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Rapid City Police Seek Two in Fatal Shooting Investigation
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Police and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office are seeking information in a fatal shooting that occurred August 27 in the 200 block of E. Watertown Street. The victim, Monte Gakin, was found with gunshot wounds inside an apartment and died at the scene. Authorities have identified 23-year-old Max Martinez and 24-year-old Brittany Dillon, both of Rapid City, as individuals who may have information and are being sought for questioning.
Rapid City Moves Forward on Opioid Settlement Funds
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City is closer to securing funds to support opioid addiction treatment through a $79 million settlement. The City Council approved forwarding a proposal for Mayor Jason Salamun to join the Purdue Direct Opioid Settlement. Settlement funds will be directed to rehab programs for individuals recovering from opioid overdoses.
Mayor Signs TIF Resolutions for Libertyland and Sports Complex Projects
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun hosted a signing ceremony Thursday for two TIF districts that will help fund major projects. The Destination District will support the proposed Libertyland Amusement Park, and the Catalyst District will help finance a new Rapid City Sports Complex. Resolutions creating the project boundaries and adopting the plans were signed with project and community officials in attendance.
GAO Report Flags Gaps in Federal Disaster Response
PIERRE, S.D. — A new Government Accountability Office report finds FEMA’s disaster-response workforce is not fully prepared for today’s fast-paced emergencies. Staffing shortages, training gaps, and limited surge capacity could slow damage assessments and recovery efforts in South Dakota after tornadoes or floods. The GAO recommends a long-term strategy to better recruit, train, and deploy responders.
South Dakota Moves Forward with $650 Million Prison Proposal
PIERRE, S.D. — Governor Larry Rhoden has released draft legislation to build a new $650 million, 1,500-bed men’s prison in northeast Sioux Falls, taking a major step toward replacing the 140-year-old State Penitentiary. The plan, which will be considered in a Sept. 23 special legislative session, mirrors recommendations from a prison task force led by Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen. Funding includes $505 million already in the state’s Incarceration Construction Fund, earned interest, and a $78.8 million transfer from the General Revenue Replacement Fund. Officials say the new prison will address overcrowding in South Dakota’s correctional system without requiring local contributions.
Internationally Trained Heart Surgeon Joins Monument Health in Rapid City
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Monument Health Heart and Vascular Institute has welcomed Tommaso Cambiaghi, M.D., an internationally trained cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, to its team in Rapid City. Dr. Cambiaghi, who studied in Milan and trained in Texas and Houston, specializes in complex open and endovascular aortic surgery as well as minimally invasive procedures. He will work alongside Dr. Charan Mungara to perform a wide range of cardiac, thoracic, and vascular operations. His expertise expands the institute’s advanced programs in structural heart and endovascular care, building on its national recognition for heart attack care, aneurysm repair, and atrial fibrillation treatment.
US designates 2 more gangs in Latin America as foreign terrorist groups
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the United States is designating two Ecuadorian gangs as foreign terrorist organizations. It’s the Trump administration’s latest step to target criminal cartels in Latin America. The announcement came Thursday during Rubio’s stop in Ecuador as part of a trip to Latin America that’s been overshadowed by a U.S. military strike against Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. That attack has raised concerns in the region about what may follow as President Donald Trump’s government pledges to step up military activity to combat drug trafficking and illegal migration.
Trump’s promised immigration crackdown in Chicago could last about six weeks, suburban official says
CHICAGO (AP) — Leaders of a Chicago suburb that houses a federal immigration processing center say they were told that the Trump administration’s promised immigration enforcement surge will run for about six weeks. Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson said in a letter to village residents this week that a building used to temporarily hold immigrants before they’re detained or deported will serve as the “primary processing location” for the expected operation. She didn’t say when the operation might start. Chicago is among the latest targets for President Donald Trump’s expanded federal intervention.
Telescope reveals a growing tail on the comet that’s visiting from another star
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Telescope observations reveal a growing tail on the comet that’s visiting from another star. Released Thursday, the pictures taken by the Gemini South telescope in Chile are the best yet of the recently discovered comet. They show a wide coma of dust and gas around the ice ball as it speeds closer toward the sun, and also a tail that’s more extended than it was in previous shots. The National Space Foundation’s NOIRLab says these new images confirm that the comet is becoming more active as it plows harmlessly through our solar system. It’s only the third known interstellar object to venture our way.