The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Reptile Gardens Reopens Following Fire Damage
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Reptile Gardens reopened Saturday just one day after a fire impacted parts of the attraction. However, only the Sky Dome and Show Building were open to visitors. Staff say they’ve been overwhelmed by the support shown throughout the community and are encouraging anyone wishing to help to show gratitude to local firefighters and first responders whose quick action prevented further damage. Reptile Gardens said on Facebook it will rebuild, honor the animals lost, and continue creating memories with the community.
Garage and Vehicle Destroyed in Bonna Villa Drive Fire
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A large structure fire in the 3400 block of Bonna Villa Drive destroyed a detached garage and a vehicle inside Friday morning, according to the Rapid City Fire Department. Crews were dispatched to the fire just before 7 a.m. and arrived to find the detached garage fully involved in heavy fire, with a significant column of smoke visible from a distance. The intensity of the blaze required firefighters to deploy three hose lines to bring the incident under control. The garage and one vehicle stored inside were heavily damaged. Firefighters reported that two additional vehicles, a boat parked outside the structure, and a nearby shed also sustained damage.
Two Juveniles Arrested After Police Chase in Rapid City
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Two juveniles were arrested late last week after engaging in a brief police chase. The stop which initiated the chase began after officers noted a lack of license plates on the individuals’ vehicle near the intersection of Crestwood Dr. and Herman St, resulting in a brief pursuit, after which the vehicle stopped and both individuals fled briefly on foot before being caught by police. Police say a shotgun with a filed-off serial number was found inside the vehicle that the juveniles ran from. Both were entered into the channels of the juvenile justice system following this incident.
Attorney General Warns of Holiday Scam Increase
PIERRE, S.D. — State and local authorities are warning residents of scams as the holidays approach. State Attorney General Marty Jackley said technology makes scams more sophisticated than ever before. He says last year alone, they got about 82,000 complaints coming into the consumer division in South Dakota. Jackley said they moved forward on a lot of criminal cases. With that in mind, Jackley said it’s okay to ask for help when it comes to staying safe online. According to AARP, Americans lost $47 billion to identity fraud and scams in 2024 alone.
Wisconsin woman in 2014 Slender Man stabbing is missing
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Authorities say a Wisconsin woman who admitted to nearly stabbing a classmate to death in 2014 to please the horror character Slender Man is missing after she cut off an electronic monitoring device and left a group home. Madison police issued an alert Sunday for Morgan Geyser saying she was last seen around 8 p.m. the night before with an adult acquaintance. Police urged the public to call 911 if they see the 23-year-old woman. Geyser was placed in a group home after being granted conditional release from psychiatric hospital. She was sent there in 2018 after pleading guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide.
Israel says it killed a senior Hezbollah official in its first strike on Beirut in months
HARET HREIK, Lebanon (AP) — Israel has struck Lebanon’s capital for the first time since June, saying it killed Hezbollah’s chief of staff and warning the Iran-backed militant group not to rearm and rebuild. Sunday’s strike in Beirut was launched almost a year after a ceasefire ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war. Hezbollah confirmed the killing of Haytham Tabtabai and said the strike threatened an escalation of attacks. The strike came days before Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Lebanon. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said five people were killed and 25 wounded. Israeli airstrikes over southern Lebanon have intensified while it pressures Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah.
In Geneva, US and Ukraine officials report progress on ending Russia’s war but offer few specifics
GENEVA (AP) — Top U.S. and Ukrainian officials say they’ve made progress toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war. They discussed an American proposal for peace, which some European allies fear is too favorable to Moscow on Sunday in Geneva. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the talks as productive, but shared few details on what was discussed. He emphasized that the U.S. peace plan is a “living document” and that it would change. He also said any final agreement would need Russia’s approval. President Donald Trump criticized Ukraine for lacking gratitude for U.S. military aid. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for U.S. efforts. The U.S. proposal has sparked concern in Kyiv and European capitals for conceding to Russian demands.
