The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Police Pursuit Ends in Multi Vehicle Crash, Five Hospitalized
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City police say multiple people were hospitalized after a police pursuit ended in a multi-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon. The incident happened when officers spotted 21-year-old Airenlee Richmond, who had felony warrants for firearm and drug offenses. Richmond was driving a Dodge Magnum on East Saint Patrick Street. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, Richmond fled at high speeds. Officers said they were ending the pursuit for safety reasons when Richmond’s vehicle crashed at the intersection of East Saint Joseph Street. The Dodge Magnum struck a Ford pickup, a Subaru SUV and another Ford SUV. Five people were taken to the hospital, three occupants from Richmond’s vehicle and two from the other vehicles. Of those transported to the hospital, four are in stable condition, and one occupant from the suspect vehicle was in critical condition.
Black Hills Energy Uses Helicopters to Assess Storm Damage
RAPID CITY, S.D. — With safe weather conditions Sunday, Black Hills Energy took to the skies to inspect powerlines by helicopter in the hardest hit areas of Custer and the Southern Hills. This “birds eye view” confirmed extensive tree damage in the area, with downed powerlines, broken utility poles, and widespread debris that will continue to make repairs complex, time-consuming and hazardous. This visual confirmation is crucial as it allows for crews and equipment to be safely deployed to hard-to-access areas. Black Hills Energy has nearly 150 linemen working on restoration efforts, with the majority concentrated in Custer and the Southern Hills.
Federal Jury Rules Against Grand Gateway Hotel in Discrimination Case
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A federal jury ruled against the Grand Gateway Hotel putting an end to the three-year legal battle surrounding the hotel. On almost every count, the hotel and its parent company was found liable for damages. With just one exception, Retsel Corporation and the Grand Gateway Hotel did indeed discriminate against Native members of the community. In total, tens of thousands of dollars of compensatory and punitive damages were awarded to the people denied service to the hotel. Additionally, that discrimination suit means NDN Collective will receive its request of one dollar from Retsel. In total, Retsel is now liable for six discrimination claims connected to the events of 2022.
Two Teenagers Killed in Single Vehicle Crash North of Rapid City
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The South Dakota Highway Patrol said two teenagers died Thursday night in a single-vehicle crash just north of Rapid City. The crash happened around 9:20 p.m. near the intersection of North Haines Avenue and Peterson Road. Preliminary information indicates the driver was traveling northbound when the vehicle left the roadway, entered a ditch, and overturned. Both the driver, a 16-year-old girl, and a passenger, a 15-year-old boy, were ejected and fatally injured. Authorities said the driver was not wearing a seat belt, and seat belt use by the passenger remains under investigation.
Trump signs Wounded Knee memorial bill into law
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has signed H.R. 165 into law, approving federal action to protect and preserve the historic Wounded Knee site in South Dakota. The legislation directs the secretary of the interior to place approximately 40 acres of land into restricted fee status for the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, a designation that maintains tribal ownership while limiting the sale or transfer of the land. The law is intended to safeguard the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre as a memorial and sacred area, ensuring its long term preservation and honoring its historical and cultural significance.(Full Story)
U.S. Coast Guard Pursues Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tanker in Caribbean
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday pursued another sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea as the Trump administration intensified enforcement actions against vessels linked to Venezuela’s government, according to a U.S. official briefed on the operation. The pursuit followed the seizure of two tankers in less than two weeks that U.S. officials described as part of Venezuela’s “shadow fleet” used to evade sanctions and traffic oil. The vessel under pursuit was operating under a false flag and subject to a judicial seizure order, the official said. The actions come amid heightened U.S. pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, including threats of a blockade on sanctioned oil shipments, while critics in Congress have raised concerns about escalation and the lack of congressional authorization for expanded military involvement in the region. (Full Story)
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ launches with $88M domestically, $345M worldwide
NEW YORK (AP) — “Avatar: Fire and Ash” opened with $345 million in worldwide sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, notching the second-best global debut of the year and potentially putting James Cameron on course to set yet more blockbuster records. Sixteen years into the “Avatar” saga, Pandora is still abundant in box-office riches. “Fire and Ash,” the third film in Cameron’s science-fiction franchise, launched with $88 million domestically and $257 million internationally. The only film to open bigger in 2025 was “Zootopia 2.” But there was a tad less fanfare to this “Avatar” film. Sales were notably less than 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water.” (Full Story)
