Latest South Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

STEM CELL MEASURE Diocese urges opposition of controversial research SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) The Sioux Falls Catholic Diocese is urging its 128,000 members to oppose an effort to legalize embryonic stem cell research in South Dakota.

In a statement issued Friday, Bishop Paul Swain said research involving adult stem cells holds promise and does not destroy human life like embryonic stem cell research does.

He urged Catholics not to circulate or sign petitions to place a measure that would overturn the state's ban on the controversial research on the 2010 general election ballot.

The measure is supported by South Dakotans for Lifesaving Cures.

The group's David Volk said the measure will strengthen South Dakota's ban on human cloning but will repeal a 2000 state law that has banned research on stem cells from human embryos.

ABUSE PLEA Child death could net 15-year sentence SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) A woman whose infant died in a vehicle rollover faces up to 15 years in prison after her guilty plea to abuse and neglect of a child.

Sentencing for 27-year-old Jackie Black Hawk of Wanblee is scheduled for January.

Black Hawk and her 5-month-old child were passengers in a vehicle that rolled near Wanblee in October 2008.

A factual basis statement filed in federal court said Black Hawk knew or should have known that the driver was intoxicated and placed the child in a dangerous environment by riding in the vehicle and not restraining the child in a safety seat.

FATAL CRASH-CHARGES USD student pays $210 in fines for fatal crash VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) A University of South Dakota student has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges for a crash that killed another student.

Alyxandria Harter of Omaha, Neb., paid $210 in fines for careless driving and driving on the wrong side of the road. The 20-year-old faced up to 60 days in jail and $1,000 in fines.

Clay County authorities have said Harter was traveling in the wrong direction on state Highway 50 near Vermillion on Sept. 17 when her vehicle collided with a car driven by 21-year-old Elizabeth Lias. Lias, a USD student from Sioux Falls, died at the scene.

Information from: Yankton Press and Dakotan, http://www.yankton.net abortion-SCHOOL Agreement reached in school use lawsuit SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit over the Rapid City School District's policy on community use of school buildings, and both sides have agreed to dismiss the case in federal court.

The complaint, filed in February 2008 by Citizens For Life and its president, Allen K. Carlson of Rapid City, said district policy that bars groups with political or religious viewpoints from using school buildings is unconstitutional. The group sought permission to use a school auditorium for a program featuring an abortion opponent.

Steven Wesolick, the attorney for Citizens for Life, said Friday that the school board has revised the community-use policy to the plaintiffs' satisfaction.

The school district and superintendent were among the defendants.

CONSTRUCTION JOBS Report: SD lost 1,400 construction jobs SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) A report from a national group says South Dakota lost 1,400 construction jobs in the past year. Tight credit, a weak economy, and slumping home values sent builders to the sidelines nationwide.

The percentage of lost jobs in South Dakota was the seventh lowest nationally.

Toby Crow with Associated General Contractors of South Dakota says construction activity in the Upper Midwest is more even-keel.

That means there aren't big surges or big drops year to year like some other states where housing values have driven the market.

Crow said he doesn't expect much improvement next year in building activity in South Dakota.

HALL DIRECTOR New president for SD Hall of Fame CHAMBERLAIN, S.D. (AP) Todd Knutson has taken over as president and chief executive officer of the South Dakota Hall of Fame.

Knutson previously was involved in fundraising and training for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The Hall of Fame, located at Chamberlain, annually inducts up to 15 people to recognize their contributions to the state. It has 655 members.

MOVIE JOB Yankton native's job: Find movie locations YANKTON, S.D. (AP) A Yankton native, Todd Christensen, says his career as a location manager for movies began in an unusual way.

He says a man who was looking at one of his Paintings in New Mexico offered him a job scouting a location for a television pilot. That was 14 years ago.

One thing led to another, and Christensen continued to work in the industry. His latest project, "The Men Who Stare At Goats," premieres next week.

For that Film, Christensen says he drove about 14,000 miles looking for just the right deserts, military base and houses. And for each location, he had to come up with several different options.

Christensen says he uses online tools and talks to long-time residents at various locations to find just the right spots.

Asked which actors are among his favorites to work with, he listed George Clooney, Jeff Bridges and Nicole Kidman.

JAMES RIVER Riding Too High? YANKTON, S.D. (AP) A James River Water Development District board member from Menno, Dave Bender, says he can't remember seeing the river flows as high as they are this time of year.

And hydrologist Mike Gillispie of the National Weather Service says the river appears headed for an October record.

He says the river has been running about 5 feet higher than normal.

The Stratford area is the only part of the James River's main channel above flood stage. Stratford lies near the Brown-Spink county line in northeast South Dakota.

Gillispie says the river becomes backed up between Aberdeen and Redfield, creating a high flow that continues down the river.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-31-09 1559CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list