The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Rapid City Voters Decide Fate of LibertyLand Tax Increment Financing District
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Voters in Rapid City head to the polls today to vote on a Tax Increment Finance District that would fund, among other things, a proposed entertainment venue known as LibertyLand and a sports complex. A yes vote in the election supports the creation of the TIF district, while a no vote opposes the city’s resolution to establish the financing mechanism for the project. Polling locations across Rapid City open at 7:00am. and will remain available to voters until 7:00pm. (Full Story)
Donation Drive Continues for 911 Cell Phone Bank in Rapid City
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Area residents are reminded they can donate cell phones, tablets, chargers and cords for the 911 Cell Phone Bank. Collection boxes have been set up in the lobby of Rapid City Hall at 300 Sixth Street, the Public Safety Building at 300 Kansas City Street and the new Pennington County Administration Building on Concourse Drive. The used items will be repaired, refurbished, recycled and securely erased, then provided to partnering agencies to be given to victims of violent crimes. The Pennington County Sheriff’s Victim Specialists are sponsoring the donation drive. The deadline for dropping off cell phones and accessories is late January. (Full Story)
Rapid City Regional Airport Sets New Passenger Record in 2025
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Regional Airport closed 2025 with the highest passenger enplanement total in its history, marking continued growth in air travel demand to and from the Black Hills. During the calendar year, 452,195 passengers boarded flights at the airport, surpassing the previous record of 427,325 set in 2024. The increase represents 5.8 percent year-over-year growth in enplanements. Since 2023, airport enplanements are up nearly 100,000 passengers, a 28.3 percent increase. Including both arriving and departing travelers, the airport served 905,211 total passengers in 2025, up 5.7 percent from the prior year. (Full Story)
Early Legislative Deadlock Emerges Over Control of South Dakota’s Future Fund
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The South Dakota Legislature is four days into its 2026 session, but an early deadlock over economic development policy has already exposed a growing divide between lawmakers and the governor’s office over who should control high-dollar investment decisions. At issue is who sets the rules for the state’s Future Fund — lawmakers through statute, or the governor through executive authority. The question affects how quickly the state can act, how much oversight lawmakers have, and who is ultimately accountable for major economic development decisions. Lawmakers return to Pierre today after having Martin Luther King Jr. Day off yesterday. (Full Story)
100 vehicles pile up in Michigan crash as snowstorm moves across the country
HUDSONVILLE, Mich. (AP) — More than 100 vehicles smashed into each other or slid off the interstate in Michigan as snow fueled by the Great Lakes blanketed the state. The massive pileup Monday prompted the Michigan State Police to close both directions of Interstate 196 just southwest of Grand Rapids. The State Police say there were numerous injuries but no deaths reported. The crash is just the latest impact of the major winter storm moving across the country. The National Weather Service issued warnings about either extremely cold temperatures or the potential for winter storms across several states. (Full Story)
Christian leaders urge protecting worshippers’ rights after protesters interrupt service
Several faith leaders are urgently calling for protecting the rights of worshippers while also expressing compassion for migrants. That’s after a group of anti-immigration enforcement protesters disrupted Sunday service at a Southern Baptist church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Trey Turner leads the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention to which Cities Church belong. He says churches should “provide compassionate pastoral care” migrant families affected by immigration enforcement, but “the sanctity of our houses of worship” must be respected too. The U.S. Department of Justice says it opened a civil rights investigation after a group of about three dozen protesters walked into the church during the service, loudly chanting. (Full Story)
Prince Harry says Daily Mail scoops made him ‘paranoid beyond belief’
LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry’s legal battle against British tabloids has entered its final round. His lawyer on Monday alleged that the Daily Mail engaged in unlawful information gathering for two decades. Harry claims this left him distressed and paranoid. The case also involves celebrities Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley. The trial in London’s High Court is expected to last nine weeks. Associated Newspapers denies the allegations, arguing that the claims are based on weak inferences. The defense also suggests that articles relied on “leaky” friends as sources. The privacy invasion case is the third lawsuit Harry has brought against the press. (Full Story)
