PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – The former chief executive officer of the South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation has been honored for his agricultural work in the state. Michael Held was honored for his work in the industry during the Governor’s Ag Development Summit last week in Pierre. Gov. Dennis Daugaard presented the award to Held....

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – South Dakota school districts can arm teachers, other staff or volunteers with guns under a new state law taking effect Monday. But officials say they know of no district that has taken formal steps to designate so-called sentinels to beef up school security. The bill’s main sponsor, Rep. Scott Craig...

FORT PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – A South Dakota judge has upheld the 261-year prison sentence given to a Minnesota man who was 16 when he was involved in the 1996 kidnapping and murder of a Pierre taxicab driver. Shawn Cameron Springer, who is now 34, pleaded guilty in 1996 to kidnapping for his role...

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – South Dakota farmers have planted 4 percent fewer acres of corn than last year’s record crop. The Agriculture Department’s June acreage report estimates the state’s corn crop at 5.9 million acres. South Dakota’s soybean crop is estimated at 4.8 million acres, up 1 percent from 2012. Winter wheat acres...