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Rapid Valley Fire Department Battles Second Structure Fire in Two Days RAPID VALLEY, S.D. — The Rapid Valley Volunteer Fire Department responded to their second structure fire in as many days Sunday. The reported structure fire was in the 2000 block of May Court. First arriving firefighters found fire and smoke conditions in the interior of a two-story residential structure. Firefighters successfully contained the fire to the structure of origin, protecting adjacent structures, infrastructure, and other improvements. No injuries to firefighters, civilians, or domestic animals were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Rapid City Arts Council Awards $100,000 to 18 Local Organizations RAPID CITY, S.D. — In a continued effort to expand access to the arts and invest in cultural vitality, the Rapid City Arts Council (RCAC) today announced 18 local organizations selected to receive awards from the $100,000 fund through the 2026 City Arts Contingency Fund. These direct investments in the local arts ecosystem were made possible through the City of Rapid City’s annual budget process, in which the City Council authorized RCAC to administer the fund. The initiative aims to enrich the lives of residents and stimulate economic growth by supporting creative projects that elevate the community through public engagement, artistic innovation, and cultural equity.

Two Arrested on Drug Charges Following Traffic Stop RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City police arrested two people on drug charges following a traffic stop Friday night. Police say they stopped a vehicle with a license plate violation, and after a drug dog alerted to the presence of the drugs, a subsequent search turned up psilocybin mushrooms, meth, drug paraphernalia, and a loaded handgun magazine. The driver of the vehicle, 51-year-old Gabriel Brown of Rapid City, and a passenger, 37-year-old Jennifer Wolfe of Rapid City, were arrested on various charges.

Box Elder Man Arrested for DUI After Fleeing Police, Wrecking Truck RAPID CITY, S.D. — A man was arrested Saturday for DUI after wrecking his truck attempting to flee police. Michael Reyna, 23, of Box Elder, was fleeing an attempted traffic stop for driving the wrong way down Saint Joseph Street when he struck a median and caused significant damage to his truck. The truck ended up stopping on I-190 where police noted the smell of an alcoholic beverage. Following a DUI investigation, he was determined to be too impaired to safely operate a motor vehicle. He was placed under arrest for DUI, Second Degree Eluding, Leaving the Scene of a Crash, and Wrong Way Driving before being transported to the Pennington County Jail.

Pennington County Puts Smoke Shops on Notice Over Illegal THC Levels RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the Rapid City Police Department and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, is taking action to address the sale of hemp-derived products containing unlawful levels of THC at certain retail smoke shops in Rapid City. Last summer, law enforcement conducted compliance purchases at multiple retail locations selling hemp-derived products. Items obtained during those checks were submitted for laboratory testing. Results showed that some products exceeded the levels permitted under South Dakota law, despite being labeled and marketed as compliant. As a result of these findings, the State’s Attorney’s Office has issued formal notice letters to retail establishments where testing identified unlawful products. These notices inform businesses of the test results and provide an opportunity to review their inventory and remove any products that violate state law. This will serve as a second public notice to these businesses.

Two Pilots Killed After Air Canada Jet Collides with Fire Truck at LaGuardia NEW YORK (AP) — An Air Canada jet carrying more than 70 passengers collided with a fire truck while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, killing two pilots and injuring several others. Officials say the fire truck was crossing the tarmac after being given permission to check on another plane reporting an odor onboard. Before the collision, an air traffic controller can be heard on airport communications frantically telling the fire truck to stop. The crash temporarily shut down LaGuardia, the New York region’s third busiest hub, during what was already a messy time at U.S. airports. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says LaGuardia is “well-staffed” but still faces a shortage of air traffic controllers.

California Jury Awards $19.25 Million Against Bill Cosby in Civil Case SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — A California civil jury has found Bill Cosby liable for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 1972. On Monday, jurors in Santa Monica awarded Donna Motsinger $19.25 million after a nearly two-week trial. Motsinger said in a lawsuit filed in 2023 that Cosby invited her to a show, gave her wine and pills. She says she later woke up at home partly undressed and concluded that Cosby had drugged and raped her. His lawyers called the claims speculation and say they plan to appeal. The verdict came nearly five years after Cosby was freed from prison in a criminal case with similar allegations.

Trump Extends Iran Deadline Five Days, Pausing Military Pressure WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has paused military pressure on Iran by extending his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and delaying strikes on Iranian power plants for another five days. Trump said the U.S. has been negotiating with a “respected” Iranian leader, but Iran denies any talks and said Trump is backing down after their warnings and hoping to reassure financial markets with “fakenews.” Oil prices did decrease and stocks jumped, but markets remain uneasy. Meanwhile, Trump said any deal must involve ending Iran’s nuclear capacity by allowing the U.S. to take its enriched uranium.

Jury Deliberates in Landmark Meta Child Safety Trial in New Mexico SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Jury deliberations have begun in a landmark trial where New Mexico prosecutors are accusing social media conglomerate Meta of misleading people about the safety of its platforms for children. Meta denies violating state consumer protection laws. Nationwide, social media companies are contending with lawsuits that allege the platforms harm children. The closing arguments in the New Mexico case were delivered Monday after six weeks of testimony from scores of witnesses that included teachers, psychiatric experts, state investigators, top Meta officials, and whistleblowers that left the company.

Armed Immigration Officers Deployed to Major U.S. Airports WASHINGTON (AP) — Armed federal immigration officers in tactical gear moved through terminals at some of the busiest U.S. airports Monday, standing near security lines and checkpoints after President Donald Trump ordered their deployment during a partial government shutdown that has disrupted air travel nationwide. The officers have not screened passengers so far. The Trump administration said they would supplement Transportation Security Administration staffing at certain airports but provided few details about exactly what they would be doing. After intensified immigration enforcement and protests in cities across the country over the past year, their presence has unsettled some travelers and raised new questions.