The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Rapid City Committee Proposes Pay Raises for Mayor and City Council
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City’s population is now estimated at almost 85,000, a 3.05 percent increase from the previous year. The city’s Legal and Finance Committee used that statistic to propose a pay rise for city council members and the Mayor. The resolution calls for each council member’s salary to be set at more than $21,500 annually. The Mayor’s salary would be adjusted annually based on the same inflationary metric that is used to adjust non-union city employees. The resolution calls for the wage increases to go into effect July 1 and will be heard before the full council next week.
Juneteenth Holiday Alters Rapid City Garbage Pickup Schedule
RAPID CITY, S.D. —Rapid City Waste is notifying residents of changes to the garbage collection schedule due to the Juneteenth holiday, which falls on Thursday, June 19. Trash pickup for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will occur one day earlier than usual. Specifically, Tuesday’s route will be collected on Monday, Wednesday’s on Tuesday, and Thursday’s on Wednesday. Monday and Friday pickups will remain on their regular schedule. All residents are asked to have their garbage out by 7 a.m. on their adjusted collection day. Those who miss their scheduled pickup may not have another opportunity until the following week. Rapid City Waste appreciates the community’s cooperation in helping ensure smooth operations during the holiday week.
Regional Shooting Competition Coming to New Complex East of Rapid City
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department plans to host a national organization’s regional competition at its new shooting complex east of Rapid City this fall. Wildlife Division Chief John Kanta said that more than 300 people have already signed up for the United States Practical Shooting Association event, set for September 25–28. An official ribbon cutting comes two weeks later on October 10, followed by a public opening on October 13. Once open, the complex’s 50, 100, and 300 yard shooting bays and archery range will be free for the public to use. There will be controlled access areas where fees will apply.
Black Hills Moon Walk Series Kicks Off June 14
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — It can be a marvelous night for a moon dance! Black Hills National Forest officials have published the 2025 Moon Walk schedule. The Moon Walks combine nighttime hiking with educational insights about the Black Hills National Forest. Moon Walks are held on Saturday nights close to the official full moon and start at 7 p.m. Most last between one and two hours over the one-mile average round trip. The first Moon Walk is slated for June 14 on the Boulder Hill Trail in the Mystic Ranger District. Interested hikers will gather at the Boulder Hill trailhead prior to the hike at 7 p.m. Additional Moon Walks are scheduled and can be found on the forest service’s website.
Golden Guitars Gala Raises Record $500,000 for Local Children’s Health Care
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The fourth annual Golden Guitars Gala, held June 7 by the Monument Health Foundation, raised a record-breaking $500,000 to support Children’s Miracle Network programs in the Black Hills—making it the most successful single fundraising event in the Foundation’s history. The gala featured 21 celebrity-autographed guitars, including a top-selling guitar signed by Journey that fetched $30,000 in the live auction. All proceeds remain local, benefiting children receiving care at Monument Health hospitals. Created by South Dakota artist Kory Van Sickle of Kory and the Fireflies through his Firefly Guitars initiative, the event included guitars signed by artists such as Keith Urban, The Beach Boys and Imagine Dragons. “These vital funds will enable us to further invest in cutting-edge medical equipment and expand our programs,” said Hans Nelson, Director of the Monument Health Foundation.
South Dakota Campuses Prepare for New Concealed Carry Law Effective July 1
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Starting July 1, students and staff with enhanced concealed carry permits will be allowed to carry firearms on South Dakota’s public college and technical school campuses under a new state law, Senate Bill 100. The law, signed by Gov. Larry Rhoden in March, makes South Dakota the 12th state to permit concealed carry on public higher education campuses, reversing previous institutional bans. Regental and technical colleges are now working to draft policies outlining where firearms may still be restricted, such as labs with hazardous materials or secure research areas. The law does not apply to private institutions, which will continue prohibiting weapons. Supporters say the change reinforces constitutional rights and personal protection, while critics warn it could increase safety concerns, particularly in dorm settings. Institutions like Black Hills State University, Western Dakota Technical College, and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are actively preparing to implement new guidelines before the law takes effect.
Russia’s military casualties top 1 million in 3-year-old war, Ukraine says
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine says Russia’s military losses have topped 1 million, noting the huge price Moscow has paid for its 3-year-old invasion. The claim by the General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces is in line with Western intelligence estimates. The U.K. Defense Ministry said in a statement on X that Russian troops have suffered more than 1 million casualties, including roughly 250,000 killed since the start of the war. Russia last reported its military casualties early in the war when it acknowledged about 6,000 soldiers had been killed. Earlier this year, the Russian General Staff claimed Ukrainian military losses had topped 1 million. The mutual claims of the other side’s losses couldn’t be independently verified.
Netanyahu’s government survives vote to dissolve Israel’s parliament
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has survived an attempt to dissolve parliament. Most of his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners voted against the bill on Thursday. The ultra-Orthodox parties are furious that the government has failed to pass a law exempting their community from mandatory military service. It’s an issue that has long divided the Jewish Israeli public especially during the 20-month war in the Gaza Strip. Just two of the 18 ultra-Orthodox members of Israel’s parliament supported the bill. The vote in the Knesset was the most serious challenge to Netanyahu’s government since the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that triggered the war in the Gaza Strip.
Space station leak concerns will delay visit by astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A chartered spaceflight for India, Poland and Hungary’s first astronauts in decades has been delayed indefinitely because of leak concerns at the International Space Station. NASA said Thursday that it wants to monitor the cabin pressure on the Russian side of the orbiting lab, before accepting visitors. SpaceX was supposed to launch four private astronauts this week on a two-week space station mission. Bad weather and SpaceX rocket trouble delayed the flight. Then the space station leak issue cropped up. The Russian Space Agency has long been dealing with a cabin pressure leak at the station. Recent repairs resulted in what NASA calls “a new pressure signature.”
