Latest South Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

NEW LAWS-STATE BUDGET South Dakota's new state budget takes effect PIERRE, S.D. (AP) South Dakota state government's $3.9 billion budget takes effect today.

The main increase in spending for the next 12 months involves about $300 million in federal stimulus funds to pay for road construction, water projects, education and a wide range of other programs.

Another $88 million in federal stimulus money also was used to balance the portion of the budget supported by state general tax funds.

State employees get no pay raise. Doctors, Nursing Homes, hospitals and others who provide medical services under the Medicaid program get no inflationary increase. And school districts get a 3 percent increase in state aid.

NEW LAWS-SERVICE CONTRACTS New law on the books says state agencies must request competitive proposals PIERRE, S.D. (AP) A new law that takes effect today in South Dakota says state agencies must request competitive proposals when awarding or renewing most contracts for professional services exceeding $50,000.

Architects, engineers, advertising firms and other businesses can find requests for proposals on a state Internet site. A state agency would not be required to accept the lowest bid, but it would have to use a set of standards to evaluate offers.

Medical services, emergency proposals and professional legal services are exempt.

OBESITY RANKINGS Obesity rates rise; Medicare girding for influx of portly baby boomers Washington (AP) That middle-age girth among baby boomers appears to be following them into retirement.

The nation's annual obesity rankings show Mississippi is still the most portly state among baby boomers, with some 32.5 percent of its baby boomer residents classified as obese.

Alabama, West Virginia, Tennessee and South Carolina round out the states with the heaviest retirees.

South Dakota ranked 20th among states, with just under 27 percent of baby boomer residents classified as obese.

The report from two health-related agencies (The Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) shows the really bad news is that obesity rates among adults rose in 23 states over the past year and declined nowhere.

More troubling: obese seniors live nearly as long as their thinner counterparts, but are much sicker for longer periods of time, requiring much more costly medical interventions.

DAY CARE TRIAL Closing arguments set in child abuse trial SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Attorneys are presenting closing arguments in the trial of a former Sioux Falls day-care provider accused of shaking a baby and banging the infant's head in November 2007.

Twenty-nine-year-old Amy Dierks faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on an aggravated assault charge in the case of 6-month-old Henry Johnson of Hartford.

Prosecutors say the incident left the infant blind and developmentally disabled. Dierks' attorneys say either a stroke or vitamin deficiency could have caused the baby's injuries.

The defense rested Tuesday after calling only one witness a pediatric specialist who said scientific information in the case is not adequate.

Closing arguments began Wednesday morning, after the judge for the second time during the trial denied a defense request for an acquittal.

Information from: KSFY-TV, http://www.ksfy.com ABANDONED ANIMALS At least 16 cats dumped near Aberdeen ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) Brown County authorities say they have a suspect in the dumping of at least 16 cats into a ditch outside of Aberdeen and are considering charges.

Chief Sheriff's Deputy Tom Schmitt says a witness saw the person stop on the rural road Monday night and throw the cats from a vehicle.

Schmitt says the cats that deputies and others managed to catch are diseased and malnourished, and some likely will die.

The cats were taken to the city pound.

Information from: Aberdeen American News, http://www.aberdeennews.com LEOPARD FROG-PROTECTIONS Feds: Frog may need protection in 19 states SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says a spotted frog that lives in 19 Western states may need endangered species protections.

Eight environmental groups petitioned the federal government in 2006 to protect the western population of the northern leopard frog.

The federal agency said Wednesday the frog has disappeared across vast portions of its historic range in the West and parts of Canada. Officials say the frog is threatened by habitat loss, disease, nonnative species, pollution and climate change.

The Fish and Wildlife Service plans a thorough scientific review of the frog's status. The agency will then decide whether it will propose the frog for endangered species protections.

The smooth-skinned frog can be green, brown or sometimes yellowish with dark oval spots.

SKYFORCE-TICKNOR Ticknor named Skyforce assistant SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) The former head coach of the NBA Development League team in Bismarck, N.D., is now an assistant with the D-League team in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Duane Ticknor stepped down as the head coach of the Wizards in late June, saying he had health problems and didn't need the day-to-day stress of being a head coach. Ticknor has Diabetes and eye problems.

The Skyforce announced his hiring as an assistant Wednesday.

Ticknor is a minor league coaching veteran who also has coached at the college level. He says coaching in Sioux Falls will enable him to be close to family in Vermillion.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-01-09 1601CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list