Latest South Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

CASINO-GAMING COMMISSION Gaming board won't probe allegations WATERTOWN, S.D. (AP) The South Dakota Gaming Commission says it can't investigate allegations against the chairman of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe over a firing and alleged conflicts of interest.

A worker for Dakota Nation Gaming Enterprise has said Chairman Michael Selvage Sr. fired him days after he alleged some financial irregularities at the Dakota Magic Casino in Hankinson, N.D.

Gaming Commission Executive Secretary Larry Eliason says his agency has no jurisdiction to investigate because it appears to be a complaint against a tribal official by a tribal member.

Dakota Nation Gaming Enterprise also owns the Dakota Sioux Casino and Hotel in Watertown and Dakota Connection Casino in Sisseton.

Information from: Watertown Public Opinion, http://www.thepublicopinion.com Flu City health official says H1N1 at epidemic level SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Sioux Falls City Health Director Judy Buseman (BOOS'-muhn) says the H1N1 flu is considered at an epidemic level in the city.

She says health care workers are busy seeing patients. In her words, "It's a new flu to us and we have no immunity." Buseman says the current flu is widespread because people travel more.

She says there was a similar flu in the 1970s and a worldwide flu pandemic in 1918.

Buseman also says the seasonal flu makes up many cases.

Information from: Jerry Dahmen, KXRB-AM JARK TRIAL Prosecution rests in Jark murder trial ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) The prosecution has finished presenting its evidence to an Arizona jury in the trial of a man accused of murder in the April 2006 death of Vern Jark of Aberdeen.

Kristin Hawkins, Jark's daughter, says that after a break, the trial will resume Monday when the defense is expected to call its lone witness.

The trial of 45-year-old Gilbert Martinez Sr. started Sept. 28 in Maricopa County, Ariz.

Jark was killed after two masked gunmen broke into the Sun City, Ariz., home where he was staying.

Hawkins says a co-defendant who earlier pleaded guilty testified that Martinez shot Jark.

If Martinez is convicted, the jury will determine whether Martinez should be sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty.

Information from: Aberdeen American News, http://www.aberdeennews.com ELEVATOR-FIRE Fire damages Aurora grain elevator BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) Authorities say fire did substantial damage to the drying unit of a grain elevator in Aurora on Tuesday.

An investigation indicated the fire likely was caused by an overheating or malfunctioning dryer unit.

No injuries were reported.

The Brookings County Sheriff's Department is investigating the fire at the AgFirst Farmers Co-op elevator.

Information from: Brookings Register, http://www.brookingsregister.com/ GUARD UNIT-KUWAIT SD Guard unit works in Kuwait YANKTON, S.D. (AP) A South Dakota National Guard unit is settling into a routine at a base in Kuwait.

Members of the 147th Field Artillery unit's Charlie Battery, based in Yankton, were recalled to active duty in April. They will be overseas until late next spring.

Pvt. Miles Runyon of Vermillion says the soldiers are working security in and around a port area. Sgt. James Reinhardt of Yankton says they have a fairly set mission and spend most of their time working and training. He says the soldiers are getting support from people at home.

Most of the soldiers will be able to rotate home for a two-week break between now and early next year.

Information from: WNAX-AM, http://www.wnax.com COLLEGE PROGRAM REVIEW Colleges reviewing program numbers ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) Northern State University provost Tom Hawley says the school is reviewing programs with low numbers of graduates but that doesn't necessarily mean they will be cut.

The South Dakota Board of Regents has told each public university in the state to review programs with 20 or fewer graduates in the last four years. At Northern, the regents say 36 of 55 programs, or about 65 percent, are in that category.

Hawley says some programs are fairly new. He also says graduate figures don't include students who have programs as a second major.

Hawley expects Northern's review to take until February.

Recommendations then will be submitted to the regents. Hawley says that if schools can justify low enrollments in some programs, he believes the regents will listen.

A preliminary list shows 260 programs in the state's public university system graduated 20 or fewer students in the past three years.

Information from: Aberdeen American News, http://www.aberdeennews.com TVA-RENEWABLE ENERGY TVA to buy 450 megawatts in Dakotas' wind turbines KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Tennessee Valley Authority, looking outside the region for major quantities of renewable energy, has agreed to buy 450 megawatts from two wind farms in North and South Dakota.

The nation's largest public utility announced Thursday that it has signed 20-year power purchase agreements with Maryland-based CVP Renewable Energy Co. and Chicago-based Invenergy for electricity generated by wind farms they are developing in the Dakotas.

Together, the purchases could supply 140,000 homes. TVA executive Belinda Thornton says this could give TVA the largest renewable energy portfolio in the Southeast.

TVA directors have agreed to secure as many as 2,000 megawatts of renewable energy. Thornton says as many as three more power contracts could be announced by the end of the calendar year.

MERIDIAN BRIDGE SD panel agrees to Yankton bridge project PIERRE, S.D. (AP) The South Dakota Transportation Commission has agreed to use economic stimulus money to convert the 85-year-old double-deck Meridian Bridge at Yankton into a walking and biking trail over the Missouri River.

The commission also agreed Thursday to transfer ownership of the bridge to the city of Yankton, which will be responsible for maintaining the structure.

The Meridian Bridge stopped carrying vehicle traffic when a new bridge was opened last fall.

The states of Nebraska and South Dakota will use $5.6 million of federal stimulus money to convert the bridge to a walking and biking route. South Dakota's share will be 30 percent, or more than $1.8 million.

Nebraska authorities approved the project funding earlier.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-22-09 1559CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list