The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
City Reminds Drivers to Cover Truck Loads in Air Quality Control Zone
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City’s Environmental Planner Director is reminding the public all truck loads must be covered for drivers passing through the City’s Air Quality Control Zone. It is a violation of Rapid City Municipal Code to transport materials that have the potential to emit fugitive dust without a covering. All vehicles used for transporting such materials must be equipped with a tarp. Contractors are advised covering truck loads is a stipulation of approval for air quality permits, and failure to cover loads will result in fines up to $500 per day of violation or 30 days in jail.
More Than $222,000 Raised for Real America 250 Birthday Bash
RAPID CITY, S.D. — An impressive array of Rapid City-area businesses and community partners have stepped up to support Rapid City’s upcoming Real America 250 ‘Birthday Bash’ Celebration. More than $222,000 has been raised by the local ‘Birthday Bash’ steering committee with the donations coming from 45 sponsors and community partners. The sponsorships are being combined with $250,000 approved earlier this year by the Rapid City Common Council and funds coordinated through Visit Rapid City in support of this summer’s Real America Birthday Bash, July 1-5. Local organizers say the event creates a major opportunity for tourism, local business growth and national visibility for Rapid City.
Rapid City Council Approves Municipal Code Updates
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Council this week unanimously approved a series of municipal code updates. The changes update city rules to align with recent South Dakota laws and formally establish a code of conduct for council members. The ordinance also creates procedures for handling complaints, including a requirement that complaints remain confidential or risk dismissal. Additional updates remove the requirement for council members to state a reason when abstaining from votes and clarify conflict-of-interest rules. City officials said the revisions largely reflect state law changes and existing city practices, while giving the council clearer authority to investigate and discipline members, including issuing reprimands, censures, or expulsion in serious cases.
Rapid City Planning Staff Honored with National Award
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Council this week recognized members of the City’s Community Development staff with the 2026 American Planning Association (APA) Vernon Dienes Comprehensive Plan Honor Award. The staff is being recognized by the American Planning Association for their work on Rapid City’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan. The award recognizes excellence in long-range planning and the creation of a document that will direct the City’s future for the next decade.
Authorities say they disrupted planned drone, gun attack on White House UFC cage-fighting show
WASHINGTON (AP) — Court papers say law enforcement officials disrupted a planned attack targeting the UFC cage-fighting show staged at the White House this past weekend. Papers unsealed Tuesday say plotters spoke of flying explosives-laden drones and shooting panicked crowd members as they fled. The documents reveal the FBI obtained encrypted text messages showing roughly 20 people sharing detailed maps of the area and discussing the need for a “safe house” and escape routes after the attack. It’s unclear from court records how close the would-be attackers came to being able to carry out their plan, which was thwarted last week. The FBI says among those arrested was a 19-year-old Ohio man. (Full story)
Flight tracking data shows B-52 took sharp turn before crashing, killing all 8 on board
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A flight tracking website shows that the B-52 that crashed during a test flight at an Air Force base in California took a sharp turn before plunging to the ground. Limited tracking data shows it plummeted at a rate nearly 10 times faster than a plane normally descends for landing. All eight people aboard were killed in Monday’s fiery crash of the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. It was taking part in a routine test mission as part of an overall program to keep the long-running aircraft flying for decades to come. Officials at Edwards Air Force Base said it could take up to six months to complete the investigation into the cause of the crash. (Full story)
Pizza Hut, overtaken by the arrival of delivery culture, will be sold for $2.7 billion
Pizza Hut’s parent company is selling the 68-year-old chain for $2.7 billion. Yum Brands said on Tuesday that the private equity firm LongRange Capital will buy Pizza Hut’s business outside mainland China for about $1.5 billion. Yum China Holdings Inc. is purchasing the mainland China operations for approximately $1.2 billion. Pizza Hut has been struggling with growing competition from DoorDash, Uber Eats and other restaurant delivery companies that promote their access to cuisines besides pizza. In February, Yum Brands announced plans to close 250 U.S. Pizza Hut locations. Pizza Hut was founded by two brothers in 1958. They chose the name of their store in Wichita, Kansas, because the sign only had room for eight letters. (Full story)
