The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Charges Dismissed Against Nicholas Tilsen Following Hung Jury
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Following a jury trial that resulted in a hung jury, the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office has dismissed the case against Nicholas Tilsen. Tilsen had been charged with Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, an alternative count of Simple Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer. The charges arose from a June 2022 incident in downtown Rapid City. Pennington County State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel says the decision to dismiss this case was made after careful review and thoughtful consideration.
World Trade Center Steel Beam to Visit Mount Rushmore on National Tour
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center’s South Tower will visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial this July as part of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Steel Across America tour, the foundation announced. The tour will officially launch May 2, 2026, near Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan and will travel more than 10,500 miles, making more than 35 stops in 21 states and Washington, D.C., before returning to Ground Zero on Sept. 11 — the 25th anniversary of the attacks. At public stops, visitors will be able to view the South Tower steel beam up close, connect with individuals who lived through the Sept. 11 attacks, and engage with the foundation’s 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit.
Qury Fire Near Custer Tops 8,400 Acres as Crews Work to Contain Blaze
CUSTER, S.D. — Fire crews were hoping to make significant progress on the Qury Fire burning south of Custer before warm, dry, windy weather returns this week. The fire has burned over 8,400 acres, but growth has been limited the past 48 hours thanks to hard work by fire crews and cooler weather. Residents who were evacuated when the fire broke out were allowed back in to their homes Monday. Several structures were damaged by the fire and assessments into what those structures were was ongoing.
Dusty Johnson Outlines Entrepreneur Initiative in Bid for Governor
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Congressman Dusty Johnson is laying out plans for entrepreneurs if he is elected governor. He hosted a roundtable where he announced his plan to use two-million dollars to create an initiative called Launch South Dakota. He said while many leaders chase the big headlines from partnering with national leaders, he wants to see South Dakota succeed because of South Dakotans. Johnson leads the race for governor over incumbent Larry Rhoden according to a recent Emerson College Keloland poll released last week.
Storms cancel more US flights as TSA remains under pressure from partial government shutdown
Storms sweeping across the eastern half of the country are disrupting air travel across the United States. FlightAware reported more than 3,500 flights canceled Monday and about 6,300 others delayed. The storms already dumped heavy snow across parts of the Midwest and were moving toward the East Coast with strong winds and the threat of tornadoes. The travel disruptions come during a busy period for airports, with spring break vacations and fans traveling for March Madness games. Meanwhile, a partial government shutdown affecting the Transportation Security Administration has stretched staffing at some airport security checkpoints, leading to longer lines in some places. (Full story)
3,800 workers are on strike at one of the largest meatpacking plants in the US
GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — About 3,800 workers began a strike at one of the nation’s largest meatpacking plants. Union representatives in Colorado say it’s the first strike at a U.S. beef slaughterhouse since the 1980s. The walkout at the Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley on Monday comes after the union said 99% of the workers voted to authorize the strike, seeking higher wages and better healthcare. Swift Beef owner JPS USA says it complies with labor and employment laws and any employee who doesn’t strike will have work and be paid. Union officials say the company charges many workers more than $1,000 each to pay for their safety equipment. (Full story)
A Utah woman who wrote a book on grief after husband’s death found guilty of murdering him
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — A Utah woman who wrote a children’s book about coping with grief after her husband’s death has been convicted of aggravated murder in his death by poisoning him with fentanyl. Jurors on Monday also found Kouri Richins guilty of fraudulently claiming insurance benefits after the death of Eric Richins in March 2022 at their home outside the ski town of Park City. Prosecutors say Kouri Richins slipped five times the lethal dose of the synthetic opioid into a cocktail that he drank. After her husband’s death, Richins self-published a children’s book about grief to help her sons and other kids cope with the loss of a parent. (Full story)
