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Rapid City Woman Sentenced to 12 Years for Grocery Store Gun Incident
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A Rapid City woman has been sentenced to prison after recently pleading guilty. Talisse Fighting Bear was given 12 years in prison for aggravated assault following an April 2025 incident at a grocery store in which pointed a gun at two employees and reportedly discharged a round into the air. At the time of the offense, Fighting Bear was on parole for two prior felony convictions and out on bond for other pending charges. As a convicted felon, she was prohibited from possessing a firearm. She was also sentenced to two years in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon. That sentence will run concurrently with the 12-year aggravated assault sentence. Assistant Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Olivia Siglin acknowledged that Fighting Bear may have been experiencing mental health challenges but emphasized the seriousness of the offense. Siglin had requested a 15-year sentence.
Black Hills Community Bank Donates $350,000 to Support Wellfully Facility Renovation
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Black Hills Community Bank on Monday presented a $350,00 check to the Abbott House in support of the renovation of the newly acquired $2.4 million dollar Wellfully facility. The contribution was made in partnership with a member impact fund grant match from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. Jack Lynass, President and C.E.O. of Black Hills Community Bank, was on hand to present the check. He says Black Hills Community Bank is committed to investing in Rapid City and proud to support nonprofits that strengthen our communities.
Rapid City Implements Early Water Restrictions as Pactola Levels Drop
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Effective this Wednesday (April 1), the City of Rapid City is elevating the storage condition status for Pactola Reservoir from ‘normal status’ to ‘concern status’. As a result, City Public Works officials are implementing water conservation measures – commonly referred to as watering restrictions – two months early this season. The action is due to current water levels and inflows at Pactola Reservoir. Last week, the reservoir level was at 47,532 acre feet, which is below the “concern” status threshold of 48,950 acre feet. The lower water level coupled with the lack of snowpack remaining in the Pactola watershed areas has led Rapid City officials to implement water restrictions beginning April 1.
Rapid City Opens Select Park Restrooms Early, Signaling Start of Spring Season
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The City’s Parks and Recreation Department is opening up two restroom facilities Wednesday, marking an official sign of spring in the City’s park system. The remainder of the restroom facilities in the City’s parks system are set to open May 1. The restroom facilities at Parkview Tennis Courts and the Sioux Park playground will be open and available for use beginning Wednesday. Facilities at Canyon Lake West, Founders Park and Skyline Wilderness are open throughout the year. The remaining restroom facilities in the City’s park system are scheduled to open the first weekend in May and remain open through the first weekend in October.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Violent Shooting and Threats
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A 32-year-old Rapid City man, Trevon Spotted Eagle, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated assault. In February, the defendant entered guilty pleas to both charges. At sentencing, the Court followed the State’s recommendation and imposed two 12.5 year sentences to be served consecutively. The charges stem from a violent incident in which the defendant shot one individual in the head and then threatened others, including his pregnant girlfriend with the firearm.
Governor Signs Bill Expanding Free and Reduced School Lunches Across South Dakota
PIERRE, S.D. — Gov. Larry Rhoden has signed HB1082 into law. That proposal expands free and reduced school lunches in South Dakota schools. This comes at a cost to the state of about $600,000. It represents a long-term policy goal of Sioux Falls Democratic Rep. Kadyn Wittman, who has advocated for similar legislation over four years. While the bill passed the state House with wide support, it was nearly killed in the Senate.
Airport bottlenecks ease as TSA workers get paid, but shutdown continues
The Transportation Safety Administration says most of its officers received most of their backpay Monday for working during the shutdown. Weary travelers hope the overdue paychecks will end the hourslong waits in security at several major U.S. airports. Wait times began improving when the TSA workers were promised their first paychecks in weeks. Bottlenecks disappeared at airports in Atlanta and Houston on Monday. Houston’s main airport went from a four-hour line just day ago, to a 10-minute wait. President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the Department of Homeland Security to pay TSA officers immediately to ease the lines. (Full story)
Trump administration sues Minnesota over transgender athletes in girls sports
The Trump administration has carried out on a threat to sue the state of Minnesota and its school athletics governing body for allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls sports. The Justice Department alleges in a lawsuit filed Monday that the state Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League are violating Title IX, a federal law against sex discrimination in educational programs that receive federal money. The administration has filed similar lawsuits against Maine and California, and threatened the federal funding of some universities, including San Jose State in California and the University of Pennsylvania. (Full story)
NASA begins the countdown for humanity’s first launch to the moon in 53 years
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The countdown has begun toward humanity’s first launch to the moon in 53 years. NASA’s countdown clocks started ticking late Monday afternoon at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. The 32-story Space Launch System rocket is poised to blast off Wednesday evening with four astronauts. After a day in orbit around Earth, their Orion capsule will propel them to the moon and back. NASA says the rocket is doing well after the latest round of repairs. The last time NASA sent astronauts to the moon was during Apollo 17 in 1972. (Full story)
