The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Unlocked Vehicles Targeted in Black Hawk Area Burglaries
STURGIS, S.D. — The Meade County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a series of burglaries that have targeted unlocked vehicles in the Black Hawk area. Sheriff Pat West says this activity appears consistent with similar incidents occurring throughout the region. In total, more than a dozen incidents were reported. Several vehicles were entered without items being taken; however, two firearms were taken from unsecured vehicles, and in other cases, keys had been left inside. Law enforcement says these situations create opportunities that criminals are willing to exploit. (Full story)
Rapid City Proclaims Dark Sky Week to Reduce Light Pollution
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun has proclaimed this week as Dark Sky Week in Rapid City. The mayor signed and shared his proclamation Wednesday afternoon with members of the South Dakota Chapter of the Dark-Sky Association and the City’s Sustainability Committee. The proclamation declares April 13-20 as Dark Sky Week in Rapid City. It focuses on protecting and enjoying dark night skies with lights out pledges and activities. The mayor is encouraging residents, businesses, visitors, employees and neighbors of Rapid City to celebrate the night sky and the natural nocturnal environment and learn about responsible lighting practices that prevent or reduce light pollution. (Full story)
Spring Brook Road Closure Extended Through May 15
RAPID CITY, S.D. — City officials say the road closure and completion date for the Spring Brook Road project has been extended to May 15. The closure is being extended out of an abundance of caution as the water line construction is on the inside curve of Sheridan Lake Road and equipment used for the water main work restricts the sight distance in the affected area. Traffic will be directed to detours from Catron Boulevard and Sheridan Lake Road. (Full story)
BLM Seeks Public Input on Proposed Dewey-Burdock Uranium Project
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KBHB) — The Bureau of Land Management is asking for public input on a possible uranium project. If approved, the Dewey-Burdock project would impact about 240 acres of public land for uranium mining near Dewey in Fall River County. The project organizers received an environmental impact statement and license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2014. The public comment period runs through May 14th. The project would require access roads and four groundwater monitoring wells, along with the construction of an overhead power line. (Full story)
High Demand Continues for Mount Rushmore Freedom 250 Event Tickets
PIERRE, S.D. (KBHB) — The South Dakota Department of Tourism says demand for the upcoming July 3 fireworks celebration at Mount Rushmore National Memorial soared with 102,991 tickets requested for the official Freedom 250 event. Approximately 4,800 participants will be able to attend the event. The randomly selected ticket lottery was administered by Recreation.gov from April 8 through April 12. Lottery applicants were notified if they were successful on April 14. Tourism officials say event organizers are finalizing the evening’s program, which will include a fireworks and light show set to a patriotic soundtrack.
Executive Board Approves Raise for State Investment Officer Amid Opposition
PIERRE, S.D. (KBHB) — Executive Board members are approving the salary package for State Investment Officer Matt Clark, with a twist. For the first time in recent history, a board member voted against the salary package, which calls for a one-point-four percent raise for Clark. It was actually three board members from the 15-member committee of state legislators that voted against the raise. The South Dakota Investment Council made the recommendation to increase Clark’s base salary to more than 650-thousand dollars. Clark has been an investment officer for the state since 1984.
Jury finds that Ticketmaster and Live Nation had an anticompetitive monopoly over big concert venues
NEW YORK (AP) — A jury has found that concert giant Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary engaged in an anticompetitive monopoly. The New York jury decided Wednesday on claims from dozens of U.S. states that the entertainment ticketing behemoth was a monopoly that cost concertgoers and sports fans. Live Nation Entertainment owns, operates or controls booking for hundreds of venues. Its subsidiary Ticketmaster is widely considered the world’s largest ticket-seller for live events. The civil case, initially led by the U.S. federal government, accused Live Nation of using its reach to smother competition. Live Nation said in a statement that the verdict was not the last word on the matter and promised appeals. A lawyer for the states called it a “great day for antitrust law.” (Full story)
Homeland Security worker and another woman are killed in a series of Atlanta-area attacks
ATLANTA (AP) — A man has been charged in a string of attacks near Atlanta over a matter of hours that left two women dead and a man in critical condition. One of the women, Lauren Bullis, worked for the Department of Homeland Security. Her killing Monday led Homeland Secretary Markwayne Mullin to issue a statement raising concerns that the 26-year-old defendant, U.K.-native Olaolukitan Adon Abel, was granted U.S. citizenship in 2022, when Democrat Joe Biden was president. Mullin cataloged a litany of the defendant’s previous alleged crimes, but he didn’t specify whether they happened before Adon Abel was granted citizenship. Authorities are looking into whether the victims were targeted at random. (Full story)
Raffle winner thrilled to claim a $1 million Picasso with a $117 ticket
PARIS (AP) — A Parisian art enthusiast has won a Pablo Picasso painting with a $117 raffle ticket. Ari Hodara was thrilled to learn he won following Tuesday’s draw at Christie’s auction house in Paris. The raffle offered a chance to win a $1 million Picasso portrait, with proceeds supporting Alzheimer’s research. Organizers said all 120,000 tickets were sold worldwide. The painting, “Head of a Woman,” was painted by Picasso in 1941. It is the third “1 Picasso for 100 euros” lottery, with previous raffles supporting cultural and humanitarian causes. (Full story)
