Latest South Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

PLANT-BIOMASS Thune: Plant that converts wood chips part of BCAP SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Sen. John Thune says Western Biomass Energy, which converts wood chips from the Black Hills into renewable fuels, has been selected to take part in the Biomass Crop Assistance Program.

In a release, Thune said he wrote the program, which is part of the 2008 federal Farm Bill.

Thune says Western Biomass Energy will use funding from the program to offset the feedstock cost associated with their pilot biorefinery in Upton, Wyo., that refines cellulosic ethanol from South Dakota wood chips.

He says that starting early next year, the program also will provide per-acre payments for the production of energy dedicated crops.

The South Dakota Republican says starting the program is a big step toward incorporating more of the nation's resources into its energy strategy.

SUSPICIOUS FIRE Sheriff: Suspicious range fire burns car SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) The Hanson County Sheriff's Office says a range fire that burned up a car on Tuesday in the western part of the county is suspicious.

The fire was reported shortly after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

An investigation continues. No other details were released.

SEX CRIME SENTENCE Man sentenced to 110 years for child sex crimes RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) A man who called himself an advocate for Native American children has been sentenced to 110 years in prison for raping and beating two girls.

Kevin Peniska of Rapid City was sentenced Tuesday on two counts of second-degree rape and one count of aggravated child abuse. He will not be eligible for parole for 55 years.

The 44-year-old Peniska, a former publisher of Well Nations Magazine, pleaded guilty in August. Prosecutors dropped nine other sex charges.

In court Tuesday, Peniska apologized to the victims for the hurt he caused and told them, "Nothing I can say will take it away." Authorities said the child abuse started in 2002 and continued until Peniska's arrest earlier this year.

SUPERINTENDENT-Flu DEATH Ethan superintendent succumbs to H1N1 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) South Dakota's 14th reported death from the H1N1 flu was 49-year-old Terry Mathis, the superintendent of schools in Ethan.

He died Monday at a Sioux Falls hospital.

Mathis was diagnosed with cancer about two months ago. He stayed on the job until mid-October and took treatment in Sioux Falls and at the Mayo Clinic. But he recently came down with pneumonia and the flu virus, and his older brother, Bob Mathis, said the combination became unbearable.

Officials chose to continue classes at Ethan through the week, although Friday is a day off because Emery-Ethan plays Howard that afternoon in the state Class 9AA Football championship.

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com BOOK PULLED Book subject of controversy in SD schools SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) A cartoon anthology filled with teenage angst, four-letter words and some drug and sexual references has been pulled from the student library collections at two Sioux Falls public middle schools after a parent complaint.

A school district committee that reviewed the graphic novel unanimously agreed to restrict Ariel Schrag's "Stuck in the Middle: Seventeen Comics from an Unpleasant Age." The school board agreed.

The book is the work of 16 cartoonists who recreated true tales from their middle school years. Shrag says the cartoons could help struggling teens and preteens. She thinks it is easier to "demonize" graphic novels, which have pictures.

Teachers at Edison and Patrick Henry middle schools still will be able to access the book and use it in class.

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com JAIL GAS LINE BREAK Gas line breaks at site of new Pierre jail PIERRE, S.D. (AP) Firefighters spent about an hour at the site of the new Hughes County Jail east of Pierre after a natural gas line broke about 40 feet from the new building.

Pierre Fire Chief Bill Alexander said contractors working in the parking lot area hit the line Tuesday afternoon while they were drilling holes for electrical light poles. The break sent natural gas into the air.

The escaping gas smelled like rotten eggs and Alexander said it made plenty of noise for a while. He said firefighters shut off the ignition sources near the break and stood by to monitor it from a distance until crews from Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. arrived.

Alexander said an auger was still in place at the site, so another hole was dug to get access to the gas line and clamp it.

Information from: KGFX-AM, http://www.dakotaradiogroup.com (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-12-09 0202CST | save this article / add to your favorites list