The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 5 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Rapid City Council Delays Decision on Church’s Homeless Shelter Appeal
RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Rapid City Council has tabled discussion on a local church’s appeal for a conditional use permit to shelter homeless people. First Presbyterian Church’s permit was denied by the city’s planning commission last month. Those opposed to the plan cite safety concerns and decreased traffic for nearby businesses. Mount Rushmore Road Group President Debra Jensen says while the church’s ideas were well-intentioned, she disagreed with their request. The council will revisit the issue at a later date.
House Health Committee Supports Increased Respite Care Funding for Dementia Caregivers
PIERRE, S.D. – The House Health Committee backed respite care funding Tuesday in Pierre after emotional testimony from dementia caregivers. The bill provides $500,000 to help families care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s. The state currently spends $1 million yearly on caregiver support. An Alzheimer’s Association official says 27,000 South Dakotans provide unpaid care. The measure now heads to the Joint Appropriations Committee.
Rapid City Man Arrested for Threatening South Dakota Governor
PIERRE, S.D. – A 28 year old man from Rapid City man has been arrested for threatening South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden. Hudson Wheeler was arrested Monday (Feb. 3, 2025) and charged with one felony count of Threatening or Intimidating a Person Holding Statewide Office. Attorney General Marty Jackley said an investigation led by the Division of Criminal Investigation indicated it was Wheeler that made threatening telephone calls to the Governor’s Office. Wheeler made first court appearance Tuesday (Feb. 4, 2025) in Pennington County Circuit Court and is being held on a $25,000 cash only bond. His next court appearance was scheduled for Feb. 19, 2025. Wheeler faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. He is presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution. Jackley said disagreement regarding government action or inaction is our right, however threats of any kind against public officials should not be tolerated.
Trump’s Gaza plan has stunned the region. Here’s a look at the serious obstacles it faces
President Donald Trump’s proposal to forcibly transfer hundreds of thousands of Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip and develop faces some major obstacle. The Palestinians don’t want to leave and the Arab world doesn’t want another refugee crisis. If Trump pushes ahead anyway, it could undermine the Gaza ceasefire, stop the release of hostages held by Hamas and further delay Israel’s hope-for normalization with Saudi Arabia. But there is another possibility: That Trump’s proposal is an opening gambit in a bargaining process aimed at eventually securing the kind of Middle East mega-deal he says he is seeking.
USPS has suspended parcels from Hong Kong and China. Here’s what it means for Shein and Temu
HONG KONG (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service said it was temporarily suspending inbound parcels from China and Hong Kong, effective Tuesday. The move comes a day after an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump came into effect. Canada and Mexico, which face 25% tariffs, managed to negotiate a month-long reprieve with the U.S. The USPS move will likely impact Chinese e-commerce companies like Shein and Temu, which have in recent years gained e-commerce market share in the U.S for selling affordable clothing and other goods mostly from China. Costs are kept low as these firms often ship products to consumers directly from China, using a “de minimis” exemption that allowed shipments to go tax-free if the value is under $800.
Crews Recover All Victims From Deadly Midair Collision Over Potomac
Recovery crews at the site of last week’s tragic midair collision in Washington, DC, have recovered the remains of all 67 victims. The crash involved an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter conducting a training mission when they collided over the Potomac River. Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the accident. Additional parts of the plane were pulled from the river on Tuesday, aiding in the ongoing investigation. However, recovery efforts could be further hampered as Washington braces for severe weather, with snow, sleet, and freezing rain expected to worsen conditions today.
Sweden’s worst mass shooting leaves at least 11 dead, including the gunman
OREBRO, Sweden (AP) — Sweden’s worst mass shooting has left at least 11 people dead including the gunman and five seriously wounded at an adult education center. Police believe the perpetrator acted alone but haven’t said by early Wednesday if he was a student or what his motive may have been. Tuesday’s shooting occurred at a school on the outskirts of Orebro west of Stockholm. It offers primary and secondary educational classes for adults, Swedish-language classes for immigrants, vocational training and programs for people with intellectual disabilities. Gun violence at schools is very rare in Sweden.
