The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Two Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash North of Hill City
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Two people are dead following a single vehicle crash 10 miles north of Hill City, SD. At 10:12 p.m. Saturday evening, the driver of a 2003 Toyota 4Runner was traveling southbound on US 385 near mile marker 92. The vehicle went off the road to the right and rolled several times, coming to rest in the east ditch. Both occupants, a 22-year-old woman from Sturgis and a 22-year-old Deadwood man were ejected from the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries. The Department of Public Safety says it’s unknown who was driving the vehicle. They were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. The names of the people involved have not been released pending notification of family members. The crash is under investigation. (Full Story)
Piedmont Residents Raise Concerns Over Proposed Limestone Mine
PIEDMONT, S.D. — Dozens of people gathered at American Legion Post 311 to voice concerns about a proposed limestone mine in Piedmont. They say the state approved the operation without notifying local residents or government leaders in advance. Simon Contractors, a French-owned Wyoming-based materials and mining company, received state approval and secured agreements with private landowners to mine limestone on 10 parcels of land. Some area legislators are taking note of the situation and are planning to take a look at current mining rules at the upcoming session.(Full Story)
Rapid City Man Arrested Following Stolen Vehicle Incident
Black Hawk Burglary Suspect Detained at Gunpoint
RAPID CITY, S.D. — As deputies were concluding their investigation on North Haines, a report came in at 3 a.m. for a burglary in progress in the 6000 block of Peaceful Pines Drive in Black Hawk. A business owner discovered a suspect breaking into his establishment. The owner brandished a firearm and detained the suspect until deputies arrived. The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Rapid City resident Richard Boardman, was arrested and charged with burglary and taken to Meade County Jail. (Full Story)
U.S. 385 Construction Brings Mixed Impacts for Black Hills Businesses as Project Stays on Schedule
HILL CITY, S.D. — Kristen Kilcoin has seen both challenges and benefits from the U.S. 385 highway project in the central Black Hills. As the owner of Three Forks Campground, she noticed fewer tourists over the past two seasons due to road closures and delays. However, hosting construction workers has boosted her off-season revenue. The $72 million project, which began in 2024, aims to widen and improve safety on a 15-mile stretch of the highway. The goal is to reduce crashes by 50% by expanding shoulders and smoothing curves. The project is on schedule to finish in 2027, with major work completed by 2026, in time for the annual Sturgis rally in August. (Full Story)
Iran Protest Crackdown Death Toll Rises as Tensions With U.S. Escalate
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — At least 544 people have been killed and more than 10,600 detained during a nationwide crackdown on protests in Iran, according to activists, as Iranian officials warned that U.S. military forces and Israel would be considered legitimate targets if force is used to protect demonstrators. The unrest, which began Dec. 28 over the collapse of Iran’s currency and escalated into broader challenges to the country’s leadership, has been difficult to independently assess due to widespread internet and phone shutdowns. Iranian officials have not released overall casualty figures, while state media reported additional deaths among security forces. As protests continued in cities including Tehran and Mashhad, U.S. officials confirmed they are weighing possible responses, and international leaders and the United Nations urged restraint amid growing concern over civilian deaths and regional stability. (Full Story)
A $400,000 payout after Maduro’s capture is putting prediction markets in the spotlight
Prediction markets let people wager on anything from a basketball game to the outcome of a presidential election — and recently, the downfall of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Last week, an anonymous trader on Polymarket pocketed more than $400,000 after betting that Maduro would soon be out of office. The commercial use of prediction markets has skyrocketed in recent years, opening the door for people to wage their money on the likelihood of a growing list of future events. But in terms of government oversight in the U.S., the trades are categorized differently than traditional forms of gambling, raising questions about transparency and risk. (Full Story)
Google teams up with Walmart and other retailers to enable shopping within Gemini AI chatbot
NEW YORK (AP) — Google is expanding the shopping features in its AI chatbot by teaming up with Walmart, Shopify, Wayfair and other big retailers to turn the Gemini app into a virtual merchant as well as an assistant. An instant checkout function will allow customers to make purchases from some businesses and through a range of payment providers without leaving the Gemini chat they used to find products, according to Walmart and Google. The news was announced Sunday on the first day of the National Retail Federation’s annual convention in New York. The role of artificial intelligence in e-commerce and its impact on consumer behavior are expected to dominate the three-day event. (Full Story)
