Latest South Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

WELL-PAID MORTGAGES Lowest mortgage delinquency rates in Plains OMAHA, Neb. (AP) The lowest mortgage delinquency rates in the nation next year should be in Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota.

Credit reporting agency TransUnion predicts all three of those states will have much lower delinquency rates than the national rate of 6.39 percent.

Delinquency of 60 days or more is considered a precursor to foreclosure, because of the difficulty homeowners would have coming up with two back payments to bring themselves current.

North Dakota's delinquency rate should be 1.43 percent. South Dakota's will be about 2.2 percent. Nebraska's will be about 2.35 percent.

oil LEASES ND leads 3-state region in oil, gas leases Bismarck, N.D. (AP) The Bureau of Land Management says federal oil and gas lease sales in the Dakotas and Montana set a record in fiscal 2009, with parcels in western North Dakota's booming oil patch accounting for the overwhelming bulk of interest.

BLM spokesman Greg Albright says oil and gas lease sales in the three states during fiscal 2009, which ended in September, totaled $75.4 million, with North Dakota accounting for $74.2 million.

BLM says the total for the three-state region for the last fiscal year was $51.4 million, with North Dakota fetching $49 million.

Revenues from the oil and gas leases are shared by the federal government and the state or county where the parcels are located.

BURN PITS LAWSUIT Aberdeen soldier files lawsuit over 'burn pits' SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) A federal lawsuit alleges that military contractors put soldiers at risk by burning waste in open pits without proper safety controls.

Aberdeen soldier Sean Johnson filed the suit Thursday against Houston-based KBR Inc., Halliburton Co. and Turkey-based ERKA Ltd.

It alleges that American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are being poisoned by the smoke, ash and fumes. The suit seeks class-action status.

The defendants have not filed their response.

The lawsuit mirrors several others filed across the country, including ones in North Dakota and Wyoming.

The contractors in their response to the Wyoming suit say all waste disposal is being done pursuant to requirements and under the supervision of the U.S. Army.

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com SUPERINTENDENT RESIGNS Madison superintendent resigns MADISON, S.D. (AP) The Madison Central School District is looking for a new superintendent.

Vince Schaefer's resignation is effective Dec. 31.

He has been with the district since 2007 and previously was a superintendent in Luverne, Minn., and Beresford.

He had been contracted through the 2009-2010 school year.

The Madison School Board voted 4-2 to accept the resignation after an executive session last week that lasted more than an hour.

A search for a new superintendent begins immediately.

Information from: KJAM-AM, http://www.kjamradio.com ATM THEFT ATM stolen at Tea TEA, S.D. (AP) Someone made off with an ATM and about $30,000 it contained at the town of Tea near Sioux Falls.

Police were called to the Service First Federal Credit Union early Monday morning where a surveillance camera shows someone with a ski mask and dark clothing disconnecting the wiring and taking the machine.

Police think the person might have experience with stealing ATMs because it was done very quickly.

Information from: KELO-TV, http://www.keloland.com STOCK SHOW-ARTISTS Stock Show seeks artists for contest, auction RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) The upcoming Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo is looking for painters, sculptors and leather workers for its Western Art Quick Draw & Auction.

Pam Teller says organizers are looking for artists of all specialties.

Ten artists on Feb. 6 will have one hour to complete a piece of art based on an object placed in front of them or free form.

The public will vote on a People's Choice award that will carry a $300 cash prize.

The pieces will then be sold at a live auction with half of proceeds benefiting the Central States Fair Foundation.

The Foundation was established to focus on the future of the Agriculture industry by investing in youth, agriculture and long-range capital improvements to the Central States Fairgrounds.

CEMETERY MAPPING Fort Pierre receiving grant to map out cemetery FORT PIERRE, S.D. (AP) A historic Fort Pierre cemetery will use a $2,000 grant to help it map gravestones.

The first known burials at Cedar Hill Cemetery were in the late 1880s, and the cemetery was surveyed and officially laid out on May 1894.

Mayor Sam Tidball says the grant will be used to hire a surveyor, who will create a file map that will locate 950 corner monuments that separate the cemetery into different blocks. The monuments will then be used to create a grid so people can better fine a particular grave site.

Tidball says the city wants to have the project started this next year.

The grant comes from the National Trust for Historic Preservation through the Frances "Peg" Lamont Preservation Services Fund for South Dakota.

Information from: KCCR-AM, http://www.todayskccr.com/ (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 12-21-09 1103CST | save this article / add to your favorites list