The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Rapid City Unveils President Trump Statue, Declares May 3 “City of Presidents Day”
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Post reports that Visit Rapid City unveiled a new bronze statue of the 45th U.S. President, Donald J. Trump, on Saturday, May 3, as part of the City of Presidents sculpture project in downtown Rapid City. Mayor Jason Salamun marked the occasion by declaring it “City of Presidents Day,” praising the statues for telling the story of America. The statue, created by South Dakota artist Jim Maher, depicts Trump at a podium with a phone bearing the Twitter logo—an intentional detail reflecting Trump’s communication style. Maher, who has now sculpted 12 presidents for the project, said Trump’s hair was an engineering challenge. The statue, located at the corner of St. Joseph and 6th Street, was made possible by contributions from the Bradsky and Patton families and continues Rapid City’s tradition of honoring each U.S. president with a permanent downtown tribute.
Playground at Canyon Lake Park to close for turf installation
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Effective Monday, the playground at the west entrance of Canyon Lake Park will be closed to public access for three weeks for installation of new turf padding at the playground site. Crews from the City’s Parks Division will spend 7-10 days removing the wood chips and fabric layers and adding several inches of gravel. During the week of May 19–23, ForeverLawn of Hermosa will install a new turf padding surface on the site. The material is similar to turf used at Sioux Park and one of the Legacy Commons playground areas.
Residents raise concerns over proposed private airstrip in Meade County
STURGIS, S.D. — Several Meade County residents are voicing concerns about a proposed airstrip that would serve a new development at the southwest corner of Elk Creek Road and Haines Avenue. Landowners plan to attend the upcoming Meade County Commission meeting to express worries about privacy, noise, safety, and potential decreases in property values. The commission in March approved a preliminary plat for the development, where Infinity Properties, LLC is proposing 51 lots, including a community lot featuring the private airstrip. A public hearing for Infinity’s request to vacate a section line is scheduled for the commission’s May 13 meeting.
Overnight construction begins on U.S. Highway 385 near Sheridan Lake Road
HILL CITY, S.D. —Beginning today, construction is scheduled on U.S. Highway 385 near the intersection of Sheridan Lake Road to the north. Overnight activities will occur from the south end of Pactola Dam to Calumet Road, with crews working each week from Monday at 6 a.m. to Saturday at 5 p.m. This schedule will continue through Wednesday, July 30, 2025. While construction is underway, traffic will be controlled by flaggers 24 hours a day, and motorists should expect wait times of up to 15 minutes.
Goodbary and Porter Named South Dakota Mr. and Miss Basketball
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Griffen Goodbary of Sioux Falls Christian and Taaliyah Porter of Rapid City Stevens have been named South Dakota’s 2025 Mr. and Miss Basketball by Hansen-Anderson. Goodbary, a 6-foot-11 senior forward, led Sioux Falls Christian to the Class A boys state championship with 32 points and 18 rebounds in the title game and is committed to play at Drake University. Porter, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, averaged 22.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while becoming Rapid City Stevens’ all-time leading scorer with 1,667 career points. Both athletes were honored Sunday at the annual awards banquet in Sioux Falls.
Monument Health Rapid City Hospital earns top safety grade
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Monument Health Rapid City Hospital has received an “A” grade for hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog that evaluates hospitals based on their performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, infections, and accidents. The grade, released as part of Leapfrog’s Spring 2025 report, places Rapid City’s hospital among the top 30% of hospitals nationwide to earn the highest safety rating. Leapfrog assigns grades twice a year using more than 30 national performance metrics. This achievement reflects Monument Health’s commitment to patient safety and continuous improvement in healthcare excellence.
Man Brings Love and Adventure to Rapid City with ’50 Dates, 50 States’
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Matt Wernig, creator of the viral social media series 50 Dates, 50 States, made his way back to his hometown of Rapid City over the weekend for a special date featured in the third season of his show. Wernig, who has gained a following by going on a date with a different woman in each state, continued his journey in Rapid City with Kezley, a nursing student. The exciting date included a fun-filled day with activities like visiting Watiki Water Park Adult party, paintballing, go-karting, and attending a Kentucky Derby watch party at the Hotel Alex Johnson. Wernig’s series continues to inspire adventure, connection, and love across the country.and attending a Kentucky Derby watch party at the Hotel Alex Johnson. Wernig’s journey is a celebration of adventure, connection, and love, and he’s looking forward to what season three has in store.
More than 15,000 USDA employees take Trump administration’s early exit offer
WASHINGTON — More than 15,000 employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have accepted a financial incentive to leave their jobs under a voluntary separation program launched by the Trump administration. The initiative, aimed at reducing federal workforce size and reallocating resources, offered payouts to workers who opted for early retirement or resignation. The USDA said the departures are part of broader efforts to streamline operations and modernize services, though critics warn the exits could strain agency functions tied to food security, rural development, and agricultural research.
REAL ID enforcement for U.S. air travel begins May 7
WASHINGTON – Most adults flying in the U.S. starting May 7 will be required to present a passport or a state-issued ID that meets federal REAL ID standards. The policy, stemming from a law passed 20 years ago, could impact travelers who don’t yet have an upgraded license or passport, with roughly 1 in 5 passengers still using non-compliant IDs. In some states, limited or unavailable appointments are making it difficult to obtain the necessary documentation. While implementation has been delayed in the past, TSA spokesperson Dan Velez told the Associated Press there are no plans for another extension.
Israel plans to capture all of Gaza under new plan, officials say
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Two Israeli officials says ministers have approved a plan to capture the entirety of the Gaza Strip and remain in the territory for an unspecified amount of time. If carried out, the move would vastly expand Israel’s operations in the Palestinian territory and likely bring fierce international opposition. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing military plans. Israeli Cabinet ministers approved the plan in an early morning vote Monday, hours after the Israeli military chief said the army was calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers. The new plan would also push hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza. That would likely exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis.
