Good Day
Rapid City
Friday, April 17th, 2026
Good morning, Rapid City. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 17th of April.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Art Rave, director of the CRLTRG, was awarded a Courage Project grant for his work on housing recovery — disaster preparedness on the Cheyenne River Reservation. The group is set to use opioid settlement funds to support mobile crisis response and cultural healing programs in northwest South Dakota. Native Sun News
- ➤ More than 250 Lakota elders gathered last weekend at the historic Hotel Alex Johnson in downtown Rapid City to honor Native heritage during the 150th Anniversary celebrations. The event featured live music, special guest appearances, an Easter brunch, and a gift giveaway recognizing community volunteer Chance Miner. Native Sun News
- ➤ Harding County rancher Kaeloni Parmely spoke at the 2026 National Farmers Union Convention in New Orleans, urging young producers to adopt new tools to sustain family farms for future generations. She credited local union support and community efforts+ helping these traditions endure. KBHB
- ➤ Residents in Star Village created their first community garden behind The Nest (a local hub) this weekend by tilling hillside soil into beds for vegetables and flowers. The project will host a youth planting program and star paver path on May 12. Native Sun News
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Pete Lien & Sons, long seen as a local family business, was acquired in 2019 by Summit Materials and now appears to be part of a multi billion dollar firm, with its upcoming graphite mining project set to threaten Lakota sacred land and Rapid City’s water supply. Native Sun News
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ At the Oyate Health Center in Rapid City, Lily Mendoza led Matriarchs Rising, showing how Indigenous women's leadership strengthens community care. The event, sponsored by the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board’s Tribal Opioid Response Program, urged women to exchange cultural teachings (including stories of resilience) for a balanced future. Native Sun News
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ This spring, Rapid City will launch an aggressive graffiti removal effort by asking residents to report vandalism on city property, parks, and utilities via the public works page. The policy requires removal within 24 hours, except for utility sites, which will be fixed within 10 days. KBHB
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Last Saturday, BHSU track teams competed at Colorado School of Mines for the Kit Mayer Classic. Gretchen Adamski won the pole vault with a second-best mark and Evan Smith secured the 800m win with a top-five time; both teams earned NCAA Provisional marks and top-5 finishes. KBHB
- ➤ Black Hills State University track & field teams won 12 titles on Wednesday at South Dakota Mines’ O’Harra Stadium during the Bauer Open. The Yellow Jackets recorded 46 top-5 and 62 top-10 finishes, with top performances from Avery Marler, Flynn Johnston, Caden Strasser, and Sean Shipp. KBHB
- ➤ Madison McLaughlin, the Yellow Jacket national champion in track and field, will be inducted into the RMAC Hall of Fame in July — marking Black Hills State’s first induction since 2012. She set a lasting shot put record during her final college season. KBHB
- ➤ On Tuesday, Rapid City Stevens and Rapid City Christian won 9-0 shutout victories in prep tennis as Stevens defeated St Thomas More and Christian beat Rapid City Central — the teams swept both doubles and singles matches. KBHB
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Tahoe Knight Monsters vs Rapid City Rush
7:05-11:59 PM — The Monument — Ticket prices vary — Catch the action as the Tahoe Knight Monsters clash with the Rapid City Rush in an exciting hockey showdown.
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Black Hills Dance Festival 2026
6:30 PM – 10:30 PM — The Monument — Early Bird pricing until April 1 — Enjoy workshops and evening dancing with a variety of professional instructors.
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RAD City 2 - 80s & 90s Car Show
6-10 p.m. — Central States Fair, Inc. — Free entry — Cruise back in time at the ultimate 80s & 90s car show with classic rides and good vibes.
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Homeschool South Dakota Conference 2026
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM — The Monument — Check website for registration fees — Connect with fellow homeschoolers for networking and sharing educational resources.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Energy and persistence conquer all things.
~ Benjamin Franklin
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