The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Box Elder commercial fire draws multiagency response
BOX ELDER, S.D. — A commercial building at L&S Trailer Repair and Welding, 122 Box Elder Road, was damaged in a structure fire reported around 2 p.m. Tuesday. Fire crews found the building and neighboring U-Haul trailers fully involved, prompting a defensive response as the fire spread into surrounding grass. The City of Box Elder said crews later knocked down the blaze with assistance from multiple Black Hills fire departments, law enforcement agencies and community partners. Officials thanked first responders, local businesses and residents for their support during the response. (Full story)
Rapid City committee approves Star Village demolition agreements
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Public Works Committee approved agreements Tuesday for the demolition of 28 condemned garages and sheds at Star Village, citing safety concerns. If approved by the City Council on July 20, demolition will begin in August, with the $133,500 cost assessed to property owner Tzadik Rapid City Portfolio I. City officials said the structures remain despite previous demolition orders. Officials also reported more than $533,000 in unpaid utility bills tied to Tzadik properties, including more than $344,000 at Star Village, along with about $26,000 in unpaid code enforcement abatements dating to 2023. (Full story)
Pennington County restores more services after cyber incident
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Pennington County said more departments have resumed normal operations as recovery continues from a recent cybersecurity incident. County officials said security validation and monitoring remain underway before additional systems are restored. The Register of Deeds can again process vital records requests but is accepting cash only, while Planning and Zoning has resumed normal services with cash or check payments. The Treasurer’s Office remains unable to process vehicle registrations or payments, and the Auditor’s Office cannot process lien payments. Officials said no public action is needed, and anyone affected by a potential personal information breach will be notified directly. (Full story)
Hills Alive Returns to Rapid City This Weekend
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The annual Hills Alive Christian music festival will be held July 18-19 at Memorial Park in Rapid City. The 2026 lineup includes Anne Wilson, Sidewalk Prophets, Tenth Avenue North and other artists. Organizers said about 35,000 people attended last year’s two-day event, which also features kids’ activities, vendors, food trucks and ministry areas. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets, with shade tents allowed in designated areas. Volunteers are still needed for parking, first aid, beverage sales, the prayer tent and teardown. (Full story)
Inflation cools more than expected in June as gas costs fall, underlying prices ease
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. inflation cooled last month as the cost of gas, clothes, and used cars fell, providing some relief to consumers, though much of the progress could be reversed if the Iran war keeps worsening. Prices dropped 0.4% in June from May, the largest monthly drop in four years, the Labor Department said Tuesday. On a yearly basis, inflation declined to 3.5%, down from a year-over-year gain of 4.2% in May and lower than many economists expected. Yet oil prices jumped Monday as the United States renewed attacks on Iran. And many Americans have soured on the economy after five years of elevated inflation. (Full story)
Buffett omits gift to Bill Gates’ foundation after Microsoft cofounder’s Epstein ties disclosed
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire Warren Buffett omitted Bill Gates′ foundation from his annual donations this year after disclosures of the Microsoft co-founder’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He’ll donate about $6 billion to four family foundations, but didn’t mention Gates. Buffett also said in his statement that he wants all of his remaining Berkshire Hathaway stock worth nearly $146 billion donated to charity by the end of 2034. Most of Buffett’s donations since 2006 have gone to the Gates Foundation. Buffett told CNBC in March that he hadn’t talked to Gates since before the Epstein files were released in 2025. They used to be exceptionally close friends. Gates denies any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and hasn’t been accused of any wrongdoing. (Full story)
An experimental Alzheimer’s drug shows promise targeting a different brain protein, new study shows
WASHINGTON (AP) — An experimental drug might help slow early Alzheimer’s disease in a markedly different way than current treatments — by lowering the brain’s production of a protein called tau. Today two Alzheimer’s drugs can modestly slow cognitive decline by clearing away buildup of a different protein, amyloid. But tau plays a role, too, and there are no tau-targeting drugs. Researchers at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference reported new findings Tuesday suggesting Biogen’s experimental drug diranersen also might offer that benefit. The company plans a larger study to tell. It’s one of multiple novel, but early-stage, attempts to fight the mind-robbing disease. (Full story)
