The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice

Rapid City Council Votes to Allow Backyard Chickens

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Council Monday night voted 6-4 to allow residents to keep chickens in their backyards within city limits. The vote came after several people joined public comment to advocate for the measure. Multiple city councilors have previously cited a personal indifference to the issue, simply voting based upon constituent feedback. Concerns like smell, noise, and property value were the most common opposition points historically. Some of those restrictions are regulatory and include coop size limits to address those questions. Rapid City joins several other communities, including Sturgis, who allow a certain amount of hens in backyards within city limits.

Investigation: Troopers Justified in Box Elder Shooting

RAPID CITY, S.D. — An investigation report says the troopers were justified in shooting a suspect in Box Elder. The incident happened last month on Highway 1416 in Pennington County, where two troopers fired multiple times at Benjamin Milbrandt Jr. The shots were fired after a police chase that started in Meade County. Milbrandt is a parole absconder who allegedly pointed a weapon at the officers before they opened fire. Milbrandt was not killed in the shooting and faces two counts of simple assault against law enforcement officers.

Pennington County Drug Court to Hold Graduation Ceremony April 29

PIERRE, S.D. — Pennington County Drug Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 3 p.m. MDT in Courtroom C2 (third floor) of the Pennington County Courthouse at 315 St. Joseph St. in Rapid City. The Pennington County Treatment Drug Court team invites the public to join them in celebrating the graduates’ accomplishments and success. The ceremony is open to the public. Pennington County Drug Court was established in 2016 as a sentencing alternative that provides lifesaving treatment to justice-involved persons who are substantially impacted by a substance use disorder and are likely to be rearrested without intervention.

Matt Brandhagen Named Director of Rapid City Recreation Division

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Matt Brandhagen has been named director of the Recreation Division for the City of Rapid City. Brandhagen replaces Doug Lowe, who retired from City service earlier this year. Brandhagen has worked with the City Parks and Recreation Department for most of the past 19 years, starting as a recreation coordinator in 2007 and as a recreation program specialist since 2010. As a recreation specialist, Brandhagen has coordinated numerous events, including oversight of several sports activity leagues. He has also led the effort to expand the number of recreational ports offered to local residents, including pickleball.

Sturgis City Council Passes First Reading of Revised Camping Ordinance

STURGIS, S.D. — After several months of work, the Sturgis City Council this week passed first reading of a revised residential camping ordinance. The ordinance will govern residential camping not only during rally-time but year-round. It has been a work in progress since late last year after complaints were received about camping. Sturgis City Attorney Eric Davis says it’s not perfect, but is a substantial improvement over both the current enforceable posture and more rigid earlier drafts. The council will need to pass second reading before it becomes law.

AG Jackley Encourages Safe Disposal of Unused Medications Saturday

PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley encourages South Dakotans with unneeded prescription medication to safely dispose of it during this Saturday’s National Drug Take Back Day. The event is an opportunity for citizens to safely dispose of their unwanted, unneeded, or unused medication at participating locations which include pharmacies and law enforcement agencies. National Drug Take Back Day is held twice a year and is sponsored by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. It is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.

Poll: Roughly 3 in 4 South Dakotans Approve of Trump Removing Noem from DHS

PIERRE, S.D. — Roughly 3 in 4 South Dakotans approve of President Donald Trump’s decision to sack former Gov. Kristi Noem from her role as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, according to a new poll sponsored by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota. The survey of 500 registered voters across party affiliation conducted April 7-9 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, found 76% of respondents agreed with Trump’s move, while 59% of South Dakotans disapproved of her performance as head of the DHS. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 4.5%.

Trump Economy Approval Drops to 30% as Iran War Weighs on Americans

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new AP-NORC poll finds that President Donald Trump’s approval rating on the economy has slumped over the past month as the Iran war drives prices higher. Trump’s approval rating on the economy dropped to 30% in April from 38% in a March AP-NORC poll. A similarly low share of U.S. adults, 32%, approve of the president’s leadership on Iran, which is unchanged since last month. Even Republicans are showing less faith in his leadership, according to the poll, which shows a president who is struggling with unfulfilled promises to tame inflation and testing Americans’ patience with a conflict in the Middle East that has dragged on longer than expected.

Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire at Pakistan’s Request, Blockade Continues

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump says he is extending the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request while awaiting a “unified proposal” from Tehran, even as the U.S. military maintains its blockade of Iranian ports. Tuesday’s move comes as the White House put on hold Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to Pakistan for a second round of truce talks with Iran, which has balked at further discussions. But Trump warned that the U.S. military will continue its blockade of Iranian ports. Since the war began, fighting has killed thousands across Iran, Lebanon, Israel and Gulf states.

Florida Opens Investigation into OpenAI’s ChatGPT Over FSU Shooting

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s attorney general has opened an investigation into OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The probe, announced Tuesday, examines the AI app’s interactions with a gunman charged with a fatal shooting at Florida State University last year. Attorney General James Uthmeier says prosecutors reviewed chat logs between ChatGPT and the gunman, Phoenix Ikner. They aim to determine if the app aided or abetted the crime. Florida’s Office of Statewide Prosecution has subpoenaed OpenAI for records. Ikner faces charges of murder and attempted murder, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty. An OpenAI spokeswoman called the FSU shooting a tragedy but said the company had no responsibility.