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Woman Arrested on DUI Charges Following Crash Near Haines and Anamosa
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Police say a 27-year-old woman was arrested following a crash near Haines Avenue and Anamosa Street Sunday afternoon. Police say Veronica Perez was driving a silver Mazda passenger vehicle when it crashed and became immobilized on a retaining wall. Police say Perez walked away from the crash but was located a short time later. Police located a used can of air duster inside the vehicle and after speaking with witnesses, learned Perez had run a red light at a high rate of speed and struck an S-U-V before leaving the roadway. At the conclusion of a DUI investigation, it was determined Perez was too impaired to safely operate a motor vehicle. She was ultimately placed under arrest for DUI, Reckless Driving, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Failure to Obey Traffic Signal, Driving Under Suspension, No Proof of Insurance, and a Probation Hold. She was subsequently transported to the Pennington County Jail. (Full Story)
109th Engineer Battalion Welcomed Home After Border Deployment
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The South Dakota National Guard formally welcomed home the Rapid City-based 109th Engineer Battalion during a ceremony Sunday, Jan. 11, at the Range Road Armory. The event honored approximately 50 Soldiers for their successful completion of a 13-month deployment to the U.S. southern border. The 109th supported Joint Task Force–Southern Border, providing critical military capabilities to enhance the detection and deterrence of illegal crossings. (Full Story)
Robert Gusinsky Sworn In as South Dakota Supreme Court Justice
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Former Circuit Judge Robert Gusinsky is officially a State Supreme Court Justice. Gusinsky was sworn in at the Pennington County courthouse over the weekend with Governor Larry Rhoden in attendance. Rhoden said Gusinsky will strengthen the court with a unique perspective and will protect freedom with integrity and fairness. Gusinsky was born in Soviet-era Latvia and worked as an airline pilot before beginning his career in law. In an acceptance speech, Gusinsky stressed the importance of fostering real friendships in an increasingly digital world. (Full Story)
South Dakota Lawmakers Begin 101st Legislative Session
RAPID CITY, S.D. — South Dakota lawmakers gather in Pierre today to begin the 101st Legislative session. The budget is tight, just as it has been for the last few years, with revenues falling below budget projections. There’s also a push to provide property tax relief that would cut into revenues even deeper. A special task force has recommended a number of ideas, but Appropriations Co-Chair Ernie Otten doesn’t expect most of them to survive. All four Republican candidates for Governor have also offered plans to reduce property taxes. (Full Story)
Rapid Transit System Reports Continued Ridership Growth in 2025
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid Transit System (RTS) has released its 2025 ridership report, reflecting ridership on the City’s public transit buses continues to spike upward, both in terms of youth ridership and overall passenger trips. A total of 273,851 passenger trips were recorded by Rapid Transit System in 2025, including Rapid Ride and Dial-A-Ride buses. The number is a six percent increase over the 2024 ridership numbers (258,131) and a 13 percent increase from 2023 ridership (237,619). Nearly 82,000 more passenger trips were recorded on RTS buses in 2025 than were recorded in 2021 (191,922), a 30 percent increase. (Full Story)
City Issues Correction on Utility Payment Mailer Phone Number
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The City’s Public Works Department is issuing a correction to a recent mailer containing an incorrect telephone number. The mailer notified City utility customers of the pending discontinuation of the ‘Sure Pay’ payment option. The mailer included an incorrect telephone number for City utility customers seeking additional information or with questions. Customers with questions or seeking additional information about the pending action are advised to call the City’s Call Center at 605-791-5577. The discontinuation of the ‘Sure Pay’ option is part of a significant upgrade to the City’s payment system, expanding payment options and improving convenience for customers. (Full Story)
Iran Protest Crackdown Death Toll Rises as Tensions With U.S. Escalate
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has arrived at a delicate moment as he weighs whether to order a U.S. military response against the Iranian government over its crackdown on protests. Trump has repeatedly threatened Tehran with military action if the Islamic Republic was found using deadly force against antigovernment protesters. But now, with Iranian officials indicating they want to have talks with the White House about the protests, the U.S. military appears to be on standby mode. Trump said Monday he would slap 25% tariffs on countries doing business with Tehran, a move that could affect China, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. (Full Story)
Thousands of nurses go on strike at several major New York City hospitals
NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses at several major New York City hospitals have gone on strike. The strike began Monday morning after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield a breakthrough. The affected hospitals include NewYork-Presbyterian, Montefiore and Mount Sinai. The union says about 15,000 nurses are participating in the strike. Among the nurses’ demands are manageable workloads and more workplace security. Hospitals say the union’s demands are too costly. (Full Story)
Wall Street Reaches New Highs Despite Fed Independence Concerns
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks closed at record levels Monday, rebounding from recent losses tied to concerns over tensions between the White House and the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% to a new all-time high, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 86 points to set its own record, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.3%. Markets showed some lingering caution as gold prices rose and the U.S. dollar weakened amid worries about the Fed’s independence following remarks from Chair Jerome Powell about a Justice Department subpoena related to testimony on Fed building renovations. Walmart and Alphabet helped lift the market, while credit card companies declined after President Donald Trump said he wanted to cap credit card interest rates. Treasury yields briefly rose before easing, and global markets were mixed, with gains in Asia offset by modest moves in Europe. (Full Story)
