The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Lawsuit Filed Against Rapid City Area School District and Board Members
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Former Rapid City Area School District CEO/Superintendent Nicole Swigart has filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination and discrimination against the district, its board of education, and six individual board members. The suit, filed just weeks before the school board election, claims violations of federal civil rights laws, the Equal Pay Act, FMLA, and South Dakota defamation and open meeting laws. Swigart, who served the district for over 33 years, asserts that she was underpaid compared to male counterparts, unfairly blamed for a federal compliance investigation, and denied due process before being suspended and fired in August 2024. The district denies wrongdoing and plans to defend its actions in court. The Rapid City Post will continue to follow this developing story.
Deadline Approaches for Voter Registration and Absentee Voting in Rapid City
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City officials remind the public the deadline to register to vote in next month’s municipal election is Monday, May 19, the same day absentee voting is set to begin. This year’s municipal election is Tuesday, June 3 with candidates running in three of the City’s five wards. Individuals wishing to register to vote or to make changes in their registration can visit the Pennington County Auditor’s Office. The deadline for registration to vote in the June 3 election is May 19. Absentee voting also begins May 19.
Legislative Task Force Formed to Review South Dakota Property Taxes
PIERRE, S.D. — Membership of a legislative task force to take a comprehensive look at property taxes in the state is now set. The executive board approved 12 legislative members of the 18-member task force Wednesday. It’s the third task force looking at property taxes in four years. It’s the first since new Republican leadership took over the state Legislature. Rapid City’s Peri Pourier and Taffy Howard are part of the task force.
Nisland Man Dies in Butte County Crash
NISLAND, S.D. – A Nisland man died in a two vehicle crash in Butte County Wednesday night. The highway patrol says the man was driving a Dodge Dakota that failed to yield at an intersection and was struck by a Chevrolet S10. The driver of the S10 received serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. The man’s name has not been released yet pending notification of relatives.
Lawmakers Address Issues with Old Vehicle Registration System
PIERRE, S.D. —South Dakota has a new Vehicle Registration system in place…but state legislators are still dealing with problems from the old system. Several state employees were prosecuted for fraudulent activities related to the vehicle registration process over the past year. On Thursday, the legislature’s Government Operations and Audit Committee heard from the Department of Legislative Audit on actions taken to deal with internal controls for the old system. The Attorney General’s office investigated and prosecuted three cases of employee fraud in the Department of Revenue last year.
Project Scheduled to Begin on U.S. Highway 14A Near Deadwood and Central City
DEADWOOD, S.D. — Starting Monday, May 12, 2025, a road improvement project will begin on U.S. Highway 14A near Deadwood and Central City, South Dakota. The project includes curb and gutter installation, erosion repair, and grading work at two locations: between Central Main Street and Maitland Road in Central City, and at the Pine Street intersection in Deadwood. Lane closures and flaggers will be in place to manage traffic through the work zones, and drivers are advised to watch for slowdowns and nearby construction activity. Tru-Form Construction Inc. of Summerset is leading the $200,000 project, which is expected to be completed by June 30, 2025.
Florida man gored by bison in year’s first attack by Yellowstone’s most dangerous wild animal
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — Yellowstone National Park has recorded the year’s first violent encounter between a visitor and bison, just weeks into the busy summer season. The bison gored the 47-year-old man from Florida on Sunday at Lake Village, an area of cabins, a lodge and campsites on the shore of Yellowstone Lake. The man got too close to the animal, prompting park officials to repeat a frequent warning: Don’t get too close to wildlife. The man was treated for minor injuries. Park officials declined to tell more, including his name and condition and how the encounter happened.
Pope Leo XIV celebrates his first Mass as pontiff a day after his election
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has celebrated his first Mass, a day after his historic election as the first North American pope in the church’s 2,000-year history. The election of cardinal Robert Prevost as the new pontiff overcame the traditional prohibition against a pope from the United States. On Friday, wearing white vestments, Leo processed into the Sistine Chapel and blessed the cardinals as he approached the altar and Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement” behind it. It was in the same frescoed chapel that the Chicago-born missionary was elected the 267th pope the previous day. Meanwhile, congratulations are pouring in from world leaders and statesmen as Leo begins his papacy.
Russia holds Victory Day parade marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia has celebrated the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, with President Vladimir Putin presiding over a massive parade of tanks, missiles and troops through Red Square. He welcomed over two dozen world leaders — the most since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine. Victory Day is celebrated in Russia on May 9, the country’s most important secular holiday. The Red Square parade and other ceremonies underline Moscow’s efforts to project its power and cement the alliances it has forged while seeking a counterbalance to the West amid the 3-year-old conflict in Ukraine. The festivities were overshadowed by reports of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow, disrupting service at the capital’s airports.
