The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Rapid City man sentenced to nearly 20 years for child exploitation
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A 24-year-old Rapid City man, Aaron Williams Jr., was sentenced Monday to 235 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to attempted enticement of a minor and receipt of child pornography. Prosecutors said he arranged to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl, actually an undercover Pennington County investigator at a Taco Bell in Rapid City, and investigators later found more than 200 images and videos of child pornography on his phone, including material involving infants and toddlers. The sentencing came just one day after Williams completed probation from a 2023 conviction for possession of child pornography; he declined to speak in court before receiving the nearly 20-year sentence.
South Dakota Gasoline Prices Drop Slightly Over the Past Week
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Average gasoline prices in South Dakota have fallen 4.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.86/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 628 stations in South Dakota. Prices in South Dakota are 7.6 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 14.9 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. In Rapid City, average gasoline prices are around $3.10 with the cheapest prices being advertised at $2.83. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in South Dakota was priced at $2.54/g yesterday while the most expensive was $4.11/g, a difference of $1.57/g.
Deadwood Gaming Sees Slight Increase in August Revenue
DEADWOOD, S.D. — Gaming in Deadwood during August saw a slight increase of less than 1 percent when compared to August 2024. The state Gaming Commission says numbers were 0.68 percent higher than the previous year. While slot machine numbers were up only a quarter percent, the volume of play was the driving factor in the uptick. Table games increased 6.2 percent and sports wagering climbed 28.19 percent. Taxable gross revenue for August was just over $15 million with $1.352 million in gaming taxes.
Rapid Transit System Launches October Art Contest for New Bus Design
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid Transit System (RTS) is hosting an art contest during the month of October to select an art piece for display on one of their new buses. The theme of the art contest is simply ‘Public Transportation’ and is open to participants of all ages and the contest will run through the entire month of October. The winning selection will be displayed on the outside of a new Gillig bus, which will be in service later this year at RTS. Second and third place selections from the contest will be displayed on the inside of the new bus.
South Dakota Lottery Transfers Decline in Fiscal Year 2025
PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota state government is making less money from lottery games. Unaudited numbers released by the South Dakota Lottery showed the amounts being transferred went down for the fiscal year that ended June 30. The $177 million dollar transfers were down from the $179 million in 2024. Sales of scratch-off instant tickets sales declined 2.4% to $45.45 million, and the $6 million transferred to the general fund dropped 16.7%. Sales of jackpot lotto tickets plummeted 34% to $25.12 million.
Congress deadlocked as government shutdown deadline looms
WASHINGTON (AP) — With a government shutdown less than a day away, congressional leaders left a White House meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday without signs of compromise. Unless funding legislation is passed and signed by Tuesday night, many federal offices will close and nonessential employees will be furloughed. Democrats are demanding legislation to extend health care benefits, while Republicans are pushing a short-term bill to maintain current funding levels. “There are still large differences between us,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. Vice President JD Vance told reporters, “I think we’re headed into a shutdown because the Democrats won’t do the right thing.”
Four killed, eight wounded in Michigan church attack
GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A former Marine drove his pickup into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan on Sunday and opened fire, killing four people and wounding eight others before being killed in a shootout with police, authorities said. The attack happened as services began in the crowded sanctuary, where members pulled others to safety as smoke filled the building from a fire set by the gunman. Victims ranged in age from 6 to 78, and all the wounded are expected to recover, police said. Authorities identified the suspect as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton but did not say if he had ties to the church. The FBI is investigating the case as an act of targeted violence.
Trump and Netanyahu say they’ve agreed on a plan to end the Gaza war. Hamas is now reviewing it
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has laid out a 20-point proposal that would end the war in Gaza and free remaining hostages. It is supported by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who met with Trump at the White House on Monday. Hamas is now reviewing the proposal, which leans heavily into conditions the militants have previously rejected. The U.S. president has become increasingly frustrated by the bloody conflict. He seems to be betting that the militants are now so decimated that they have no choice but to accept what he and Netanyahu are framing as a last, best offer.