The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
South Dakota Lawmakers Advance Single Property Tax Relief Measure
PIERRE, S.D. — State lawmakers came into this year’s legislative session dead set on bringing property tax relief. The renewed call is part of a multi-year effort to address skyrocketing home values resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the multiple property tax relief ideas proposed this legislative session—lawmakers advanced only one. It’s a proposal crafted by Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden and a working group of state lawmakers. It tamps down assessment growth to three percent for five years, as well as limits the amount taxing districts can capture during that same timeframe. The package also increases income limits for those who qualify for a property tax freeze.
South Dakota House Rejects Bill for Airport Expansion Funding
PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota House of Representatives is rejecting a bill that would have allocated state money to help fund airport terminal expansion projects. SB 127 appropriates taxpayer dollars into a new, one-time fund. Airports could then apply for grants from the funding pool to support terminal expansion projects. It became a tough sell in a tight budget year. The debate on the House floor quickly turned to whether the state should be funding a private entity to see economic growth in South Dakota. For some, using taxpayer dollars to fund a private corporation was a sticking point.
Gov. Rhoden Signs Government Accountability Bills
PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said he applauds the cooperation that has led to the signing of the four Government Accountability bills that he proposed this legislative session. Gov. Larry Rhoden signed the four bills Wednesday during a bill- signing ceremony attended by Attorney General Jackley, his legislative team, State Auditor Rich Sattgast, State Treasurer Josh Haeder, and members of the Governor’s staff. The bills had earlier passed both the House and Senate.
U.S. Pushes for Ceasefire as Diplomatic Talks Begin in Moscow
MOSCOW — A U.S. envoy arrived in Moscow on Thursday for talks on a proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, which has been accepted by Kyiv but met with skepticism from Russian officials. The diplomatic push comes as Russia claims to have recaptured the town of Sudzha in the Kursk border region, though the claim remains unverified. President Donald Trump has urged Russia to agree to the ceasefire, warning of potential sanctions if it refuses. While Kremlin officials have expressed concerns that a truce would allow Ukraine to regroup, they have also signaled openness to a long-term settlement. With Ukraine eager to move toward peace and the U.S. maintaining pressure on Moscow, negotiations continue in hopes of halting the conflict.
Israel Targets Palestinian Islamic Jihad Command Center in Syria Airstrike
DAMASCUS, Syria — Israel’s military carried out an airstrike on the outskirts of Syria’s capital on Thursday, targeting a residential building it claimed was a command center for the militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad. A member of the group at the scene said in a statement that the strike hit a home that had been empty for years, belonging to the group’s leader. Local paramedics reported that three people were wounded. Meanwhile, United Nations-backed experts accused Israel of using systematic sexual and gender-based violence in its war against Hamas in Gaza, a claim Israel has denied, calling the commission biased. Negotiations over a truce and the release of Israeli hostages continue in Qatar, though no breakthrough has been made.
Stock Market Struggles Amid Trade War Tensions and Economic Uncertainty
NEW YORK — U.S. stocks were volatile Thursday, even after receiving positive economic news. The S&P 500 was down 0.3% as President Donald Trump escalated his trade war, threatening 200% tariffs on European wines if the European Union doesn’t retract tariffs on U.S. whiskey. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 54 points, or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.5%. Despite concerns over tariffs, reports of milder-than-expected inflation and a solid job market provided some reassurance. However, uncertainty over the future of tariffs and their economic impact continued to weigh on markets. Some stocks in the AI sector, including Palantir Technologies, dropped, while Intel surged 16.4% after naming a new CEO.
Pope marks the 12th anniversary of his papacy hospitalized but with condition improving
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis marked the 12th anniversary of his papacy Thursday with increasingly positive medical updates four weeks into his hospitalization for double pneumonia. The pope spent another tranquil night, the Vatican said in its brief morning statement. A chest X-ray confirmed improvements, the Vatican said on Wednesday, just two days after days after doctors declared he’s no longer in imminent danger of death. The latest medical bulletin said that the 88-year-old pope’s condition remained stable, but indicated a complex picture considering his overall fragility.
