The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo Kicks Off With Real America 250 Declaration
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun joined other officials at the Monument Thursday to cut the ribbon and officially kick off this year’s Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo. As part of Thursday’s kickoff event, Mayor Salamun also declared the official start of Rapid City’s Real America 250 celebration, a year-long recognition and observance of America’s 250th birthday. Rapid City’s Real America 250 celebration will include events and activities throughout the year with a main focus on July 1-4. The city is coordinating with Visit Rapid City on the celebration. (Full Story)
Mistrial Declared in Assault Case Against NDN Collective Founder Nick Tilsen
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A mistrial has been declared in the assault trial against NDN Collective Founder and CEO Nick Tilsen. The jury began deliberations on Wednesday afternoon, with the jury announcing it could not come to a decision and was a hung jury. Tilsen was charged with both aggravated assault and simple assault of law enforcement, along with a misdemeanor charge of obstruction. The charges stem from an incident in June of 2022, when Tilsen came upon a Rapid City Police Officer who had stopped a homeless man. Prosecutors said that Tilsen drove his pickup truck at the officer. Prosecutors can choose to re-try the case if they desire. (Full Story)
Rapid City Family, Pets Escape Early Morning Garage Fire
PIERRE, S.D. — A Rapid City family and their pets escaped unharmed early Thursday after a fire broke out in their garage and began spreading into the home. Fire crews were dispatched around 1:30 a.m. to the 200 block of Viking Drive, north of Interstate 90 and Haines Avenue. The homeowners detected smoke and unusual noises before discovering the fire and evacuating safely. Firefighters later rescued two pet birds and contained the blaze to the garage area. No injuries were reported, and the cause remains under investigation. (Full Story)
Man Arrested After Brandishing Firearm at Fast Food Restaurant Employee
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Police arrested a male after brandishing a firearm at an employee at a fast food restaurant on Stumer Road late Wednesday night. Police say 23-year-old Logan Everett was apprehended after witnesses saw him leave the scene in a red pickup truck. Police located him heading north onto the I-190 onramp where a high-risk traffic stop was initiated. A search of Everett following the stop uncovered a BB gun believed used in the incident. Everett was arrested on several charges and taken to the Pennington County Jail.
Historic Phillips 66 Site May Be Redeveloped Into Apartment Complex
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A historic gas station in downtown Rapid City could be razed in order to build more apartment space. The Phillips 66 station at Mount Rushmore Road and Quincy Street has operated since the early 1950’s. The Rapid City Planning Commission this week received a proposal from Rapid Gas LLC that requests a tax increment finance district to make way for a 21-unit apartment complex with a ground floor coffee shop on the site. The developer also requests the city to help with removal of three gas tanks. The city’s planning commission reviewed the project but wants more details before making a decision. The commission will vote again at its March 26 meeting.
South Dakota Senate Committee Kills Gun Range Liability Bill
PIERRE, S.D. — A South Dakota Senate committee on Thursday voted to kill a bill that would have limited civil liability for gun ranges, citing concerns it could shield negligent behavior and restrict injured individuals from seeking damages. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6–1 to defer Senate Bill 103 to the 41st legislative day, effectively ending the proposal. Sponsored by Sen. John Carley, R-Piedmont, the bill would have established that individuals at shooting ranges assume inherent risks tied to firearms, noise and terrain, though an amendment excluded law enforcement ranges. Supporters said the measure would protect ranges from lawsuits as shooting sports grow, while opponents warned its wording could eliminate longstanding negligence protections. (Full Story)
Car rams into Chabad headquarters in New York City, damaging doors
A man has been arrested after repeatedly crashing his car into the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in New York City. The incident happened Wednesday night while people were gathered for prayer at the deeply revered Hasidic Jewish site. No one was injured. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch says it is too early to speculate on the driver’s motives. Tisch say the incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime. Video posted online shows a car moving forward and backward on an icy driveway leading to a building in the complex. The vehicle rams the doors at least four times. The driver emerges and tells bystanders that it slipped. The driver also makes a comment to police about trying to park. (Full Story)
Musk’s SpaceX in Talks With xAI Ahead of Planned IPO
WASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk’s SpaceX has held preliminary discussions about a potential merger with xAI, the artificial intelligence company Musk launched in 2023, as xAI prepares for a planned initial public offering, according to a source familiar with the matter. The talks are exploratory and no formal agreement has been reached, with details and timing still subject to change. Any potential deal would combine SpaceX’s extensive data, computing infrastructure and satellite network with xAI’s artificial intelligence operations, which include the Grok chatbot and related research efforts. SpaceX and xAI have not publicly commented on the discussions. (Full Story)
Melania Trump’s documentary premieres at the Kennedy Center ahead of global release
WASHINGTON (AP) — Melania Trump is capping her first year after becoming first lady again with the global release of a documentary about the 20 days before she and President Donald Trump returned to the White House. The Kennedy Center in Washington hosted a screening for the movie, “Melania,” on Thursday, one day before its release in theaters worldwide. Director Brett Ratner says he won’t measure success by how it does at the box office, because documentaries traditionally are not “huge box office smashes.” Melania Trump says the film offers rare insight into her life in the run-up to the 2025 inauguration. (Full Story)
