The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Rapid City Man Arrested After Series of Early Morning Burglaries on West Main Street
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Police arrested 49-year-old Jeremy Bickett following a series of early morning burglaries on West Main Street Wednesday. Officers were first called around 3:53 a.m. to a business in the 2200 block for a report of a smashed window, then responded to a second alarm in the 2100 block where they saw a suspect actively burglarizing the building. Bickett fled on foot but was apprehended after a short pursuit while attempting to break into a parked vehicle. He was booked into the Pennington County Jail and charged with third-degree burglary and aggravated criminal entry of a motor vehicle. Additional charges are pending as investigators review surveillance video. (Full Story)
Engage South Dakota Shares Ideas to Address Statewide Housing Challenges
MURDO, S.D. (South Dakota News Watch) — Engage South Dakota is a collaborative effort by South Dakota News Watch, Dakota Resources, and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota to identify and share practical housing solutions from communities across the state. The project is based on the idea that effective problem-solving starts with those most impacted and that sharing successful local ideas can help address housing challenges elsewhere. This ongoing collection will be updated as a resource for residents, community leaders, and policymakers and includes a list of organizations, programs, and related reporting that can assist with housing development and access. (Full Story)
Daily Nonstop Flights to Phoenix Returning to Rapid City This Summer
RAPID CITY, S.D. — This summer airline travelers heading south will have another flight option. On Friday, Rapid City Regional Airport announced the return of the daily non-stop flight to Phoenix. Beginning June 2, American Airlines will fly direct to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. “Right now this route is seasonal. We are expecting to see it running June through around October. However, we encourage people to utilize this route. The better the passenger numbers, the fuller the flights, the longer we can look at extending the season,” said Megan Johnson, Air Service Development Manager, Rapid City Regional Airport. Rapid City Regional Airport offers access to major hubs like Denver, Dallas, Chicago and Minneapolis, and seasonal direct flights to Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, and Orlando. (Full Story)
Mines Professor Receives Fulbright Specialist Award to Develop New Geology Program in Kenya
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Sarah Wheeler Keenan, Ph.D., an associate professor at South Dakota Mines, has been selected for a Fulbright Specialist Program award and will spend next month in Kenya helping Taita Taveta University design and launch one of the country’s only undergraduate geology programs. Chosen by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, Keenan will work with faculty to develop a geology curriculum tailored to regional mining and agriculture needs and support a long term partnership between the two universities, with the program targeted to begin in fall 2026. (Full Story)
Christmas Eve winner in Arkansas lands a $1.817 billion Powerball lottery jackpot
A Powerball ticket purchased at a gas station outside Little Rock, Arkansas, won a $1.817 billion jackpot just before Christmas. The winning numbers were announced on Christmas Eve, ending the lottery game’s three-month stretch without a top-prize winner. The winning numbers were 04, 25, 31, 52 and 59, with the Powerball number being 19. Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot higher than previously expected. Organizers say it is the second-largest pot in U.S. history and the largest Powerball prize of 2025. The jackpot has a lump sum cash payment option of $834.9 million.(Full Story)
New storm hitting waterlogged Southern California could bring mudslides and high surf
WRIGHTWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Another powerful storm system that could cause more flooding and mudslides is rolling across Southern California. Officials issued evacuation warnings in mountain towns and warned of possible high-surf conditions along the coast. Forecasters say the region could experience its wettest Christmas in years, increasing the risk of debris flows in areas scorched by wildfires in January. Heavy rain and gusty winds were blamed for at least two deaths on Christmas Eve. On Wednesday, a falling tree killed a San Diego man. Farther north, a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy died in what appeared to be a weather-related crash. (Full Story)
Pro-Russian hackers claim cyberattack on French postal service
PARIS (AP) — French prosecutors say a pro-Russian hacking group has claimed responsibility for a major cyberattack on France’s national postal service. The attack halted package deliveries just days before Christmas. French intelligence agency DGSI has taken over the investigation. The cybercrime group, known as Noname057, has been linked to other cyberattacks in Europe. Central computer systems at La Poste were knocked offline Monday in a distributed denial of service attack. Postal workers couldn’t track packages, and online payments were disrupted. France and European allies accuse Russia of waging “hybrid warfare” to undermine support for Ukraine. (Full Story)
