Latest South Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

GLACIAL LAKES EXPANSION Improvements planned at Mina ethanol plant WATERTOWN, S.D. (AP) Officials of Glacial Lakes Energy of Watertown say the ethanol maker is expanding its Mina ethanol operations.

Glacial Lakes CEO Jim Seurer (SYR) says a 6,000-bushel-per-hour Corn dryer, a 320,000-bushel increase in on-site storage capacity, and the addition of another receiving pit are planned.

The Mina ethanol plant can accept corn with a moisture content of 16.5 percent. After the dryers are installed, that will increase to 25 percent.

The expansion is expected to be done in four to six months and is expected to cost about $2.75 million.

Glacial Lakes operates 100-million-gallon per year ethanol plants in both Watertown and Mina through its wholly owned subsidiaries.

Information from: KWAT-AM PLANE OFF RUNWAY Engine failure causes plane to go off runway RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) Officials at the Rapid City airport say no one was injured when engine failure forced a small plane off a runway.

The incident involving the single-seat plane occurred Wednesday morning. It disrupted one incoming flight.

Airport Director Cameron Humphries says the pilot of the single-engine experimental aircraft had problems in the air and attempted to make an emergency landing. The pilot wasn't hurt and didn't hit any structures, but officials say the plane's propeller will have to be replaced.

The pilot went off the runway by about 1,200 feet.

Information from: KEVN-TV, http://www.kevn.com FLIGHT TIMES Flight hopes dashed ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) When the Aberdeen Regional Airport loses a flight in January, the afternoon departure time will be gone as well.

Airport officials tried to keep a late afternoon or evening flight time when daily flights decrease from three to two, but a Delta official says it won't happen.

Aberdeen is served by Mesaba Airlines, a Delta Connection carrier.

Aberdeen has three departures: early morning, noon and late afternoon. After Jan. 5, only the early morning and noon flights will remain.

Airport Manager Dave Osborn and some community leaders wanted the noon flight switched to later in the day for business travelers not needing to be in town overnight.

Officials say falling passenger numbers led to the most recent cut. The number of people using the Aberdeen airport has dropped steadily since 2005.

Information from: Aberdeen American News, http://www.aberdeennews.com BIG STONE II End of Big Stone II could be trouble for SD wind MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) A spokesman for Gov. Mike Rounds says South Dakota's wind industry may be "sidetracked" by the recent termination of plans to build a coal-fired power plant in the northeastern part of the state.

Press Secretary Joe Kafka says the failure of the proposed Big Stone II coal-fired power plant is a setback to wind energy because the plant had extra transmission capacity that could have carried wind power to large markets outside the state.

Kafka says plans for future wind energy projects might become sidetracked.

South Dakota is ranked No. 4 nationally in potential wind-energy capacity, but only No. 20 in actual capacity from existing wind turbines.

Information from: The Daily Republic, http://www.mitchellrepublic.com WARNER BANK ROBBERS Warner bank robbers admit crime ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) Guilty pleas have been made by two men who admit they robbed the First State Bank of Warner in March.

Sentencing is set for Feb. 22 for 26-year-old Luis Castillo (kas-TEE'-oh) and 39-year-old Fernando Reyes, who each pleaded guilty to bank robbery and using a firearm while committing a violent crime.

According to the terms of a plea agreement, a third man arrested in the case will plead guilty Tuesday.

Court documents show the defendants one of them armed with a revolver stole about $85,000 and that they moved several bank employees and at least one customer into a vault and restrained them.

They were arrested the next day along U.S. Highway 12 after a chase.

Authorities believe the men, who are related, lived in the Denver area before the robbery.

Information from: Aberdeen American News, http://www.aberdeennews.com KOSHER SLAUGHTERHOUSE-BAIL Judge to rule on slaughterhouse manager's bail CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) Prosecutors argued at a bail hearing for a former Iowa kosher slaughterhouse manager that an outpouring of financial support makes him a greater flight risk.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Deegan noted at the Wednesday hearing that Sholom Rubashkin had raised money for his defense from supporters, and that money could be used to get Rubashkin and his family out of the country.

Rubashkin's attorneys have asked that Rubashkin be released on bail while he awaits sentencing for a fraud conviction.

Defense attorney Guy Cook says Rubashkin has "nowhere to hide" after the publicity surrounding the trial in Sioux Falls, S.D., and won't flee.

Judge Linda Reade says she will issue a ruling soon. Rubashkin is being held in Iowa at the Woodbury County Jail.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-19-09 0200CST | save this article / add to your favorites list