Good morning, Rapid City.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Dakota announced plans to build a new Ronald McDonald House near Monument Health in Rapid City that will serve over 600 families each year and include 12 private bedrooms.

Construction will begin in September with an expected opening by late 2026 + the project is supported by local donors + the Klinefelter family's generosity.

A teacher apprenticeship program has produced 41 graduates who signed teaching contracts in 31 public school districts and three private schools across the state.

The program, started in 2023, lets paraprofessionals earn online degrees while keeping their jobs + helps meet the teacher shortage.

Solitario Resources proposed a gold drilling project near Spearfish Canyon that many local groups and the Oglala Sioux Tribe say may harm water quality and recreation areas—more than 1,700 public comments oppose the plan as the Black Hills National Forest prepares to review the project and its potential environmental impact.

Feeding South Dakota requested $3 million in one-time funds at a legislative Appropriations Committee meeting in Pierre to cover the loss of 1.5 million pounds of USDA food that has affected its programs since March — the nonprofit said rising costs have pushed the purchase price to $2.7 million as of July 25. Lawmakers will review the proposal in the 2026 session — as they weigh concerns over a $24.5 million shortfall in the general fund.

The Rapid City Legal and Finance Committee voted on Wednesday to set up a Tax Increment Finance District that will support a northside police precinct and fast food outlets including a planned Chick-fil-A, approved annexation of 1,250 acres near the airport, and recommended that the City Council repeal the medical marijuana moratorium. The council will vote on these proposals on Aug. 4 — details on annexation and business regulations will be reviewed later — as developers and local residents await the final decisions.

A land dispute in Wisconsin is ongoing and may soon reach the U.S. Supreme Court, affecting South Dakota tribes whose reservation lands are crossed by four roads built on expired leases — non-tribal homeowners and local officials are caught in stalled negotiations over easements and access rights.

South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds asked the U.S. Department of Health + Human Services to restore a $1.25m grant for underground mining safety research at the South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City after layoffs at NIOSH led to its cancellation.

Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he will work with Rounds, though he did not offer a timeframe.

Picnic - A new kind of branding workshop

Picnic helps businesses and professionals hone a brand that aligns with their voice, values, and message. It creates brands that are easy for audiences to connect with—and that make work feel purposeful. Through hands-on exercises, Picnic invites you to listen, challenges you to be curious, and helps you think creatively. You'll leave with insights and techniques to keep your team inspired and your brand feeling fresh, day after day.

Picnic - A new kind of branding workshop

Picnic helps businesses and professionals hone a brand that aligns with their voice, values, and message. It creates brands that are easy for audiences to connect with—and that make work feel purposeful. Through hands-on exercises, Picnic invites you to listen, challenges you to be curious, and helps you think creatively. You'll leave with insights and techniques to keep your team inspired and your brand feeling fresh, day after day.

Lil Jon Live in Concert

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Central States Fair, Inc. — Tickets available — Get ready for a night of crunk with Lil Jon and the hype of Mike Jones.