The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Flag From Vietnam Finds Its Way Home Thanks to South Dakota Veteran
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A simple estate cleanout in Rapid City turned into a powerful story of faith and remembrance when Navy veteran Jenny Schmidt, owner of Black Hills Advocate, discovered a battle-scarred American flag from Vietnam inside a box marked “Vietnam Stuff.” The flag, later identified as one that flew atop Hamburger Hill during one of the war’s bloodiest battles, belonged to Special Forces combat medic Johnny Aanrud. Schmidt presented the flag Thursday in Washington, D.C., to the Vietnam Veterans of America in his honor, calling the experience an act of divine intervention. With help from fellow veterans Dave Gates and Dan Tribby, Schmidt traced the flag’s origins and said the journey reconnected her to her own service and strengthened her family’s ties to the veteran community. The flag, still marked by bullet holes and burn scars, will remain with the Vietnam Veterans of America before returning to South Dakota for display at the state museum.
Prescribed Burn Prompts Temporary Closures at Mount Rushmore
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Officials say some parts of Mount Rushmore National Memorial are temporarily closed because of prescribed fire operations. The National Park Service says the Blackberry Trail and climbing areas west and south of Highway 244 are closed until Friday night at 11:59 p.m. The burn is planned for 95 acres known as the Starling Basin and the park service says short-term smoke impacts are possible along Highway 244 and in nearby communities.
Rapid City to Host Halloween ‘Spooky Skate’ at Roosevelt Ice Arena
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The City of Rapid City says if you’re looking for an extra dose of fun to celebrate Halloween, the Rapid City Recreation Division has a treat in store for you. The City is hosting ‘Spooky Skate’, an ice skating party, on Saturday, November 1 at the Roosevelt Ice Arena. The event is also being held in collaboration with the Rushmore Noon Optimist Club and other sponsors as a culmination of Red Ribbon Week activities. The skate party is scheduled from 1:30-3:15 p.m.
Electrical Upgrades Complete at Lead’s Manuel Brothers Park
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Electrical upgrades at Manuel Brothers Park in Lead have been completed. The project came to fruition through a community partnership, donations and a $50,000 grant from the Lawrence County Commission. The park previously had to pass on vendors because of its lack of electric pedestals. Now the park has nine of them, allowing vendors to sell during Independence Day celebrations and the Winterfest Bonfire.
South Dakota Minimum Wage Set to Increase in 2026
PIERRE, S.D. – The state minimum wage for non-tipped employees will increase from $11.50/hour to $11.85/hour effective Jan. 1, 2026. The minimum wage is adjusted annually based on increases in the cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Price Index published by the U.S. Department of Labor. South Dakota adjusts its minimum wage annually as established by SDCL 60-11-3.2, a law enacted by the state legislature and effective since Jan. 1, 2016. The hourly minimum wage for tipped employees will be $5.925/hour, effective Jan. 1, 2026, half the minimum wage for non-tipped employees. Wages and tips combined must equal at least the minimum wage.
Task Force Advances 19 Proposals for Property Tax Relief
PIERRE, S.D. — A legislative task force aiming to reduce property taxes for South Dakota homeowners advanced 19 proposals at its final meeting on Wednesday in Pierre, setting up a potentially long list of bills for legislators to consider this winter. The proposals include cutting state spending and applying the savings to property tax relief, replacing some property tax revenue with sales tax increases, using one-time tax credits for temporary taxpayer relief, and reserving a portion of future state revenue increases each year to reduce property taxes. Other recommendations include further restricting development incentives known as tax increment financing districts and requiring local public votes on school district decisions to raise taxes beyond state-imposed limits. Lawmakers on the task force expressed a hope in June to propose legislation that will cut the average South Dakota homeowner’s property taxes by at least 50%. South Dakota property taxes paid by homeowners increased 38.8% between 2020 and 2024.
Survival bunker renters sue owner of former South Dakota munitions bunkers over lease, amenities
South Dakota News Watch — People who are renting former military munitions bunkers in southwestern South Dakota as survival bunkers are suing the owner of the property saying his company had them sign illegal leases and hasn’t provided promised amenities. The community includes hundreds of above-ground, earth-covered concrete bunkers that were used by the U.S. military to store munitions from 1942 to 1967. California businessman Robert Vicino bought part of the facility in 2016. The bunkers are rented as residences, mostly to ‘preppers’ who want to live off the grid and survive a global catastrophe. Vicino did not respond to South Dakota News Watch’s efforts to get a comment. The lawsuit seeks damages or for residents to own their bunkers.
US home sales accelerated in September to their fastest pace since February as mortgage rates eased
Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes accelerated in September as declining mortgage rates and a pickup in available properties on the market encouraged home shoppers. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that existing home sales rose 1.5% last month from August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.06 million units. That’s the fastest sales pace since February. Sales jumped 4.1% compared with September last year. The national median sales price climbed 2.1% in September from a year earlier to $415,200. The housing market has been in a slump since 2022, when mortgage rates climbed from historic lows. Affordability remains a daunting challenge for most aspiring homeowners following years of skyrocketing home prices.
A Florida teenager is in an Israeli prison. Why his family and advocates say he should be released
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A Florida family is urging U.S. leaders to help free a 16-year-old Palestinian-American held in an Israeli prison for eight months. Mohammed Ibrahim, of Palm Bay, Florida, was arrested in February while visiting family in the West Bank. He was accused of throwing rocks at Israeli settlers. His family has had no contact with him since his arrest. Advocacy groups and some members of Congress are pressing for his release. The U.S. State Department says it is closely monitoring the case. Mohammed’s family remains in the West Bank, fearing they won’t be allowed to return if they leave.
Lithuanian president says Russian military planes violated the Baltic country’s airspace
VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda says Russian military planes violated Lithuania’s airspace on Thursday evening. Lithuania’s foreign ministry will summon Russian Embassy representatives to protest the violation, Nausėda said in a post on the social media platform X. The incident occurred amid rising tensions in the region. The Baltics are increasingly worried by neighboring Russia’s aggression on Ukraine as a series of mysterious drone incidents and airspace violations by Russian war planes in recent weeks has fueled concerns that President Vladimir Putin might be testing NATO’s defensive reflexes. Some leaders have accused him of waging a hybrid war in Europe. Moscow denies probing NATO’s defenses.