Good morning, Rapid City.

The Seventh Circuit CASA Program has named Bailey Johns its executive director.

She joined in January 2019 and most recently served as advocacy program manager working directly with volunteer advocates and children.

Rapid City's August sales tax report shows solid growth, with year-to-date receipts at $62.5 million versus $59.1 million through August 2025, general 2% sales tax up 3.9% while tourism collections fell 2.4% after a softer Sturgis Rally.

The report will be shared at the Legal and Finance Committee meeting (12:30 p.m., Council Chambers).

Visitors spent nearly $11 million in Rapid City during July 1-5, a 3.9 percent increase from the 2025 holiday (per a Visit Rapid City report).

South Dakota Mines was named today one of 16 university winners of the U.S. Department of Energy's PROSPECT Planning Prize and will receive $1 million to plan expanded education and workforce programs in critical minerals, funding recruitment, outreach, and curriculum in mining + geology + materials engineering.

A legislative task force voted in Pierre to endorse two model bills that would create eight to 14 regional ambulance service areas and require Medicaid and private insurers to reimburse treatment-in-place at advanced life support rates (ALS); the group will send findings and bills to the Legislature and Department of Health for recommendations by June 1, 2028.

The South Dakota Media Volleyball Poll for the week of Oct.

26 ranks Harrisburg, Brandon Valley, and S.F. Lincoln atop Class AA, and Warner, Chester Area, and Bennett County lead other classes; the final poll will be released Monday, Nov. 2.

Rapid City Stevens beat Sturgis in straight sets at Carrold Heier Gymnasium on Tuesday, winning 25-20, 25-12, 25-16; Brooke Larsen had 17 assists, 10 kills and two aces, and Stevens improved to (24-7) while Sturgis fell to 15-19 and will host Rapid City Central on Monday.