The Daily Slice, your Black Hills news podcast in under 10 minutes. Delivered every morning Monday-Friday at homesliceaudio.com/dailyslice
FBI Offers $25,000 Reward in Alejandro Vasquez Disappearance
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The FBI is seeking information in the disappearance and presumed death of Alejandro “Tank” Pilar Vasquez, who was last seen Oct. 29, 2015, on American Horse Creek Road near Kyle on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Vasquez was 24 when he disappeared. The FBI is offering up to $25,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of those responsible for his death. Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at 800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov. (Full story)
RCAS Invites Community to Tour Schools Ahead of $107 Million Bond Referendum
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Area Schools is inviting community members to join district representatives on Saturday, September 19 at 10 a.m. for a guided tour of several district facilities. The tour coincides with the district’s efforts to inform the public about the project needs in the district’s proposed $107 million bond referendum. The tour will begin at South Middle School and will include stops at South Middle School, Robbinsdale Elementary, North Middle School, and, time permitting, Stevens High School. At each stop, district staff will share information about the building, current facility needs, and long-term planning. (Full story)
Meade 46-1 Enrollment Drops by 41 Students
STURGIS, S.D. — The Meade 46-1 School Board met for their September meeting last week with the preliminary fall enrollment numbers on the agenda. Superintendent Wayne Wormstadt reports the unofficial fall enrollment is 2,906 students, which is down 41 from the 2025 number of 2,947. The official fall enrollment count is taken as of the last Friday in September. Wormstadt says he expects those numbers to drop some more. (Full story)
Rapid City Warns Residents About Inaccurate AI Information
RAPID CITY, S.D. — City of Rapid City officials are cautioning residents to verify information generated by artificial intelligence after an inaccurate AI response was identified regarding City programs and policies. The most recent example incorrectly states that Rapid City offers a program to reimburse property owners for sidewalk and curb repairs. The information generated confuses programs in Rapid City with those offered in Ohio and Indiana. Residents seeking information about City programs, services or requirements are encouraged to use the City of Rapid City’s official website or contact the appropriate City department rather than relying solely on AI-generated search summaries. (Full story)
Mayor Jason Salamun Says Early Announcement Gives Candidates Time to Prepare
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun announced earlier this week that he will not seek reelection in 2027. He said he made the announcement in September to give potential candidates time to prepare. The mayor spoke on Monday in a press conference saying “For me, it’s really important that we have someone else who can do great things in the mayor’s office,” Salamun said. “I want someone with values and vision for Rapid City who has Rapid City’s best interests at heart.” Salamun has been in city government for a decade, six years on the council and four as mayor. Petitions for the mayor’s race can be picked up in February. (Full story)
A fourth measles death is reported in Pennsylvania
NEW YORK (AP) — Pennsylvania officials are reporting a fourth measles-associated death. An 18-year-old from Mifflin County died from a severe neurological complication of the virus. None of the four who died were vaccinated. The U.S. is experiencing its worst measles year since 1991, with seven deaths in two years. Pennsylvania’s outbreak includes nearly 700 illnesses across 38 counties. These are the first measles-associated deaths in the state in 35 years. Health officials emphasize the importance of the MMR vaccine to prevent outbreaks. International health officials will meet in November to assess the U.S. and Mexico’s measles-free status. (Full story)
US acknowledges for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has confirmed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space. It’s a remarkable revelation after previous warnings about countries such as Russia possibly weaponizing a global frontier long agreed in treaties to be used for only peaceful purposes. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told a conference Monday that the U.S. has fielded “on-orbit space control weapons” capable of defending against hostile action. Meink didn’t detail what the weapons were, how they work or if they were targeting other objects in space or on Earth. The U.S. had warned two years ago that Russia was developing a new space-based, anti-satellite weapon, reflecting longstanding worries about space threats from Russia and China. (Full story)
As the world debates the risks of AI, China closes the technology gap with the US
HONG KONG (AP) — The rapid development of artificial intelligence has sparked renewed debate about its risks, with both the United States and China expressing concerns. Experts say China has emerged as a significant AI contender and nearly closed the gap with the U.S. Chinese AI models challenging U.S. counterparts include Moonshot AI’s Kimi and Z.ai’s GLM. The developments have gained importance ahead of an expected visit to Washington this month by Chinese President Xi Jinping. China has expressed worries about AI’s risks to security and governance. The U.S. accuses China of extracting capabilities from American AI models, a claim China denies. (Full story)
