The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Rain or Shine: Hundreds Honor Fallen at Black Hills National Cemetery
STURGIS, S.D. — Hundreds of volunteers gathered on a rainy Saturday morning, May 25, at Black Hills National Cemetery to honor fallen service members by placing flags. The event was held in partnership with Military Honor Flags USA. Despite the inclement weather, a large contingent of community members turned out to participate in the solemn tribute. The volunteers systematically placed flags at gravesites throughout the cemetery, creating a striking visual display of remembrance. The initiative aimed to honor those who gave their lives in service to the country, providing a poignant display ahead of Memorial Day. Black Hills National Cemetery, located near Sturgis, serves as the final resting place for many veterans and their families from the Black Hills and surrounding areas of South Dakota.
Rapid City Reservoir to Undergo Maintenance Starting May 27
RAPID CITY, S.D — RCS Construction will begin recoating the Skyline Water Reservoir on Tuesday, May 27, as part of a preventative maintenance project to prevent corrosion and extend the life of the tank, according to the City of Rapid City. Located near Highway 16 and Enchantment Road, the reservoir will be out of service until July 1, though no interruption in water service is expected. Serving higher elevations in southern Rapid City, the reservoir will be drained for five weeks as crews apply multiple layers of coatings designed for drinking water systems. Project engineer John Leahy said the maintenance occurs every 10 to 15 years and will include disinfection and testing before the reservoir returns to service.
Student-Built Science: Spearfish Teens Help Monitor Airflow 4,850 Feet Underground at SURF
RAPID CITY, S.D. — High school students from Spearfish are making a real impact nearly a mile underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, where managing airflow is critical due to ambient rock temperatures exceeding 90 degrees. Since 2012, physics teacher Stephen Gabriel has guided student interns in deploying and maintaining a network of weather stations that monitor airflow, temperature, pressure, and humidity, providing vital data for SURF engineers. From repairing dusty sensors to coding data visualization tools, students like Charlie Nickles and Hollie Wise are gaining hands-on STEM experience and earning opportunities at elite programs like Caltech, all while contributing to the safe operation of America’s Underground Lab.
Advocates Oppose Drilling Near Sacred Lakota Sites in the Black Hills
RAPID CITY, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) – Two culturally significant Black Hills sites—Pe’ Sla and Craven Canyon—face potential disruption from proposed exploratory drilling projects, according to Native American and environmental advocacy groups. Pete Lien and Sons seeks to drill for graphite near Pe’ Sla, a sacred Lakota ceremonial site, while Canadian firm Clean Nuclear Energy Corp. plans to explore for uranium near Craven Canyon, an area rich in 7,000-year-old Indigenous history. NDN Collective and the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance oppose the projects, urging public comment as regulatory reviews continue. Company representatives say they are taking steps to minimize cultural impact.
Memorial Day Ceremonies Across the Black Hills Honor Fallen Service Members
Black Hills, S.D. — Communities across the Black Hills are holding ceremonies today to honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States. In Sturgis, the Black Hills National Cemetery is hosting two official events: a Foreign Legion-sponsored ceremony at 11 a.m., followed by a Native American Veterans Commemoration Ceremony at 1 p.m. In Rapid City, the Black Hills War Monument Association is holding a ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Black Hills War Monument in Memorial Park. These events are open to the public and provide a moment of reflection and gratitude for those who gave their lives in military service.
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hosts Memorial Day Motorcycle Fundraiser for Veterans
DEADWOOD, S.D. — Deadwood was alive with activity over Memorial Day Weekend as the Deadwood Mountain Grand hosted a motorcycle fundraiser benefiting the Sacred Mountain Retreat Center, a sanctuary dedicated to supporting veterans. The event drew riders and visitors from across the region, featuring a live performance by local artist Brandon Jones that energized the crowd. Alongside the fundraiser, the nearby Outlaw Square continued its summer kickoff concerts with performances from Ned Ledoux and Night Ranger, offering free live music to complement the weekend’s patriotic spirit. Together, these events brought the community together to honor veterans and celebrate the start of the summer season.
Russia and Ukraine complete prisoner swap hours after Moscow launches major aerial assault
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia and Ukraine have swapped hundreds more prisoners of war, the third and last part of a major swap and a rare moment of cooperation in otherwise failed efforts to reach a ceasefire. Each side brought home 303 more soldiers in Sunday’s exchange after each released a total of 307 combatants and civilians on Saturday, and 390 on Friday. The swap was the biggest since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and came just hours after Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv and other regions came under a massive Russian drone-and-missile attack that killed at least 12 people and injured dozens. Ukrainian officials sad the attack was the largest aerial assault of the war.
Texas Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Ten Commandments in Public School Classrooms, Heads to Governor’s Desk
AUSTIN, TEXAS— A Texas bill mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms has passed the state House and is expected to be signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott. The legislation requires a 16-by-20-inch framed or poster version of the Ten Commandments to be placed in a conspicuous location in each classroom by the 2025–2026 school year. Proponents argue that the Ten Commandments are foundational to U.S. law and education, while opponents cite concerns about religious freedom and historical context. The bill follows similar legislation in Louisiana, which was struck down by a federal judge in November 2024, and is expected to face legal challenges in Texas as well.
U.S.-Born Robert Prevost Becomes Pope Leo XIV, Raises Questions on Dual Citizenship
CHICAGO, I.L. — Robert Prevost, born in Chicago in 1955 and known as Pope Leo XIV, was elected leader of the Holy See and Vatican City in 2025, making him a rare U.S. citizen serving as a foreign head of state. Holding dual U.S. and Peruvian citizenship since 2015 after years as a missionary and bishop in Peru, Leo XIV now leads the Vatican, a tiny independent city-state established in 1929, and serves as the spiritual leader for about 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. While U.S. law does not automatically strip citizenship from Americans who become foreign heads of state, legal experts say it is highly unlikely he will lose his citizenship. The unique situation raises questions about dual citizenship and diplomatic immunity, but most agree Leo XIV intends to emphasize his universal papal role rather than renounce his American nationality.
What’s open and closed on Memorial Day?
In what had long been celebrated every May 30 to honor America’s fallen soldiers, Memorial Day officially became a federal holiday in 1971, observed on the last Monday in May. Businesses increasingly have chosen to stay open on the holiday, leading to what is now one of the biggest retail sales and travel weekends of the year. Government offices, post offices and schools are closed, as is the stock market, banks and a handful of businesses. The vast majority of retailers will be open, with many trying to lure customers with big promotional sales.
