Latest South Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

IRAN-JOURNALIST-YELLOW RIBBONS Neighbors plan to tie yellow ribbons in honor of Roxana Saberi Fargo, N.D. (AP) Neighbors of Roxana Saberi's family plan to tie yellow ribbons around trees in her north Fargo neighborhood tonight to show their support for her.

Kevin Melicher (MEL'-ih-ker) is organizing the effort. He says it's a gesture of neighbors helping neighbors.

Plans also are in the works to set up a fund to cover the Saberi's travel costs and other related expenses.

Iranian officials says she's been sentenced to eight years in prison for spying. Her parents are in Iran while the case is being appealed.

The 31-year-old Saberi grew up in Fargo.

MIDWEST FLOODING-INJURIES ND health officials report 235 injuries Bismarck, N.D. (AP) The state Health Department has updated its count to 235 injuries and 67 illnesses reported by emergency rooms related to flooding in North Dakota this spring.

Health officials say the number of flood-related deaths in the state remains at two.

The injury total includes injuries to backs, shoulders, wrists and fingers as well as stress and motor vehicle accidents.

The numbers have been compiled since March 23rd. Health officials say the total includes only those who seek medical care at emergency rooms.

AG COMMISSIONER LOAN New ag commissioner owes $$$ to Bank of North Dakota BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) North Dakota's new Agriculture commissioner is a director of the Bank of North Dakota and he owes the bank about 14-thousand dollars.

State law required Doug Goehring (GORE'-ing) to disclose the loan.

He says he borrowed 60-thousand dollars in May 2004 to invest in the Red Trail Energy ethanol plant near Richardton. He's supposed to pay off the loan in June 2011.

Goehring used the "Ag PACE" program at the state-owned bank.

It provides interest rate discounts. The rate on his loan was knocked down from seven-point-five percent to two-point-five percent.

Goehring, Governor John Hoeven and Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem make up the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The commission is the bank's board of directors.

State law says an Industrial Commission member cannot borrow money from the Bank of North Dakota, but he or she is not penalized for loans they got before joining the board.

MIDWEST FLOODING-LaMoure County DAM Guard says erosion contained at dam spillway LaMOURE, N.D. (AP) National Guard officials say they have the water contained at a LaMoure County dam spillway.

Lt. Col. Rick Smith, a Guard spokesman, says riprap, sandbags and rock were used after the spillway erosion increased. He says the problem was under control late this afternoon.

More than 290 1-ton sandbags have been placed at the site.

Smith says crews have built a secondary dike to try to redirect the flow of the water.

Officials say the dam is about 20 miles from the nearest community and the greatest threat is to area farms and roads.

Nearby farms already have been evacuated.

PARTY ARRESTS Fargo police arrest 30 after loud party FARGO, N.D. (AP) Fargo police say a loud party complaint over the weekend led to the arrests of 30 adults and one juvenile.

Police say they got the complaint late Friday night. They say officers went to the scene but were unable to get cooperation from people who lived there. They got a search warrant and made the arrests.

Police say the 30 adults were charged with failure to disperse a loud party, as well as other city and state violations.

MIDWEST FLOODING-Valley City Valley City's mayor says businesses should stay closed VALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP) Valley City's mayor has ordered all non-essential businesses to remain closed this week.

Mayor Mary Lee Nielson's order comes less than a week after the town's sanitary sewer system was overwhelmed by Sheyenne River floodwaters. Officials say some 400 portable toilets have been set up around the city.

Nielson says keeping as many people off the streets and taking pressure off the overtaxed sewer system is a top priority.

Officials say the 55 residents of Kathryn, south of Valley City, have been allowed to return home because erosion of a nearby dam spillway has stabilized. They were evacuated last Wednesday.

WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT Woman's family files wrongful death lawsuit FARGO, N.D. (AP) The heirs of a woman killed when her sport utility vehicle struck the tires of a combine in Traill County have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the man hauling the combine and against his employers.

Relatives of 72-year-old Barbara Mueller are seeking at least $50,000. They are suing Ryan Berggren, who was hauling the combine across a bridge, and his employers, Raedell and Dan Braaten of Braaten Farms.

Berggren, of Walcott, has pleaded not guilty to charges of negligent homicide and reckless endangerment in the July 25, 2008 crash.

He and the Braatens deny the allegations in the Mueller family lawsuit.

The civil suit alleges Berggren was hauling the load in an unsafe way and allowed it to extend into Mueller's driving lane. It alleges the Braatens failed to properly instruct Berggren and properly maintain the vehicle.

Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 04-21-09 0200CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list