The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
South Dakota Supreme Court Upholds Conviction of Man Who Threatened Trump at Mount Rushmore
PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the South Dakota Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction and sentence of Lucian Celestine for attempted threat of felony terrorism. He had been convicted in Pennington County after making threats to President Donald Trump and taking steps toward carrying out those threats when the president visited Mt. Rushmore in July of 2020. Celestine entered a guilty plea in November 2024 to Attempted Threat of Felony Terrorism. In March 2025, the Pennington County Circuit Court sentenced him to two and a half years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary with credit for time served. Celestine later appealed his conviction and sentence, but the South Dakota Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s judgment.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 25 Years After Breaking Into Home and Threatening Mother and Child
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A Rapid City man has been sentenced to 25 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary for a February 2025 burglary in Rapid City in which he broke into a home and threatened to rape and kill a woman and her 3-year-old daughter, as well as other family members in the residence. Joshua Peacock was unknown to the victims and had been released from prison approximately 14 hours before committing the offense. The crime was similar in nature to a prior conviction for which he had been incarcerated. During the incident, Peacock stole a phone from the home, which was later used by law enforcement to help locate and identify him. He was subsequently arrested.
Rushmore Fire Conference Brings Statewide Training to Rapid City
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City hosted fire and rescue personnel at the Rushmore Fire Conference this past weekend. The conference focused on three primary areas of training including wildland fire, rescue, and structure fire response. Organizers say the training helps keep everyone safe and strengthens the skills, knowledge and coordination ability of firefighters throughout the state. Participants say it’s a good way to get new perspectives from other departments, big and small, that do similar work. The training is designed to reduce risks for firefighters in emergency situations.
Grant-Funded Program Doubles College Commitments Among Native Students at Rapid City Central
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Central High School is celebrating a remarkable increase in college readiness and postsecondary success among its Native American students, thanks in part to a grant awarded by the American Indian College Fund two years ago. The grant was designed to increase FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) submissions within the school’s Native student population and ultimately boost college acceptance rates. Since its implementation, the program has demonstrated significant progress. In its first year, the initiative resulted in 15 submissions and approximately a dozen college commitments. This year, those numbers have more than doubled, with 31 submissions and 26 college commitments reported to date.
Annual MMIP Conference Coming to Rapid City This Friday
RAPID CITY, S.D. — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the annual South Dakota Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Conference is this Friday, May 1, 2026 in Rapid City. Friday’s agenda features speakers discussing how to promote MMIP efforts in the public, through the legislative and legal processes, and hear from a survivor. The event is 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday at the Best Western Ramkota in Rapid City.
Drone Light Show Coming to Rapid City This July 4th Weekend
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The night skies over Rapid City will light up in patriotic images this July with a state-of-the-art drone light show. Rapid City’s America 250th Celebration Committee is hosting the drone show Thursday, July 2, one of several featured events of the ‘Real America Birthday Bash’ scheduled July 1-5. The patriotic drone show will take place at dusk, culminating an evening of activities that includes a community parade and the first of a three-day downtown festival.
Ex-FBI Director Comey Indicted Again, in a Probe Over an Online Post Officials Call a Trump Threat
Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted again, this time over a social media photo of seashells arranged on a beach that officials say constituted a threat against President Donald Trump. It’s the second criminal case the Justice Department has brought against the longtime Trump foe. Comey says he assumed the arrangement of shells reading “86 47” was a political message, not a call to violence against Trump, the 47th president. The two-count indictment charges Comey with “knowingly and willfully” making a threat to “take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon” Trump and with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.
Justice Department Legal Argument for the White House Ballroom Reads Like a Trump Social Media Post
The Justice Department is pressing for the dismissal of preservationists’ lawsuit over the planned $400 million White House ballroom after the shooting at Saturday’s media gala. But its latest court filing reads more like a Truth Social post from President Donald Trump than a document crafted by government lawyers. The filing submitted Monday by the Justice Department is chock-full of the kind of Trumpian touches the president uses in written communication, such as erratic capitalization, exclamation points, non sequiturs, praise for the president and accusations his opponents are insane. The 16-page filing is a sign of the extraordinary degree to which the president has demolished the traditional wall of independence between the Justice Department and White House.
King Charles Highlights US-UK Bond in Speech to Congress Noting ‘Times of Great Uncertainty’
King Charles III has acknowledged “times of great uncertainty” while addressing the U.S. Congress. Charles on Tuesday marked the 250th anniversary of American independence from Britain and highlighted the enduring bonds between the two nations. Charles is only the second British monarch to speak to Congress, following Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. Charles’ speech comes amid political turmoil, with tensions between President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the war in Iran. Trump and Charles met at the White House earlier on Tuesday. Charles and Queen Camilla will continue their U.S. trip with stops in New York City and Virginia.
OxyContin Maker Purdue Pharma’s Criminal Sentence Could Be the Last Step Before Company Dissolves
OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is expected to be ordered to pay $225 million in a criminal case related to how it sold its blockbuster opioid painkiller. If a judge accepts the negotiated deal on Tuesday, it opens the door for a separate settlement of thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids to take effect. Under that deal, the company would dissolve and members of the Sackler family who own the company would pay up to $7 billion over 15 years. Some advocates want that deal blocked and are calling on members of the family to be criminally charged instead.
Ex-NBA Player Damon Jones Is 1st to Plead Guilty in Gambling Sweep That Led to Over 30 Arrests
Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones has become the first person to plead guilty in a gambling sweep that led to the arrests of more than 30 people, including reputed mobsters and other basketball figures. During back-to-back hearings in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday, Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was charged in separate cases with profiting from rigged poker games and providing sports bettors with nonpublic information about injuries to stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, according to court filings. The 49-year-old previously pleaded not guilty in both cases. He’s due to be sentenced Jan. 6. He and his lawyer declined to comment after the hearings.
