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Rapid City Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Haines Avenue Shooting
RAPID CITY, S.D. — According to The Rapid City Post, Derrek Brave Heart, 30, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the February 2024 shooting death of 43-year-old Jonathan Odom outside a Family Dollar on Haines Avenue in Rapid City. A Pennington County jury convicted Brave Heart of first-degree manslaughter in March 2025 after prosecutors argued he escalated a confrontation rather than de-escalating it. Video evidence showed Brave Heart threatening to shoot Odom after being slapped, then firing as Odom backed away. During sentencing, Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Gina Nelson described the killing as one driven by ego and anger, rejecting Brave Heart’s claim of self-defense.
Teen Arrested After High-Speed Chase; State Launches Maternal Health Task Force
SUMMERSET, S.D. – Summerset police arrested 18-year-old John Perez of Piedmont on Saturday after a high-speed chase that began when he allegedly fled a traffic stop on Sturgis Road; the pursuit ended at Sacora Station where Perez, who had a suspended license and an active warrant, was taken into custody without incident.
Remote Yard Waste Sites and Curbside Collection Reopen
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City’s remote yard waste disposal sites and curbside yard waste collection have reopened, with containers now available at Fitzgerald Stadium and the West Boulevard North facility for yard waste, plastic, and cardboard recycling. City officials remind residents that trash dumping is prohibited, all items must be placed inside the designated containers, and the remote sites are for residential use only, with commercial dumping strictly prohibited.
Health Department Forms Task Force to Address Maternal, Infant Deaths
PIERRE, S.D. —The South Dakota Department of Health has launched a task force aimed at reducing preventable maternal and infant deaths across the state. Health official Katelyn Strasser said nearly two-thirds of sleep-related infant deaths occurred in adult beds, highlighting the need for safer sleep practices. The task force is focusing on ways to support young mothers and reduce associated risks. A set of recommendations is expected to be released by September.
City May Owe Money for 2024 Spirit of Sturgis TT Race Expenses
STURGIS, S.D. — The city of Sturgis may owe money for expenses related to the 2024 Spirit of Sturgis TT race, though the exact amount is still being determined. City officials and representatives from American Flat Track-Events (AFT) have been discussing shared costs since January, according to the Rapid City Post. The race, which took place in downtown Sturgis last August, initially faced opposition when citizens voted to nullify the original contract. Afterward, a new contract was created, promising no taxpayer risk, but the race still lost money. AFT officials estimate expenses between $500,000 to $700,000. Sturgis Mayor Kevin Forrester has requested an itemized list of expenses, which he has not yet received.
Public Voting Opens for ‘Water Sustains Us’ Photo Contest
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The City’s Water Division has opened voting for the ‘Water Sustains Us’ photo contest, which garnered 39 submissions from the public. The contest, held in conjunction with the American Water Works Association’s Drinking Water Week (May 4-10), allows the public to vote for their favorite photo at City Hall through Friday, May 9. A ‘People’s Choice’ award will be determined by public vote, while a committee including Mayor Jason Salamun and Water Superintendent Eric Boyda will select the ‘First Place’ winner. City employees also submitted an additional dozen photos, and a ‘Best in Show’ winner will be chosen. The contest aims to raise awareness about the importance of drinking water in Rapid City, with winners announced on May 12. The ‘People’s Choice’ winner will receive a South Dakota State Park 2025 Entrance License.
Meade County Sheriff Investigates Construction Equipment Damage
MEADE COUNTY, S.D. — The Meade County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident at a construction site where equipment was damaged. According to a social media post, the incident occurred at a campground site where work was being done to install potable water, though the location of the campground was not disclosed. Photos shared by the sheriff’s office show a backhoe and a smaller Bobcat-style tractor driven into a trench intended for laying pipe. Authorities are still searching for the suspect or suspects and are urging anyone with information to come forward. No details on the extent of the damage to the equipment have been provided.
New salmonella outbreak is linked to backyard poultry, CDC says
NEW YORK (AP) — At least seven people in six states have been infected in a new salmonella outbreak tied to backyard poultry, health officials reported Monday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified two cases in Missouri and one each in Florida, Illinois, South Dakota, Utah, and Wisconsin. The cases were reported in February and March of 2025, and all affected individuals tested positive for the same strain of salmonella, which has previously been linked to hatcheries. The CDC’s investigation into the outbreak is ongoing. Salmonella infections cause an estimated 1.35 million illnesses annually in the U.S., with recent outbreaks tied to various food sources and animals. Chickens and other backyard poultry are known to carry the bacteria even when they appear healthy, making them a particular concern for public health. A previous backyard poultry-related outbreak in 2024 resulted in 470 cases and one death across 48 states.
Ahead of the conclave, Vatican staff vow secrecy under threat of excommunication
VATICAN CITY (AP) — All Vatican personnel involved in supporting the upcoming papal conclave must take an oath of secrecy — under penalty of automatic excommunication. The ceremony on Monday, mandated by Vatican law and revised by Pope Benedict XVI, includes clerics and lay staff alike: cooks, cleaners, doctors, nurses and security officials. Nearly 135 cardinal electors will gather in the Sistine Chapel, beginning on Wednesday, to vote in secret for Pope Francis’s successor. The oath, which explicitly forbids recording or disclosing anything from within the conclave, underscores the Church’s insistence on confidentiality. Cardinals are bound by their own rules of secrecy. They will take their oaths on Wednesday.
Israel launches airstrikes on Yemen a day after Houthi rebels strike Israeli airport
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military says it has carried out airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen’s Red Sea province of Hodeida. They come a day after the Iranian-backed rebels launched a missile that hit Israel’s main airport. The rebels’ media office said the United States and Israel launched at least six strikes Monday afternoon that hit the crucial Hodeida port. The rebels said other strikes hit a cement factory in the Bajil district in Hodeida province, killing one and wounding 35 others. On Sunday, a missile launched by Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen briefly halted flights and commuter traffic at Israel’s main international airport. Four people were lightly injured.
