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Knollwood Park Redevelopment Project Approved At More Than $2.8 Million
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The City Council has approved the bid award to RCS Construction for the Knollwood Park Redevelopment Project at more than $2.8 million. The project develops the Knollwood Drainage Area into a neighborhood park with a playground, restroom, shelter, partially-paved walking loop, lighting and parking lot off E. Knollwood Drive. The project also includes grading work, sediment removal, drainage and sewer structure upgrades. (Full story)
Rapid City Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Shooting And Burglary Case
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A Rapid City man who shot a family member twice and then broke into a home while fleeing from law enforcement was sentenced in Seventh Circuit Court. Travis Chipps, 20, pleaded guilty in March to one count of aggravated assault, one count of first-degree burglary, and one count of simple assault against a law enforcement officer, commonly referred to as “sliming.” The offenses occurred in October 2024. Seventh Circuit Judge Jeffrey Connolly sentenced Chipps to 15 years in prison for aggravated assault, 15 years for first-degree burglary, and two years for sliming. The sentences will run concurrently. (Full story)
State Accepting Changes To Math Standards Amid Concerns From Educators
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The South Dakota Department of Education is accepting over 50 changes to state math standards. The changes were negotiated between the department and math teachers throughout the state over the last six months. A math professor at South Dakota State University says the standards prioritize procedures over concepts. Board President Steve Perkins says the newly adopted standards will need minor corrections, but the board wanted to approve them so they could get started with implementation. One of the concerns teachers have is a misalignment between the various concepts at different grade levels, which will need to be fleshed out. (Full story)
Rapid City Man Found Guilty Of Second-Degree Murder In 2024 Shooting
RAPID CITY, S.D. — A Pennington County jury has found Luke Birch, 23, of Rapid City, guilty of second-degree murder in the death of McGarland Walker VI. Walker was shot six times and killed on March 8, 2024, inside an apartment building on Rapid City’s west side. At trial, evidence showed the two men had been in a dispute, with much of it happening over the phone. Prosecutors said Walker went to the apartment of Birch’s girlfriend that evening, where Birch was staying. Birch was reportedly waiting for him, armed and wearing a ski mask. When Walker entered the building, Birch shot him multiple times in the entryway, then fled and tried to cover up his involvement. In South Dakota, second-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence. A sentencing date has not yet been set. (Full story)
City Council Approves Funding For Bowls Of Hope Utility Assistance Effort
RAPID CITY, S.D. — At Monday’s meeting, the Rapid City Council authorized up to $10,000 from the Council contingency fund for the Bowls of Hope fundraiser, hosted by City staff. Last year, City of Rapid City employees launched a new strategic partnership with St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) to refer customers struggling to make their monthly utility payments to SVDP. City employees hosted two Bowls of Hope soup events at City Hall and the Dahl Arts Center. Last year’s two events raised a collective total of $2,900 with all funds provided to SVDP to help offset utility payments for individuals in their program. (Full story)
Railyard Relocation Study Approved By Rapid City Council
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Council has approved the Railyard Relocation and Railway Configuration Study Draft Report. The objective of the study is to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of relocating the current Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern (RCP&E) railyard to an alternate location. A significant focus is also placed on identifying a more efficient rail network configuration for the region. The goal is finding an alternative that addresses community concerns, alleviates the need to replace the Cambell Street structure, considers efficient, effective rail operations and supports the orderly growth of the region. (Full story)
How a deadly hantavirus outbreak unfolded on a cruise ship for weeks before it was identified
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A deadly outbreak of the rare hantavirus unfolded over the course of weeks on a cruise ship that sailed from Argentina toward Antarctica and then across the Atlantic Ocean as passengers and crew members fell sick. Information from the cruise operator, health authorities and ship tracking data shows nearly a month passed between when the first passenger fell sick in the South Atlantic and tests in South Africa confirmed that hantavirus was on the ship. Hantavirus is spread by rodents. People can get it through contact with infected rodents’ saliva, urine or droppings. It doesn’t usually spread from person to person, but some health authorities say such transmission could be possible.(Full story)
Former FedEx driver sentenced to death for killing 7-year-old girl after delivery at her Texas home
DALLAS (AP) — A former FedEx driver has been sentenced to death after he pleaded guilty to killing a 7-year-old girl he took from her Texas home while delivering a Christmas gift. Jurors decided Tuesday on the sentence for 34-year-old Tanner Horner. He had pleaded guilty to capital murder just as his trial began in Fort Worth in the 2022 killing of Athena Strand. Her body was found two days after she was reported missing in the rural town of Paradise, near Fort Worth. Horner’s attorney had asked jurors to sentence Horner to life in prison and said Horner suffered from “various mental illnesses.” (Full story)
Trump’s drugmaker deals may save economy $529B over 10 years, White House says
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s deals with drugmakers requiring many of their U.S. prescription prices to drop could save the economy $529 billion over the next decade. That’s according to the first analysis from the White House Council of Economic Advisers of what’s known as the “most favored nation” policy. Democrats have said they want more details about the agreements made between drugmakers and the government. Trump says his prescription drug pricing plan is critical for Republicans in the November midterm elections, which will decide majorities in the House and Senate. (Full story)
