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Pennington County approves pursuit of $183M in grants for jail expansion
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Pennington County commissioners unanimously approved the submission of applications Tuesday for the FY2026 COPS Technology Grant and the FY26 BIDEN Program Grant, which could provide up to $183 million for a proposed jail expansion. Sheriff Brian Mueller said the funding could cover the entire project, though the location and final design have not been determined. Commissioner Deb Hadcock questioned expanding the current downtown jail, while Mueller said the grant is not tied to a specific site. The grant application is due in mid-July. Mueller said the jail has operated at or above capacity since 2014. (Full story)
Chick-fil-A construction underway at two Rapid City locations
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Construction is underway on two Chick-fil-A locations in Rapid City, with both expected to open early next year. Demolition began last week at the Jackson Boulevard site, where construction is scheduled to start next week, according to project engineer Edward Gutierrez of WH Bass Inc. He said utilities and concrete work will precede construction of the building, with completion anticipated in December. The Jackson Boulevard location will include only the restaurant, while the Lacrosse Street development near Interstate 90 will also include several restaurants and a tire center. (Full story)
Rapid City Fire Responds to 338 Calls During Busy Fourth of July Weekend
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Fire Department says this year’s Fourth of July weekend kept them busy, especially fireworks-related calls. Deputy Fire Chief Brian Povandra said the department tracked calls from July 2 through July 5 this year because of the America 250 celebration events in town. Over that four-day stretch, Povandra said Rapid City Fire handled 338 total calls, including 103 on the Fourth of July. In addition to the Fourth, the department handled 80 calls on both July 3rd and July 5th. (Full story)
Pennington County Advances Proposed Sales Tax to Offset Property Taxes
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Pennington County Commissioners are joining Meade County in the discussion about establishing a sales tax increase to help lower property taxes. The commission on Tuesday approved the first reading of Ordinance 796, which would impose a county gross receipts tax and use tax under the authority of Senate Bill 96. County officials said the proposed ordinance would allow them to adopt a half-percent sales tax intended to help offset owner-occupied property taxes. Commissioners voted to move the ordinance forward and scheduled the second reading for July 21, 2026. (Full story)
Glow Swim Pool Party Set for Thursday at Jimmy Hilton Pool
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Parks and Recreation Department will host its second Glow Swim Pool Party of the summer Thursday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Jimmy Hilton Pool in Sioux Park, 940 Sheridan Lake Road. The free event will feature glow sticks, lights and music. For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 605-394-4175. (Full story)
Former Wisconsin judge spared prison for obstructing ICE arrest of Mexican immigrant
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan has been spared from prison for ushering a Mexican defendant out of her courtroom as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents waited in the hallway. A federal judge fined her $5,000 and cited her otherwise law-abiding life in issuing the sentence. Hannah Dugan resigned as a Milwaukee County judge after her obstruction conviction and had to move amid threats against her family. Her lawyers argued that President Donald Trump’s administration sought to crush her to ensure judicial compliance with courthouse arrests. She faced up to five years in prison Wednesday, but the judge cited her lifetime of public service. (Full story)
Oil prices rise 5%, and stocks drop worldwide after Trump says ceasefire with Iran is ‘over’
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are rising, and stock markets are dropping worldwide after President Donald Trump raised doubts about the temporary truce in the war with Iran. The S&P 500 fell as much as 1.1% Wednesday after Trump said the agreement to pause fighting was “over,” though it later trimmed its loss to 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 550 points. The Nasdaq composite erased an early slump and rose 0.1% after Trump said the most recent fighting did not mean a return to full-scale war. Brent crude oil’s price climbed 5% above $78 per barrel. (Full story)
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear asks Sen. Mitch McConnell to give a public update on his condition
Kentucky’s governor has written an open letter to Mitch McConnell asking the Republican senator to disclose more about his condition. There’s been three weeks of silence from the 84-year-old McConnell since he was hospitalized June 14 in Washington. And that’s led to rampant speculation about McConnell’s prognosis and whether he’ll return to the Senate when it reconvenes next week. Beshear says in a letter Wednesday to the former Senate Republican leader that “Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and well-being, and ability to hold office.” McConnell is retiring at the end of his term in January. (Full story)
