The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Faith Couple Arrested in Life Insurance Fraud Case
FAITH, S.D. – Meade County Sheriff Pat West and South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that two Faith residents have been arrested on two counts each of Theft by Deception. Justin Inghram, 65, and Sharmin Inghram, 53, are accused of misleading an insurance company regarding a payout on a life insurance policy of amounts exceeding $1,000. The two were arrested Monday in Faith, in cooperation with the Faith Police Department.
No New $2,400 Stimulus Checks: Officials Confirm Internet Rumors Are False
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rumors of new $2,400 stimulus checks for South Dakotans are false. The internet is full of false or misleading stories like this on a regular basis. That’s according to reporting by Northern Plains News. The IRS confirms there are no new federal stimulus payments in 2025. State officials say South Dakota’s budget surplus isn’t being used for cash handouts. The only ongoing federal payments are up to $1,400 for people who missed 2021 credits—but the deadline to file was April 15.
Monument Health Breaks Ground on New Emergency Campus in RC
RAPID CITY, S.D. – On Tuesday, Monument Health began construction by holding a ground breaking ceremony on a health care campus that will include a free-standing Emergency Department along the Interstate 90 corridor. The one-story, 16,750 square-foot facility will be equipped with full laboratory services, X-ray services, a CT scan, a covered ambulance garage, one trauma room, eight emergency exam rooms and two inpatient rooms. Construction is set to complete on the Mall Drive Campus in summer 2026.
City View Trolley Returns for Summer Tours in Rapid City
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rapid City’s City View Trolley returned this week and it’s an ideal way for visitors to get an overview of the city. The trolley takes people on a two-hour tour of Rapid City, visiting downtown landmarks, the West Boulevard Historic District, Dinosaur Park, Main Street Square and more. Tours run daily at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. through Oct. 3, with a new pickup location at the Rushmore Hotel. Tours run all season rain or shine.
South Dakota Civil Air Patrol Wing Honored with National Award
SPEARFISH, S.D. – The South Dakota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) has earned the prestigious National Commander’s Unit Citation for outstanding service in 2024, as reported by The Rapid City Post. Presented at the joint South Dakota Wing and North Central Region conference in Spearfish, the award recognizes key missions, including a missing person search with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, crash assessment with Global Strike Command, MQ-9 mission support with the 89th Attack Squadron, and an imagery mission for South Dakota Mines that produced over 786,000 images across 8,125 acres. With over 500 members and units across the state—including Rapid City, Custer, Spearfish, Pierre, Brookings, Tea, Sioux Falls, and a forming unit in Aberdeen—the wing is equipped to assist local, state, tribal, and federal agencies with aircraft, drones, and ground teams.
South Dakota’s Eminent Domain Ban Looms Large as Iowa Senate Advances Carbon Pipeline Restrictions
DES MOINES, Iowa – A controversial bill advancing in the Iowa Senate could significantly impact Summit Carbon Solutions’ $8.9 billion carbon pipeline project, which spans five Midwestern states, including South Dakota. The legislation, which now awaits Governor Kim Reynolds’ decision, would limit permits to 25 years, require steep insurance increases, and restrict permit renewals—potentially making the pipeline financially unfeasible. Summit’s project aims to transport carbon from ethanol plants in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota for underground storage in North Dakota, boosting their renewable fuel market competitiveness. But South Dakota has already dealt a major blow, with its governor signing a law banning eminent domain for carbon pipelines—triggering a wave of legal challenges and resistance from landowners. Summit’s application was ultimately rejected in South Dakota, where opposition over property rights continues to influence debate in neighboring states.
Egg Prices Drop Sharply in April, but South Dakota Hit by Bird Flu Outbreak
U.S. egg prices fell in April for the first time in months, dropping 12.7% to an average of $5.12 per dozen after hitting a record $6.23 in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s the steepest monthly decline since 1984. The dip is credited to lower post-Easter demand and fewer recent bird flu outbreaks, which stabilize supply. However, prices remain historically high—still 79% more than last April—largely due to ongoing bird flu outbreaks that have devastated poultry flocks. More than 169 million birds have died since 2022, including over 927,000 egg-laying hens lost in April alone from outbreaks in Ohio and South Dakota. South Dakota’s outbreak highlights the fragile state of the egg supply chain. A single commercial farm loss can drastically impact national availability. In response, President Donald Trump’s administration pledged $1 billion in February to improve farm biosecurity. The U.S. has also ramped up egg imports by over 77% this year and is investigating Cal-Maine Foods, the nation’s top egg producer, for potential antitrust violations.
President Trump Announces End to Sanctions on Syria, Marks Shift in U.S. Policy
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia —On May 13, 2025, President Donald Trump declared that the United States would lift its sanctions on Syria and establish formal diplomatic relations with the country’s new leadership in Riyadh. This decision came after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, when the opposition group HTS, led by Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, seized control of key cities, including Damascus. Trump cited discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as influential in the decision, highlighting regional efforts to stabilize Syria. The lifting of sanctions, which had been in place since 2004 and escalated after 2011, marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy. The move is expected to help Syria’s economy, promote peace efforts, and reduce the country’s international isolation, despite mixed reactions in the region.
U.S. and Saudi Arabia Finalize Historic $600 Billion Investment and Defense Deal
On May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman finalized a groundbreaking $600 billion investment agreement, which included a landmark $142 billion defense contract. The deal strengthens the longstanding U.S.-Saudi relationship, traditionally centered on energy and security, with a focus on Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification under Vision 2030. The agreement spans sectors including energy, defense, mining, and space, with several American defense firms supplying cutting-edge military technology. The White House hailed the deal as the largest defense sales agreement in history, while Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih noted significant growth in Saudi business expansion. This strategic partnership aims to deepen U.S.-Saudi economic and security ties, potentially raising investments to $1 trillion and supporting job creation in the U.S., all while addressing regional concerns over Iran and stability in the Middle East.
Inflation Eases for Third Month Despite New Tariffs, but Summer Price Hikes Expected
Inflation cooled for the third consecutive month in April, with consumer prices rising 2.3% annually — the smallest increase in over four years — despite the initial rollout of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Monthly inflation rose just 0.2%, and grocery prices fell notably, including a 12.7% drop in egg prices. While core prices remained stable, economists expect tariff effects to intensify by summer. Some companies have already begun raising prices, but many businesses are holding off due to existing stockpiles and the recent reduction of some Chinese tariffs. The Federal Reserve is maintaining current interest rates as it monitors potential long-term effects.
