Here is the latest South Dakota news from The Associated Press

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) Law enforcement officials say sex crime charges involving children have hit a five-year high in the state.

In fiscal year 2009, South Dakota had 99 charges of first-degree rape of a child, 248 reports of felony sexual contact with a child and 637 alleged instances of possessing, manufacturing or distributing child pornography.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) Investigators are trying to determine what led to a 75-year-old inmate's death yesterday at the state prison in Springfield. The Department of Corrections say Leland Kagy was serving 25 years for sexual contact with a child in Lawrence County. An autopsy is being conducted.

HURON, S.D. (AP) A suspect was ordered held without bond yesterday in the death of a man found lying behind an assisted-living facility for people with mental illness in Huron.

Edwin Thompson remains in the Beadle County jail on a second-degree murder charge in the weekend death of 21-year-old Ryan Treadway.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) A judge says the American Cancer Society will not be allowed to call witnesses to testify in a hearing about the state's smoking ban. The organization is trying to keep the smoking ban from going before a public vote. Bars and casinos opposed to the ban are pushing for a vote in November 2010.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-04-09 0201CST | save this article / add to your favorites list