The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Mayor Jason Salamun Will Not Seek Reelection in 2027
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun announced he will not seek another term in 2027. Salamun said he reached the decision after several months of consideration. When his current term ends, he will have served 10 years in city government, including six years on the City Council and four as mayor. Salamun cited progress on the sports complex, public safety facilities and personnel, airport expansion, parks and street investments during his tenure. He said he is announcing his decision now to give other residents time to consider running for mayor and will remain focused on serving through the end of his term. (Full story)
Annual diaper drive aims to nearly double donations
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The annual Diaper Need Awareness Week diaper drive kicks off this week and officials have set a goal to nearly double last year’s effort by collecting 20,000 Diapers, 10,000 diaper wipes and $3,000 in donations. The diaper drive is an annual project undertaken by Volunteers of America Northern Rockies. The collections benefit Mommy’s Closet, designated as one of two diaper banks in South Dakota. Several locations will serve as collection points through Monday, September 21 including city hall, Fire station 1, the Public Safety Building, the Rapid City library, and Mommy’s closet at 111 New York Street. (Full story)
Rapid City Rush prepares for new season with familiar faces
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Rush will enter the upcoming season with a bigger roster, several familiar faces and a renewed determination to return to the ECHL playoffs. On the ice, Rapid City will welcome back captain Ryan Wagner and former Rush standouts Logan Nelson and Alec Butcher. Nelson ranks among the franchise’s leading scorers, while Butcher recorded a career-best 50-point season during his previous stint with Rapid City. The Rush’s first on-ice training camp session is scheduled for Oct. 4. Rapid City opens the regular season Oct. 16 on the road against the Kansas City Mavericks. (Full story)
South Dakota Mines sees continued enrollment growth, largest transfer class since 2017
RAPID CITY, S.D. — South Dakota Mines is beginning the fall term with a strong enrollment, welcoming nearly 2,500 students to campus, including a freshman class approaching 500, larger than last year. At the same time, Mines reported nearly 80 transfer students this fall, the university’s largest transfer class since 2017, and a nearly 28 percent increase over fall 2025. (Full story)
The secret ballot has been an article of faith in US elections. That’s being tested in Georgia
ATLANTA (AP) — There’s a flaw in Georgia’s voting equipment that can allow voters to be matched to their ballots after they’ve been cast. Election security advocates are urging Georgia officials to fix the issue before the November elections. State election officials say they’ve taken steps to address the potential harm. But some advocates say the state isn’t going far enough. They say a fix is critical because of the rapid advance of artificial intelligence tools that can be used to exploit the flaw. Ballot secrecy is a fundamental right under the state constitution. Violations could create an opening for legal challenges. (Full story)
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says AI industry needs to give safety measures time to catch up
NEW YORK (AP) — The CEO of Anthropic says the artificial-intelligence industry should slow its fast-moving development to give safety measures time to catch up. Without such a slowdown, Dario Amodei warned on Saturday that AI could be capable within six to 12 months of leading a swarm that could take over the entire internet, among other risks. Amodei also offered a plan in a post on his website to increase checks on the industry, one part of which he said Anthropic is undertaking by itself already. Some big names in the AI industry offered quick encouragement and support, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman. (Full story)
Celine Dion thrills fans with emotional comeback concert after overcoming rare illness
NANTERRE, France (AP) — Celine Dion has returned to the stage, performing her first full concert in over six years. She sang “All By Myself” as an encore, a song she’s been known for since 1996. Dion was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome in 2022, a rare disease affecting her throat. Her comeback concert in Nanterre, France, included 25 songs over 2 hours and 15 minutes. The show is part of a punishing schedule of 16 shows in five weeks. Despite the challenges, Dion delivered powerful performances of hits like “My Heart Will Go On.” Fans were emotional, celebrating her triumphant return. (Full story)
