The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Spearfish Man Pleads Guilty in Drug Overdose Death
SPEARFISH S.D. — A Spearfish man pleaded guilty this week in connection with the drug overdose death of another man last year. Dan Lee Snyder was originally charged with second-degree murder. Instead, he pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death and ingestion of a controlled substance. The incident occurred in June of 2024 when authorities responded to a cabin for a report a drug overdose victim. The victim died from heroin and fentanyl toxicity. Snyder will be sentenced on July 29th.
Tight Race in Rapid City School Board Election May Trigger Recount
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Voters in the Rapid City Area School District selected two races Tuesday in Area 3 and Area 6. With votes from both Pennington and Meade County combined, Jamie Clapham defeated Brian Johnson by just three votes in Area 6, 546 to 543. That three-vote margin is eligible for a recount. In Area 3, Angela Bradsky Rafferty defeated Michael Birkeland. In the Meade 46-1 School District, Justin Jutting, Lee Spring and Tim Amdahl won three open seats on that board.
South Dakota Pheasant Harvest Hits 13-Year High
STURGIS, S.D. — South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks officials say the 2024 pheasant hunting season saw the highest harvest numbers in over a decade. Over 1.3 million roosters were harvested, the highest in 13 years. An additional 380,000 pheasants were harvested on private shooting preserves. Officials say the average hunter bagged around nine birds for the season.
Rapid City Council to Review Vision Fund Recommendations at Special Meeting
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Council will hold a special meeting for discussion and possible action on community and City projects recommended for Vision Funds. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 9 in Council Chambers of City Hall. The City’s Vision Fund Citizens Committee will provide a presentation with recommended projects for consideration by the Council for Vision Fund resources. The Vision Fund Citizen Committee has been meeting since March, and is recommending a list of 14 projects for the next cycle of vision funding.
Rapid City Hospital Waives $77K Bill for Out-of-State Heart Attack Patient
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A holiday trip to the Black Hills took a serious turn for 62-year-old Hans Wirt of Florida when he suffered a heart attack while visiting Rapid City on Christmas Day. Thanks to the quick response at Monument Health, Wirt received life-saving care, but he was later billed nearly $78,000 because his Florida Medicaid coverage wasn’t accepted directly. In a positive turn of events, Monument Health reviewed Wirt’s case and, following further communication, applied its charity care policy to cover the full amount of the bill. Though Medicaid rules vary by state, and hospitals are not required to bill out-of-state Medicaid programs, Monument’s decision highlights its commitment to compassionate care—especially in times of emergency. Wirt’s story serves as a reminder of both the challenges and the generosity that can surface in the healthcare system. Local providers like Monument Health continue to prioritize patient wellbeing, reinforcing their role as a vital part of the Rapid City community.
Dave Hollenbeck Named Head Boys Basketball Coach at West Central High School
HARTFORD,S.D. — West Central High School has officially announced the hiring of Dave Hollenbeck as its new head boys basketball coach, pending board approval. Hollenbeck brings a remarkable 532–156 career record from his 29 years at St. Thomas More High School in Rapid City, where he led teams to four state championships, 16 state tournament appearances, and 19 conference titles. Known for building disciplined, high-character teams, he has coached four South Dakota Mr. Basketball award winners and sent 18 players to college-level programs. Superintendent Eric Knight praised Hollenbeck’s legacy and leadership, while Hollenbeck expressed excitement to join the Trojan community and continue shaping student-athletes both on and off the court.
Authorities Seek Public’s Help in Locating Washington Father Wanted in Daughters’ Deaths
Wenatchee, Wash. — A nationwide manhunt is underway for Travis Decker, 32, who is wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping following the deaths of his daughters—Paityn, 9; Evelyn, 8; and Olivia, 5—whose bodies were discovered near Rock Island Campground in Washington state on Monday. Authorities believe the girls died from asphyxiation, with court documents indicating their wrists were zip-tied. Decker, a former Army paratrooper with advanced survival training, is considered armed and dangerous. He was last seen driving a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup with Washington plates. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest. Anyone with information is urged to call 911 and not approach him.
Nebraska is the latest state to ban transgender students from girls’ sports
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has signed into law a measure banning transgender athletes from girls’ sports. Republicans behind the effort say it protects women and their ability to fairly compete in sports. Opponents say with so few transgender students seeking to participate in sports, the measure is a solution in search of a problem. At least 24 other states have adopted similar bans. President Donald Trump also signed an executive order this year intended to dictate which sports competitions transgender athletes can enter and has battled in court with Maine over that state’s allowing transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.
Trump Signs Travel Ban Affecting 19 Countries, Citing National Security
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday evening instituting a travel ban on 12 countries and imposing partial restrictions on seven others, citing national security concerns. The full ban targets nations with weak vetting processes or high visa overstay rates, such as Afghanistan and Myanmar, while countries like Cuba and Venezuela face limited entry restrictions. The policy includes exceptions for lawful permanent residents, certain visa holders, and diplomatic travelers. Officials say the move is intended to reduce foreign threats, following a recent attack in Colorado and increasing concerns over inadequate information sharing from certain countries.
FDA to Review Safety of Abortion Drug Mifepristone Following New Study
WASHINGTON — On June 4, 2025, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced the agency will reassess the safety of the abortion pill mifepristone in light of a new study highlighting possible risks. The study, cited by Senator Josh Hawley, analyzed nearly 866,000 mifepristone abortions between 2017 and 2023 and reported that almost 11% of women experienced serious complications such as sepsis, infection, or hemorrhaging. Although the findings have not been peer-reviewed, they suggest higher complication rates than currently listed on the FDA label. Makary affirmed the agency’s commitment to a data-driven review with FDA career scientists, while noting that the FDA continuously monitors the safety of approved medications.
Trump says Putin told him that Russia will respond to Ukrainian attack on airfields
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump says he’s spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that the Russian leader told him “very strongly” that he will respond to Ukraine’s weekend drone attack on Russian airfields. The conversation played out Wednesday as the deadlock over the war drags on. Trump said in a social media post that his lengthy call with Putin “was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace.” It’s the first time Trump has weighed in on Ukraine’s daring attack inside Russia. A Russian official characterized the call as “positive and quite productive.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says talks haven’t brought a reliable peace and urged more pressure on Russia.
