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This Hour: Latest South Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment

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SIOUX FALLS-STORM CLEANUP

Sioux Falls dips into reserves for storm cleanup

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The Sioux Falls City Council is taking $8 million from the city's reserve fund to cover most of the cost of cleaning up from a 3-day snow and ice storm in April.

Reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency could replace much of that amount, but city officials are still debating whether to accept federal help.

Some officials believe other disaster-stricken areas of the country could use the money more. Sioux Falls Councilman Kermit Staggers says the storm cleanup in Sioux Falls largely amounted to tree branch cleanup.

City Finance Director Tracy Turbak says if Sioux Falls turns down the FEMA money, it could put itself in a vulnerable situation if a major disaster happened.

The city has about $40 million in its reserve fund.

VICTIM NOTIFICATION PROGRAM

AG appoints panel for victim notification program

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has appointed a panel to oversee the creation of a new program that will provide information to crime victims.

The crime victim program was part of a sweeping measure passed by the South Dakota Legislature to reform the criminal justice system by treating more nonviolent offenders through intensive probation, parole and other programs outside prison walls.

The Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification program will provide victims of crime with information about those who committed crimes against them. That information may include important dates of court proceedings, as well as changes in bond conditions or release from custody.

Law enforcement officers, court and prison officials, and victim's advocates will serve on the advisory commission to set up the notification system.

SUSPECT SHOT

Suspect shot by SD officers expected to recover

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - Authorities say a man shot by law officers following a chase in southwestern South Dakota is expected to recover.

Attorney General Marty Jackley says two Pennington County deputies and a Highway Patrol officer chased suspected drunken driver Travis Ross on Monday afternoon and shot him when he brandished a rifle.

Ross was taken to a Rapid City hospital. The Rapid City Journal reports that he was not listed on the hospital directory on Tuesday.

The state Division of Criminal Investigation is looking into whether the officers were justified in shooting Ross, who the Journal says has a history of drunken driving arrests. Jackley said Ross has an active warrant for violating parole on a felony drunken driving conviction.

FAIRGROUNDS-SEX OFFENDERS

Official wants fairgrounds banned to sex offenders

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) - The lead prosecutor in South Dakota's Brown County wants commissioners to ban convicted sex offenders from the fairgrounds during the annual county fair.

State's Attorney Larry Lovrien says many of the events at the fair are geared toward children, and that many volunteers and vendors who work at the fair are sex offenders. His proposal aims to keep the fairgrounds safe for children.

The American News reports that Lovrien is suggesting the county declare the fairgrounds a public park or playground each year during the fair. That would make the fairgrounds a "community safe zone," and sex offenders are forbidden by law from coming within 500 feet of such areas.

County commissioners have not taken any action on the proposal.

SIOUX FALLS CHASE

Sioux Falls police chase ends with arrests

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - A reported strong-armed robbery, assault and shoplifting incident at a Sioux Falls Walmart led to a chase that culminated with authorities arresting two adults and placing three children in protective custody.

Police say the suspects fled from the store in a van when officers arrived shortly after midnight. Officers gave chase and eventually stopped the vehicle, arresting the driver without incident and an adult passenger after a brief struggle.

The 28-year-old Mitchell woman driving the van and the 34-year-old Sioux Falls man who was a passenger in the front seat were arrested on charges ranging from aggravated eluding to child cruelty.

Police say the children were not hurt but a 58-year-old back-seat passenger suffered non-life threatening injuries.

STUDENT REGENT

SDSU student appointed to Board of Regents

BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) - Gov. Dennis Daugaard has appointed a South Dakota State University student to the Board of Regents.

Daugaard appointed incoming-sophomore Joe Schartz to serve a 2-year term as a member of the board. He is 1 of the board's nine voting members.

Schartz is double majoring in journalism and agriculture business and minoring in political science. He serves as a student association senator at SDSU and is a member of the Journalism Student Advisory Board and the Honors Dean's Student Advisory Council. He's also involved with the Honors College Student Organization, concert choir, Fellowship of Catholic University Students and the College Republicans.

PIERRE FIRE CHIEF

Pierre fire chief retiring in Nov. after 8 years

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - The fire chief in South Dakota's capital city plans to retire.

Fifty-1-year-old Bill Alexander says he'll step down from the position he's held in Pierre for eight years on Nov. 1.

KCCR radio reports that Alexander has been involving in firefighting for 31 years, including 20 years with the Air Force. He was the first full-time fire chief for Pierre's volunteer fire department.

Alexander plans to move to Cheyenne, Wyo., where his wife works for a law firm.

OLD HOUSE LAWSUIT

Mitchell house targeted for demolition is historic

MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) - Officials in Mitchell must prove there's no reasonable alternative to razing 1 of the city's oldest homes before they can demolish it.

The structure known as the Goodykuntz House is 130 years old and listed on the National Register of Historical Places. It was damaged in a 2002 fire. The Daily Republic reports that city officials declared it a public nuisance last October and filed a complaint seeking a court order to raze the property.

City Attorney Carl Koch says officials were unaware at the time of the National Register listing. But he says the city still plans to take the necessary steps to tear down the house.

Owners Clarence and Lauretta Larsen deny that the house is unsafe and unsightly, and say it has historical and architectural value.

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