Latest South Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

BANK THEFT Man charged in bank theft fired from school job WATERTOWN, S.D. (AP) A South Dakota man indicted in a Nebraska bank theft has been fired from his school job.

Thirty-seven-year-old Neil Jensen of Henry had been employed by the Watertown School District as corporate education director at Lake Area Technical Institute since last July.

He was suspended without pay this past spring after federal grand jurors in Nebraska indicted him on charges he stole nearly $19,000 from customers of United Nebraska Bank in Columbus, Neb., where he once worked. The Watertown School Board fired Jensen on Wednesday.

Jensen is charged with 14 counts of misapplying bank funds. On Thursday, he referred a request for comment on his firing to his attorney in Lincoln, Neb., Robert Creager. Creager declined comment.

WELLS Fargo LAYOFFS Wells Fargo eliminating Sioux Falls jobs SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Wells Fargo Financial is eliminating some positions in Sioux Falls.

The company isn't disclosing the number, but an employee told KDLT News that more than 100 workers are losing their jobs.

Company spokesman Steve Carlson says all of the positions being eliminated are in sales. He says workers will receive help in finding other jobs, and can apply for other positions within the company.

Carlson says Wells Fargo is making the changes "to align capacity with changing business needs." He didn't elaborate.

Wells Fargo Financial in the Sioux Falls metro area is the headquarters of the company's credit card business, according to its Web site.

Wells Fargo Financial has about $73 billion in assets and about 21,000 employees. It provides real estate loans, credit card services and car, sales and business financing. It is a division of San Francisco-based Wells Fargo and Co.

SIOUX FALLS GROWTH Sioux Falls' growth outpaces rest of region SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) New census figures indicate Sioux Falls' growth remains faster than any city in the region and that the city is among the fastest-growing in the nation.

The city's estimated 2008 population, according to the U.S.

Census Bureau, was 154,997. That doesn't include people who live in the surrounding metro area.

Sioux Falls' growth rate between 2007 and 2008 was 2.3 percent, ranking it 34th among U.S. cities.

Mayor Dave Munson says Sioux Falls has had steady growth, making it easier to keep up with infrastructure improvements.

City leaders plan to start a study this fall on trends in the city's growth.

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com OPEN MEETINGS DISPUTE Judge nixes most of city's arguments in dispute MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) Four of the city of Mitchell's arguments in an open-meetings lawsuit filed by the Daily Republic newspaper have been rejected by a judge.

But the judge, Sean (SHAWN) O'Brien, also ruled that the newspaper is not seeking the right kind of remedy.

The newspaper's lawyer says the suit will continue.

The dispute centers on an interpretation of the law that allows public boards to hold sessions behind closed doors so members can meet with attorneys.

The newspaper believes the only litigation that can be discussed in an executive session is that which has been proposed or is pending. The city of Mitchell's interpretation was broader, including any litigation deemed possible by an attorney.

Information from: The Daily Republic, http://www.mitchellrepublic.com WHITECLAY BLOCKADE Organizers of Whiteclay blockade encouraged WHITECLAY, Neb. (AP) Activists who staged an alcohol blockade on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation north of Whiteclay, Neb., say they're encouraged by the results.

Duane Martin with the Cante Tenza Strong Heart Civil Rights Movement says the cooperation among activists and tribal police was inspiring during the third year of the blockade.

During the first year, organizers failed to reach an agreement with law enforcement, and several were ticketed.

The group spent several hours Wednesday checking vehicles coming across the Nebraska-South Dakota line from Whiteclay, which is home to several outlets that sell beer to residents of the dry reservation.

Martin says activists were encouraged by many of the drivers who were stopped, and some even said the blockade should be a weekly event.

DAY CARE TRIAL Family reacts to Dierks not guilty verdict SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) The mother of a baby at the heart of an aggravated assault trial in Sioux Falls says she's disappointed that a jury acquitted a former day-care provider of hurting the child.

But Marissa Johnson says she's ready to put the matter behind her and focus on her son.

Twenty-nine-year-old Amy Dierks (durks) was accused of shaking 6-month-old Henry Johnson of Hartford and banging the infant's head in November 2007. Jurors on Wednesday found her not guilty.

Dierks wouldn't comment. Her attorney, Darren Magee, said the jury arrived "at a just verdict." Relatives of Henry Johnson disagree and say they plan to work to improve state law to better protect children from abuse. Mike Meehan, Henry's grandfather, says he would like to see a law requiring cameras at day cares.

ROUNDS-HOLIDAY TRAVEL Governor reminds travelers to be responsible PIERRE, S.D. (AP) Gov. Mike Rounds says South Dakota motorists need to be especially vigilant during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Three people died in crashes during the 2009 Memorial Day period, and Rounds says all of them were alcohol-related.

Last year, 137 crashes occurred on South Dakota roads during the Independence Day holiday period. Two people died and 61 others were injured.

Six people died on South Dakota's roads during the Independence Day holiday period in 2005, and five died during the travel period the year before.

TOP PREPS 4 earn prep honors SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Four South Dakota athletes have been named to the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Track and Field All-American team.

Honorees on the girls team are Jasmyne King of Rapid City Central and Neveda Sorenson of Sioux Falls Lincoln. Alex Munterfering of Ethan-Parkston and Brett Anderson of Sioux Falls Lincoln were named to the boys team.

Steve Hegge of Dell Rapids was honored by the group as coach of the year.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-02-09 1101CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list