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Two Arrested in Rapid City Following Firearms Incident and Search Warrant Execution
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Two men are in custody after the Rapid City/Pennington County Special Response Team executed a search warrant at a residence in the 400 block of E. Centennial St.
Law enforcement officers responded to the residence around 6:05 p.m. Sunday night following a report of an unknown male who threatened people with a handgun, fired the weapon into the air, and fled back into the residence. The Special Response Team was called to secure the area and handle the armed, barricaded subject.
Following the execution of the search warrant, officers apprehended 19-year-old Delbert Badmilk III, who was identified as the male subject who brandished the handgun. Badmilk was taken into custody on felony charges related to the original incident.
A second individual, Michael Vanderfeen, was also located at the scene during the law enforcement response and taken into custody on an active warrant.
Officers recovered two firearms from the Rapid City residence. Investigators determined that one of the weapons was stolen, while the second had been illegally altered.
The Rapid City Police Department noted that the incident was resolved safely and stated that “the investigation into its circumstances remains ongoing.”
More Than 20,000 Attend Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup
CUSTER STATE PARK, S.D. — More than 20,000 people gathered Friday for the 61st annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup, where horseback riders corralled about 1,500 bison along the park’s Wildlife Loop. Visitors lined up before sunrise, with traffic stretching for hours as people entered the park. South Dakota Tourism Secretary Jim Hagen said the roundup marks the beginning of the region’s fall tourism season following a steady summer that included challenges from higher-than-usual gas prices. Gov. Larry Rhoden said visitors he spoke with were excited about the event. (Full story)
Rapid City Woman Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Fire Department SUV
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A Rapid City woman was arrested Friday after allegedly stealing a Rapid City Fire Department mobile medic SUV from an active call and leading law enforcement on a pursuit. Police said 26-year-old Papaya Redfeather entered the SUV while fire crews were treating an injured person and drove away. Officers pursued the vehicle east on Interstate 90 and Highway 14. Spike strips stopped the SUV in New Underwood, where Redfeather was detained. She was arrested on charges of aggravated assault on law enforcement, eluding and grand theft, along with a parole hold. Additional charges may be pending. (Full story)
Drought Conditions Improve Slightly Across Western South Dakota
RAPID CITY, SD — Drought conditions across western South Dakota improved slightly over the past week, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor. The majority of southern Mead counties saw severe drought conditions this past week that follows some significant moisture realized around the area last weekend. Central Pennington County has seen improvement where moderate drought conditions exist. The eastern and western portion of the county were listed in severe drought. The worst drought conditions across western South Dakota were in southwestern Butte County, far western Lawrence County and northwestern Hardin County. (Full story)
Rapid City Again Recognized for Best Water in South Dakota
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid city has again been recognized as having the best water in South Dakota. The city was recognized with the distinction at a recent annual conference of the South Dakota Water and Wastewater Association in Aberdeen. Rapid city’s water will now represent South Dakota in the best of the best competition at the American Water Works Association 2027 annual conference and exhibition in San Diego, California in June to be considered for the honor. Utility member cities must not have incurred any state or federal drinking water violations in the past year. Judging included taste and aesthetics. Rapid city also earned the water recognition in 2024.
Pennington County Continues Recovery From July Cyberattack
PENNINGTON COUNTY, S.D. — Pennington County continues recovering from a July 4 cybersecurity incident that affected its information technology systems. County officials said all departments are operational, though some systems and public services remain limited. Officials said unauthorized users accessed portions of the county’s IT environment and deployed ransomware, prompting systems to be taken offline. County staff, cybersecurity professionals and state and federal partners continue investigating the attack and restoring services. The county has not provided a date for full restoration and said additional cybersecurity improvements, technology investments and employee training are underway. (Full story)
Three people were killed and four were injured in shooting at Detroit strip club, police say
DETROIT (AP) — Officials say three people were killed and four more were injured when an argument turned into gunfire at an after-hours strip club in Detroit. Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison tells reporters that officers responding to the Sunday morning shooting on a largely residential street found three men who had been fatally shot. Four more people – two men and two women – were taken in private cars to area hospitals. Bettison says all the victims are thought to be in their 20s and 30s. (Full story)
5 men arrested near UK air base used by US in Iran war on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act
LONDON (AP) — British police have arrested five men near RAF Fairford, an air base used by the United States during its war with Iran, on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism. The Metropolitan Police, which is leading the investigation, said the men were initially detained under the Explosives Act after a report of three suspicious vehicles near the base. The arrests were made in the nearby Whelford area. Authorities set up a cordon and evacuated about 85 households. Police said the situation appeared to be contained. The base’s proximity has prompted speculation about a possible connection, but police have not publicly established a link. The arrests come amid heightened concern about threats from hostile states. (Full story)
Anthropic and OpenAI sound the alarm on AI safety — and seek to shape how it’s controlled
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — As tech titans warned an AI-weary world that their own advanced systems could endanger humanity, the question emerged: What do they have to gain? The answer may lie in the companies’ efforts to score political goals ahead of the U.S. midterm elections and the money top artificial intelligence labs and their investors stand to make in much-anticipated listings on a jittery stock market. Experts, analysts and former government evaluators tell The Associated Press that Anthropic and OpenAI appear with their rhetoric to be seeking public favor and to set the terms for their own safety protocols in the unregulated market.(Full story)
