The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Rally Visitors Urged to Use Extreme Caution Amid Drought, Fire Danger
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Later this week, hundreds of thousands of visitors will descend on the hills’ for the 86th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally during a serious drought that has blanketed most of the region. Fire officials say everyone needs to be aware of the drought conditions and extreme fire danger and be aware of the local burn restrictions and safety measures: pay attention, make sure vehicles are mechanically sound, don’t let chains drag, show caution with cigarettes, pay attention to burn restrictions including no campfires in the Black Hills. Drought has impacted a portion of western South Dakota including Pennington and Meade counties. As a result, currently, a vast swath of National Forest lands is under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions. (Full story)
Municipal Band Reschedules Final Concert After Rain Delay
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A much-needed half inch of rain fell in the downtown area last Wednesday night, forcing postponement of the Rapid City Municipal Band’s final concert of its 108th summer season. The free concert has been rescheduled to tonight, Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 8 p.m. at the Memorial Park Bandshell. What started with a rehearsal in June 1918, the Rapid City Municipal Band and its local performers have provided free music for Rapid City citizens and visitors every summer season. Attendees are advised to bring lawn chairs and blankets as it gets a little chilly when the sun goes down. (Full story)
Wall Woman Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash Near Scenic
PENNINGTON COUNTY, S.D. — A Wall, South Dakota woman died Monday in a single-vehicle crash near Scenic, South Dakota. Names of the those involved have not been released pending notification of family members. According to press release from the Department of Public Safety, preliminary crash information indicates the driver of a 2008 Chevrolet Impala was traveling northbound on Bombing Range Road when the vehicle left the road. She attempted to correct and lost control of the vehicle, sending it into a roll. The driver sustained fatal injuries. Her passenger was taken to a Rapid City hospital with serious non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing. All information released is preliminary. The Highway Patrol is an agency of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety. (Full story)
Law Enforcement to Host Annual ‘Fill a Patrol Car’ School Supply Drive
RAPID CITY, S.D. — For a fifth consecutive year, local law enforcement officials are encouraging the public to participate in the ‘Fill a Patrol Car with School Supplies’ effort. The annual event is scheduled at both Rapid City Walmart stores on August 5th from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Patrol cars and officers will be located near the entrances of both facilities to accept donations. Suggested school supplies for donation include color pencils, crayons, pencil cases, pens, pencils, folders, three-ring binders, paper, notebooks, graph paper, headphones, glue sticks, dry-erase or regular markers, scissors, calculators, and tissue boxes. (Full story)
Musk likely to face tough questions during SpaceX’s first earnings call as a public company
NEW YORK (AP) — Investors in Elon Musk’s space company get a chance to question him Tuesday in his first quarterly earnings call since an initial public offering. Stock in SpaceX is down by half from its June peak as investors worry Musk had oversold investors on its future prospects and brace for possible selling by company insiders as a lockup for trading their shares expires later this week. Musk is likely to be asked about when he expects to finish testing SpaceX’s giant Starship rockets, plans for its satellite network and the prospects of putting football-field sized data centers in orbit. (Full story)
In-N-Out worker killed in shooting at newly opened Idaho restaurant traveled to open stores
One of the three people killed when a gunman opened fire at an In-N-Out Burger had traveled to Idaho to help expand the restaurant chain. Ashley Garibay’s family says she fell in love with her work at In-N-Out, where she landed her first job. She was tapped to train new employees away from Stockton, California, where she was based. Her family says she was an amazing, beautiful soul. Seven others were injured in the shooting at the Twin Falls restaurant last weekend. The attack ended when the gunman, identified by police as 24-year-old Chad Williams, killed himself. (Full story)
Man charged with setting Spokane’s largest wildfire went to prison for killing his father
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A man who went to prison for manslaughter in his father’s 2010 killing in Arizona has been charged with intentionally setting the largest of the wildfires wreaking havoc on Washington state’s second-largest city. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office says 37-year-old Aaron F. Farinacci, of Spokane, was arrested Monday and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire. According to an affidavit, Farinacci denied under questioning by sheriff’s deputies that he set the fire. It is the biggest of the three blazes that have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced about 67,000 people from their homes in and around Spokane. Farinacci’s is jailed on $1 million bond and is due in court later Tuesday. (Full story)
