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SDPB •

Crowds protest Supreme Court abortion decision: 'Bring your rage with you to the ballot box'

Crowds gathered Friday evening in locations including downtown Sioux Falls and Rapid City to protest the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, the nearly 50-year-old legal precedent that protected the right to an abortion. In downtown Sioux Falls, former legislator Casey Murschel was among those decrying the decision. "This is devastating," Murschel said. "But my first reaction right now is deep sadness, deep grief for women out there who are left with extraordinary kinds of alterna
SDPB •

Words that changed Rapid City: 'We cannot sentence the survivors to one more night on the suicidal floodplain'

The attached audio above is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment. The 50th commemoration of the 1972 Black Hills Flood is Thursday. It’s a time to honor the 238 people who died, and it also brings a flood of memories for those who survived. Since February, SDPB has been sharing stories from those survivors, in their own words. Today, in the final installment, we hear from Don Barnett. He was the 29-year-old mayor of Rapid City in 1972. Two days after the flood, he called a meet
NPR •

South Dakota residents reflect on one of the nation's deadliest floods

Last year, I went for a run while visiting Rapid City, S.D. I ran this path along Rapid Creek in the middle of town. The riverside path led through green parkland, which, according to a sign, used to be neighborhoods until a flood destroyed them 50 years ago. Seth Tupper of South Dakota Public Broadcasting reports on what that flood changed. SETH TUPPER, BYLINE: On a June night in 1972, up to 15 inches of rain fell on the Black Hills. It collected in Rapid Creek and roared downhill straight int
SDPB •

Ep 3: Baken Park to Downtown Rapid City

A torrent of water rushes out of the Black Hills and through western Rapid City. A Native American woman is warned to leave for higher ground, but some family members try to ride out the flood and perish. Two couples escape their car and stay above the rising water by jumping onto floating rooftops. A welding supply business is inundated, so employees spend the night on top of a display counter. And National Guard soldiers are called to life-saving duty.
SDPB •

Ep 2: Canyon Lake to Baken Park

A torrent of water rushes out of the Black Hills and through western Rapid City. The son of a funeral director is called in to help his dad when they are overwhelmed with the bodies of flood victims. A pastor and his family are trapped in flood waters. A young man takes refuge with his parents in one of the few homes that withstands the flood. A department store owner loses everything as the flood takes his merchandise away and leaves several feet of mud behind.
SDPB •

50 years ago, funeral workers faced daunting task after Black Hills Flood

The 50th commemoration of the 1972 Black Hills Flood is June 9. It’s a time to honor the 238 people who died, and it also brings a flood of memories for those who survived. Each week between now and June 9, SDPB is sharing stories from those survivors, in their own words. This week, we hear from Steve Paula. He was a college student in 1972 and was spending the summer working at his father's Campbell-Paula Funeral Home in Rapid City when the flood struck. "That first day, they brought 93. I re
SDPB •

Farmer rushed to save his neighbor as Boxelder Creek flooded 50 years ago

The attached audio above is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment. The 50th commemoration of the 1972 Black Hills Flood is June 9. It’s a time to honor the 238 people who died, and it also brings a flood of memories for those who survived. Each week between now and June 9, SDPB is sharing stories from those survivors, in their own words. This week, we hear from Don Konechne. He was at home on his farm alongside Boxelder Creek, north of Rapid City, when the creek suddenly flooded
SDPB •

Ep 1: West of Canyon Lake

A torrent of water rushes out of the Black Hills toward Rapid City. A teenager finds his mother’s home surrounded by raging water, while a man living high above Rapid Creek watches helplessly as homes and lives are swept away below. A real-estate developer is trapped by high water in one of his condominiums, and a young man is thrown into the water when a house breaks apart. Meanwhile, a National Guard soldier struggles to save a family on a rooftop.
SDPB •

Family, international student, airmen thrown together during Rapid City flood 50 years ago

The attached audio above is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment. The 50th commemoration of the 1972 Black Hills Flood is June 9. It’s a time to honor the 238 people who died, and it also brings a flood of memories for those who survived. Each week between now and June 9, SDPB is sharing stories from those survivors, in their own words. This week, we hear from Margaret King, who called and left us a recorded message about her flood experience in Rapid City. King now lives in Ha
SDPB •

50 years later, man recalls losing friend to 1972 flood

The attached audio above is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment. The 50th commemoration of the Black Hills Flood is on June 9th. It’s a time to honor the 238 people who died, and it also brings a flood of memories for those who survived. Each week between now and June 9th, SDPB is sharing stories from those survivors, in their own words. This week, we hear from Wayne Pfleger. The flood destroyed his restaurant in Rapid City’s Baken Park shopping complex. It also took the life
SDPB •

'People screaming for help as they floated by': Survivor recalls 1972 Black Hills flood

The attached audio above is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment. The 50th commemoration of the 1972 Black Hills Flood is June 9th. It’s a time to honor the 238 lives lost, and it also brings a flood of memories for survivors. Every week between now and the anniversary, SDPB is sharing stories from those survivors, in their own words. This week, we hear from Tom Haggerty. He was in bed at his family’s home near Rapid Creek when a flood surge rolled through Rapid City. An SDPB
SDPB •

Woman recalls surviving '72 flood on floating roofs

The attached audio above is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment. The 50th anniversary of the 1972 Black Hills Flood is June 9th. It’s a time to honor the 238 lives lost, and it also brings a flood of memories for survivors. Every week between now and the anniversary, SDPB is sharing stories from those survivors, in their own words. This week, we hear from Arlene Mattis. She was in a car that was swept up by the floodwaters of Rapid Creek in Rapid City. She and four other peopl
SDPB •

50 years ago, Rapid City couple reunited after harrowing flood ordeal

The attached audio above is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment. The 50th anniversary of the 1972 Black Hills Flood is June 9th. It’s a time to honor the 238 lives lost, and it also brings a flood of memories for survivors. Every week between now and the anniversary, In the Moment is sharing stories from those survivors, in their own words. This week, we hear from Rob Oliver. Some listeners may recognize him as a former Sioux Falls bank executive and former president of August
SDPB •

50 years after flood, Guard soldier still haunted by recovery mission

The attached audio above is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment. The 50th anniversary of the 1972 Black Hills Flood is June 9th. It’s a time to honor the 238 lives lost, and it also brings a flood of memories for survivors. Every week between now and the anniversary, SDPB is featuring stories from those survivors, in their own words. This week, we hear from Darrel Heimes, of Rapid City. He spent the night of the flood working with other National Guard soldiers to rescue people
SDPB •

How a fix for Capitol Lake could kill the Flaming Fountain

This video is from SDPB's news program, South Dakota Focus. South Dakota’s Flaming Fountain is missing a key feature: flame. It’s been that way for more than a decade. Now there’s a plan to cap the well that supplies the fountain with natural gas. If that happens, it could close a fascinating chapter in state history with ties to a legendary politician, an unfortunate explosion, and generations of Capitol visitors.
SDPB •

Mother who lost children in flood: 'I don't think you ever get over it — ever, ever, ever'

The attached audio above is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment. The 50th anniversary of the 1972 Black Hills Flood is June 9th. It’s a time to honor the 238 lives lost, and it also brings a flood of memories for survivors. Every week between now and the anniversary, SDPB is featuring stories from those survivors, in their own words. This week, we hear from the Masters family. They were trying to escape the flood in their vehicle when a wall of water swept them off the road. T
SDPB •

50 years later, man recalls being in Canyon Lake when the dam ruptured during flood

The attached audio above is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment. The 50th anniversary of the 1972 Black Hills Flood is on June 9. It’s a time to honor the 238 lives lost, and it also brings a flood of memories for survivors. Every week between now and the anniversary, SDPB is featuring survivors' stories, in their own words. This week, we hear from Dave Baumberger. He was near Rapid Creek in western Rapid City when the flood surge hit, and he took shelter in a home with eight
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