The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Rape and Drug Distribution
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Jordan Thayer, 39, of Rapid City, has been sentenced to 12 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary after pleading guilty to fourth degree rape and distribution of a controlled substance to a minor. The charges stem from crimes committed in 2022 and 2023 involving a 15-year-old girl, whom Thayer exploited by supplying methamphetamine and using physical force. Judge Heidi Linngren emphasized Thayer’s history of drug convictions and his failure to address addiction, which prosecutors said fueled his criminal behavior. While Thayer’s attorney argued he did not know the victim’s age, prosecutors said his actions left lasting harm, and the sentence reflects accountability and a clear warning against such conduct.
Attorney General Jackley Pushes to Use Opioid Settlement Funds Locally
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is collaborating with the mayors of Rapid City and Sioux Falls to use funds from opioid manufacturer settlements to help treat addiction locally. Jackley says lawsuits filed by his office have produced $79 million in settlements, and some of that money will be directed to city programs that support people struggling with addiction.
USD Athlete Represents Native Voices at NCAA Summit
RAPID CITY, S.D. — University of South Dakota track and field athlete Matayah Yellow Mule, a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation and first-generation college student, was among a select group of Native student-athletes invited to the NCAA’s first-ever Native Student-Athlete Summit in Indianapolis. The event focused on the underrepresentation of Native Americans in college athletics — less than one percent nationwide — and provided workshops and networking opportunities to build community and share experiences. Yellow Mule, who credits USD’s Native Student Services and athletics program for support on her journey, has earned multiple top finishes at Summit League championships and holds school records in the long jump. Her participation highlights the NCAA’s effort to raise visibility and support for Native athletes, especially in Division I programs where only 544 Native student-athletes compete among more than 190,000 participants.
Statewide Data Center Outage Disrupts Pennington County Services
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A power outage at South Dakota’s Data Center in Pierre on Wednesday disrupted state-hosted services and network communications, causing problems in Pennington County offices. The Treasurer’s Office reported limited access to motor vehicle transactions, while the state judicial system suspended all deadlines, time schedules, due dates, and filing requirements until the outage could be resolved.
Ribbon Cutting Scheduled for Rapid City Water Booster Pump Station
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun and community leaders will attend the ribbon cutting for the Shepherd Hills Regional Water Booster Pump Station on Tuesday, August 26, at 10 a.m. The booster pump station, which went online in April, provides high-quality water to one of the city’s fastest-growing areas and supports continued development.
Recently Closed South Dakota Newspapers Revived
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Several shuttered newspapers in South Dakota are set to publish again after new owners stepped in to save them from closure, preventing communities from becoming “news deserts.” Champion Media, a North Carolina-based company, has purchased four South Dakota papers including the Huron Plainsman and Brookings Register, inviting all staff to return. The move comes just weeks after Illinois-based News Media Corporation announced the closure of 31 outlets across five states. Industry experts say the quick rescue is rare, as many rural towns rely on local papers for news and legal notices. Benjamin Chase, managing editor of the Plainsman, said the South Dakota papers remain profitable with strong readership, noting their combined circulation is around 10,000. Community members and publishers alike called the revival a win for civic engagement and local journalism in South Dakota.
Israel approves settlement project that could divide the West Bank
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel has given final approval for a controversial settlement project that would effectively cut the occupied West Bank in two. Palestinians and rights groups say it could destroy hopes for a future Palestinian state. On Wednesday, the project received final approval. The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank to be illegal and an obstacle to peace. The E1 settlement project is significant because it would block a potential direct route between Ramallah and Bethlehem. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich cast the approval as a rebuke to Western countries that announced their plans to recognize a Palestinian state in recent weeks.
Villagers offer harrowing accounts of one of the deadliest attacks in Sudan’s civil war
CAIRO (AP) — When rebels stormed into a village last month in Sudan, they gunned down civilians in their homes or as they tried to flee. At least 200 people were killed in the village of Shaq al-Noum, including many women and children. Witnesses told The Associated Press that hundreds of fighters rampaged through the community, burning houses and shooting at fleeing residents. The attack was part of a larger civil war in Sudan, which began in 2023 due to tensions between military leaders and the RSF. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.
World Boxing will require sex testing for fighters before world championships in September
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The governing body for Olympic-style boxing will require sex testing for all fighters wishing to compete in the women’s division at its world championships next month. World Boxing already had announced its plan to require competitors to undergo a polymerase chain reaction test or an equivalent genetic screening test to determine their sex at birth. It announced Wednesday that the rules will be implemented ahead of the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, England, in early September. The tests identify the presence or absence of Y chromosome genetic material as the indicator of biological sex.
Scientists get a rare peek inside of an exploding star
NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists have gotten a rare peek into a dying star, exposing its interior as it exploded. The most massive stars go out with a bang in explosions called supernovas. They tend to jumble up a dying star’s layers, making it hard for scientists to observe its inner structure. Researchers recently observed a supernova explosion that revealed a dying star’s innermost layers of silicon and sulfur, providing a rare look at how stars look toward the end of their lives. The findings were published Wednesday in the journal Nature.