The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Extreme drought continues across western South Dakota
STURGIS, S.D. — Western Meade County, including Sturgis, remained in extreme drought conditions according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, released Thursday. The majority of Lawrence County was also mired in extreme drought. Drought conditions actually worsened across much of the state this week. The hardest hit areas remain southwestern South Dakota along with portions of Corson and Dewey counties. Western Pennington and Custer counties remain in extreme drought as does all of Fall River County. The remaining parts of Pennington and Custer are in severe drought, as is central Meade County. Northern Meade County is in moderate drought. (Full story)
Rapid City Council makes changes to proposed 2027 budget
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The first reading of proposed $312 million 2027 Rapid City budget was held Wednesday at City Hall. With a handful of changes, council members reduced the total budget expenditures by just more than a million dollars – reducing spending by $400,000 and taking the state-approved consumer price index (CPI) increase on property taxes generating another $595,000. To allow for public comment on the changes made during the special council meeting, a motion was approved to move the first reading of the budget to the regular City Council meeting on Sept. 8. (Full story)
Rapid City returns to weekly curbside recycling collection
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Effective Monday, Aug. 31, Rapid City’s Solid Waste Division is returning to weekly curbside recycling collection. In early May, the City adjusted recycling residential recycling services to be collected every other week. Beginning with next week’s routes, residents will once again have their recycling materials collected every week on their regular collection day. Recycling containers need to be at the curb by 7 a.m. on their collection day and kept at least four feet away from other cans, containers, and any other objects that could obstruct collection. For more information about curbside recycling, accepted materials, and collection guidelines, visit the Rapid City Solid Waste website. (Full story)
South Dakota Highway Patrol announces September sobriety checkpoints
PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Highway Patrol will hold sobriety checkpoints in 13 counties throughout the month of September including Meade, Pennington, and Lawrence counties. The enforcement effort is aimed at reducing impaired driving and improving roadway safety. Motorists are reminded to make responsible choices and avoid driving after drinking alcohol, whether or not a checkpoint is planned in their area. Drivers who plan to drink should arrange for a designated sober driver or use public or commercial transportation. (Full story)
Tropical Storm Dolly forms in the Atlantic and could bring heavy rain to portions of the Caribbean
MIAMI, FL (AP) — Tropical Storm Dolly has formed in the Atlantic Ocean far from land. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Thursday the storm could bring heavy rain to portions of the Caribbean in the coming days. The storm’s name had no connection to Dolly Parton’s death. Storm systems are named by procedures set by the World Meteorological Organization, and the lists of names are reused every six years. There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, but the Leeward Islands could get heavy rain Saturday and Sunday. The Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola could see heavy rain Sunday and Monday. (Full story)
Trump announces new South Texas oil refinery
BROWNSVILLE, TX (HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA) — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that America First Refining plans to build a more than 240-acre oil refinery at the Port of Brownsville, which would be the first new U.S. refinery constructed in nearly 50 years. The company plans to break ground later this year under a 20-year agreement to process U.S. shale oil and export refined fuels exclusively to India. The project, funded in part by Reliance Industries, is expected to create thousands of jobs. Environmental concerns include air pollution, water use and risks from hurricanes and other extreme weather. (Full story)
Michigan Democrats Face Divisions After Senate Primary
SAUGATUCK, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Democrats are working to shift attention toward November after Abdul El-Sayed won the party’s U.S. Senate primary, but disagreements over Israel, antisemitism and his association with commentator Hasan Piker continue. Some Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten and state Rep. Jeremy Moss, have withheld support for El-Sayed, while others have rallied behind him. El-Sayed has denounced antisemitism while criticizing Israel’s military operations in Gaza and has distanced himself from some of Piker’s remarks. Democrats are expected to gather this weekend in Lansing to finalize their November ticket. (Full story)
