The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
Tunnel to Towers ‘Steel Across America’ Tour Coming to Mount Rushmore
KEYSTONE, S.D. — The Tunnel to Towers Foundation will bring its “Steel Across America” tour to Mount Rushmore at 10 a.m. MDT on July 28. The tour features a 16,900-pound steel beam recovered from the original World Trade Center as part of a nationwide effort marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The ceremony will include Tunnel to Towers representatives, first responders and law enforcement honoring those affected by 9/11 and recognizing the service and sacrifice that followed. (Full story)
Pokémon Card Release Draws Early Morning Crowd at Rapid City Sam’s Club
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Trading card collectors lined up outside the Rapid City Sam’s Club early Tuesday for a Pokémon card release. According to shoppers, the first person arrived at 3 a.m. and waited five hours before the store opened. The line stretched around the building toward the automotive and curbside pickup area. Store staff were not told which cards would be available. The turnout reflected strong local interest in the release and mirrored nationwide demand for exclusive wholesale trading card drops. (Full story)
Fourteen Charged in Major Cocaine Conspiracy Across Rapid City and Pine Ridge
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Federal law enforcement officials on Tuesday announced more than two dozen people had been arrested as part of a recent drug bust operation. U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons, alongside officials with the FBI and DEA, said 14 people are facing drug charges for a large drug conspiracy that involved more than 500 grams of cocaine in Rapid City and in Pine Ridge. Parsons said the first arrest started in Colorado in June. The second phase took place Tuesday morning when the rest of the defendants were raided in South Dakota. Of the 14 arrested, three are from Colorado, seven are Rapid City, three are from Pine Ridge and one was from Box Elder. (Full story)
Mayor Proposes Smaller 2027 Budget with Record Road Investment
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Mayor Jason Salamun has released his proposed 2027 City budget, highlighting a $25 million reduction in overall spending while proposing the largest road improvement investment in Rapid City history. The $312.3 million budget proposal, down 7.4% from the 2026 budget of $337.3 million, was presented during a special Rapid City Common Council session Monday evening. The proposal includes a record $65 million for road improvements, while public safety improvements account for more than $13.8 million. The budget also earmarks $82 million for quality-of-life projects, led by a $76 million indoor sports fieldhouse planned for north Rapid City. (Full story)
US soldier killed in Iraq was a 30-year-old father from North Carolina
RALEIGH, North Carolina (AP) — The U.S. military has identified a soldier killed while disarming an Iranian drone in Iraq as Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton from North Carolina. The military said Tuesday that Swinton will receive a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Badge, and be promoted to staff sergeant. Swinton’s wife, Mia Gonzalez-Swinton, posted on social media: “I will never recover from this.” His mother said he leaves behind a 6-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter. Two U.S. Army soldiers were also killed in Jordan last week by an Iranian attack. They were the first U.S. troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war. (Full story)
6,600 noncitizens registered to vote after error in New Jersey motor vehicle system, governor says
HADDONFIELD, New Jersey (AP) — New Jersey’s governor says about 6,600 people who indicated they were noncitizens were nonetheless registered to vote in the state because of a Motor Vehicle Commission system error. Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced the problem Tuesday. Sherrill says that from June 2023 to June 2024, before she was in office, people who indicated they were not U.S. citizens on a voter registration keypad were registered to vote anyway. Sherrill says fewer than 400 of those people ended up casting ballots. The revelation comes as President Donald Trump and other Republicans have raised concerns about noncitizen voting in U.S. elections. (Full story)
French lawmakers approve a sweeping social media ban for children under 15
PARIS (AP) — French lawmakers have approved a bill banning children under 15 from using social media. The move makes France the first country in the European Union to pass a blanket ban on platforms as concerns grow worldwide over the harmful effects of digital content on kids. Both chambers of the Parliament voted Tuesday in favor of the measure, a flagship initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron’s second term. The bill also bans the use of mobile phones in high schools. (Full story)
