The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Five New Council Members to Be Sworn In at Rapid City Council Meeting
RAPID CITY, SD — Five newly elected members of the Rapid City Council will take their oaths of office at Monday’s meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Councilors Stephen Tamang, Bill Evans, Greg Strommen, Lance Lehmann, and Callie Meyer will begin their three-year terms. The meeting will also include the election of Council officers for the 2025-26 term and recognition of outgoing members Jesse Ham and Pat Roseland. The public is encouraged to attend the ceremony, which marks the transition to a new council lineup.
Justice Bus Brings Legal Aid to Rural South Dakota Communities
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A nonprofit has launched South Dakota’s first mobile legal aid office to improve access to civil legal services in rural and tribal areas of the state. Dakota Plains Legal Services used a $125,000 state grant to fund its Justice Bus program, which travels to communities like Pierre, Winner and Gregory, offering assistance with issues such as custody, protection orders and abuse or neglect cases. The Justice Bus aims to help residents in legal areas with few or no attorneys by providing on-the-spot aid and accepting applications at community events. The bus is scheduled to appear at Eagle Butte’s Hometown Days on July 17.
City Begins Cottonwood Tree Removal Project for Public Safety
RAPID CITY, SD — Crews with the Rapid City Parks Division have begun removing several aging Cottonwood trees near 32nd Street and Jackson Boulevard, adjacent to Jackson Park. The removal is necessary for public safety, according to City Urban Forester Jason Preble. The work will take several weeks and includes crown cleaning. While no traffic restrictions are expected, drivers and pedestrians are urged to be cautious around the area due to the presence of tree removal vehicles. City officials say the cleared area may eventually become an extension of the Jackson Park disc golf course.
LifeLight Hills Alive Marks 40th Anniversary with Stellar Lineup
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The free, two-day LifeLight Hills Alive Festival returns to Memorial Park on July 19–20, celebrating its 40th year with a vibrant mix of faith, fellowship and music. Headlining this year’s event are Sidewalk Prophets (Saturday) and Crowder (Sunday), supported by a diverse roster of Christian artists: Austin French, Stephen Stanley, Unspoken, Megan Danielle, Emerson Day, Rhett Walker, Eli Gable, Lo Cloud and Josh Brewer. The festival brings live performances, inspiring speakers, family-friendly activities, food trucks and local vendors, all aimed at sharing hope and renewal through worship in the heart of the Black Hills.
Camp Mystic ‘grieving the loss’ of 27 campers and counselors following catastrophic Texas floods
KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Camp Mystic says it is “grieving the loss” of 27 campers and counselors as the search continues for victims of catastrophic Texas flooding over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The statement from the camp adds another layer of heartbreak to the devastating flooding sent a wall of water through the century-old summer camp. The risk of life-threatening flooding is still high in central Texas with more rain on the way. And the urgent search for the missing continues Monday following the holiday weekend deluge that killed more than 80 people.
Trump, Netanyahu to Meet Again Amid Growing Pressure to End Gaza Conflict
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to meet for the third time this year, with the ongoing war in Gaza expected to top the agenda. The two leaders will discuss Israel’s 21-month military campaign against Hamas, as well as growing international pressure for a ceasefire. Trump has voiced a desire to bring the conflict to a close, especially in the aftermath of the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran. The White House sees the meeting as a potential catalyst for progress on a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal currently under discussion by Israel and Hamas. However, it remains uncertain whether the high-level talks will produce a breakthrough to end the long-running conflict.
Russia fires over 100 drones at Ukraine as Kremlin dismisses transport chief after travel chaos
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched over 100 drones targeting civilian areas in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials say at least 10 civilians were killed and 38 injured in the past 24 hours. Russia has intensified aerial strikes, deploying thousands of drones, missiles and bombs in recent weeks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced new deals with European allies and a U.S. defense company to boost drone production. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry says it shot down 91 Ukrainian drones overnight. President Vladimir Putin also dismissed his transportation minister after widespread flight disruptions caused by Ukrainian drone threats over the weekend.
Ozzy Osbourne says farewell to live performance with a hometown show for 40,000 fans
LONDON (AP) — Ozzy Osbourne has performed what he says is his final live show, thrilling 40,000 fans in Birmingham, England, on Saturday. The 76-year-old heavy metal icon sang from a black throne and reunited with Black Sabbath bandmates for the first time in 20 years. The band closed their set with the classic song “Paranoid.” The performance capped a day-long metal festival featuring acts including Metallica and Guns N’ Roses. Osbourne, who revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020, thanked fans, calling them “special.” Osbourne formed Black Sabbath in 1968 in Birmingham, a city that became the crucible of the British metal sceneKnown as a pioneer of heavy metal. He reached a new audience through the MTV reality show “The Osbournes.”