The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Smoky Skies Blanket Rapid City as Wildfire Smoke Moves In
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The National Weather Service office in Rapid City reports that the smoke hovering over Rapid City Monday was from western U.S. wildfires primarily in Washington and Oregon that have consumed hundreds of thousands of acres and led to massive evacuations in the western states. The NWS reported that air quality could reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups (including young children, older adults, and those with heart or lung conditions). Monday was the worst of the smoke in the region, much of which would be cleared from the area thanks to a northerly wind Monday evening. (Full story)
Three Arrested After Rapid City Traffic Stop Leads to Drug, Firearm Seizures
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A traffic stop in Rapid City Saturday resulted in multiple arrests and seizure of weapons and drugs. Rapid City Police Department reports that around 4:15 p.m. on Aug.1 police pulled over the driver if a silver SUV for a stop sign violation at the intersection of Anamosa Street and North 7th Street. When the vehicle came to a stop in the 1300 block of Atlas Street, the driver and two passengers fled from the vehicle on foot. A third passenger remained in the vehicle and was detained. A search of the vehicle turned up methamphetamine and associated paraphernalia, along with a loaded pistol magazine. Police were able to determine that two of the subjects who fled the vehicle were associated with a nearby apartment. Police obtained a search warrant for the apartment and located the driver and passenger. The search of the apartment also turned up a number of drug and firearms items. The incident resulted in a numbers of charges for possession of a firearm and controlled substance, warrant, and motor vehicle offenses. (Full story)
Burn Bans Expand Across Black Hills Ahead of Sturgis Rally
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Area fire crews say they are issuing a zero-tolerance policy for illegal fires as the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally gets underway later this week. Most Black Hills counties have issued burn bans ahead of the Rally’s start. They include Pennington, Meade and now Lawrence County, who announced their burn ban over the weekend. The bans are being put into place due to the ongoing threat wildfires pose to the health, safety and property of residents. The bans include a prohibition on campfires, charcoal grills and smoking outdoors. Stage 2 Fire Restrictions will take effect on all National Forest lands in the Bearlodge, Northern Hills, Mystic, and Hell Canyon Ranger Districts on the Black Hills National Forest in the State of South Dakota and the State of Wyoming. In Meade County, the ban automatically goes into effect when fire danger reaches the high, very high or extreme category. Under Meade County ordinance open fires are also automatically banned for the period of fourteen days prior to and seven days after the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. (Full story)
Five South Dakota Hospitals Earn Top Federal Quality Ratings
The latest federal hospital quality rankings are in and most South Dakota hospitals fared well but many also showed room for improvement. Two hospitals in South Dakota were rated 2 stars, or “below average” in 2026, based on the review of patient care and medical outcome benchmarks set by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Five hospitals received top 5-star marks in 2026, up from three last year. The top grades went to Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, Avera St. Benedict in Parkston, Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls and the Veterans Affairs hospitals in Sioux Falls and Sturgis. The two South Dakota hospitals rated 2 stars in 2026 were Avera St. Mary’s in Pierre and Huron Regional Medical Center. Both had some positive and negative findings in their overall reviews, but they had lower-than-average recommendation rates by patients. (Full story)
Japanese Sister City Students Visit Rapid City for Summer Exchange
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Students from Rapid City’s Japanese Sister City, Nikko, are visiting Rapid City and the Black Hills as part of a student exchange this summer that includes Rapid City students visiting their Japanese sister city. The Nikko visit to the Rapid City area includes themed days, including Leadership Day, which includes tours of the Rapid City Police Department, Rapid City Fire Station 1 and City Hall. Rapid City developed Sister City partnerships with Nikko and Apolda, Germany in 1994. In 2015, the Rapid City Council officially named sections of Rapid Street to Nikko Street and Apolda Street, recognizing the Sister City partnerships. (Full story)
Authorities seek a motive in the mass shooting at an Idaho In-N-Out Burger
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — Investigators are trying to determine what led a 24-year-old man to open fire at an Idaho fast-food restaurant over the weekend, in an attack that left three people dead and seven others wounded before authorities say he killed himself. Police Chief Matthew Hicks said Sunday that investigators are confident that the gunman, identified as Chad Williams, acted alone in the shooting Saturday at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls. Hicks says an off-duty state trooper and a civilian fired on the attacker and diverted him from the restaurant. He also says Williams’ family is cooperating fully with the investigation. (Full story)
Michigan reports first 2 US deaths in outbreak of cyclospora
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — State health officials say two people have died in the cyclospora outbreak in Michigan in the first confirmed deaths in the U.S. related to the microscopic parasite. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said Monday that both people had underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by the intestinal illness and dehydration. The department says it will provide additional information about the deaths. The parasite infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says when ingested, the parasite causes intestinal illness marked by “frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements.” (Full story)
Washington state fires destroy hundreds of structures and force Spokane-area residents to evacuate
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Light winds and lower temperatures are in the forecast to help firefighters with wildfires in eastern Washington state that have forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area. The fires have destroyed at least 600 homes, businesses and other structures. The fires have burned more than 12.5 square miles around Spokane, the second largest city in Washington, and officials said Sunday that 390 square miles have burned across the state. They’ve been among dozens of fires across the Western U.S. No deaths have yet been reported from the fires in the Spokane area. (Full story)
