Good morning, Rapid City.

South Dakota Wildland Fire celebrated a $2 million expansion at its Rapid City campus that gives the firefighting group a more solid home base.

An official said the change is meant to strengthen the team's family-like culture.

Black Hills Energy is building Lange II (a 99-megawatt natural gas facility in Rapid City) set to be complete by the end of 2026; it will replace the Ben French generating units retiring in 2027.

Ranchers from St. Onge and other local areas are urging Washington to add fair trade protections to the USMCA before the July 1 deadline—USCA leaders note that free-trade policies allowing more imports are challenging domestic beef production.

Rapid City Area Schools raised employee salaries by 2.5% after confidential negotiations.

CFO Coy Sasse (who reported the change at Tuesday, April 21 board meeting) said the increase was a win for staff.

Matt Brandhagen was named the new director of the City's Recreation Division, replacing Doug Lowe who retired earlier this year.

A veteran of 19 years in the department, he has led sports leagues and expanded town events (including bocce and pickleball) to serve local residents.

Crews will install centerline rumble stripes and seal cracks on highways in the Rapid City region starting Tuesday, April 28—beginning on U.S. Highway 12 near Lemmon and continuing to sites along Thunderhawk Junction, as well as other roads.

Motorists should expect delays up to 15 minutes until May 10.

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.

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.

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.