Enos joins orthopedic surgeons […]