Latest South Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

ROOF STANDOFF SD authorities talk detainee down from roof RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) Pennington County authorities say a detainee escaped to the roof of a youth corrections facility, but they were able to peacefully end the standoff some 3 1/2 hours later.

Officers from the Pennington County Sheriff's Office and the Rapid City police responded to the Western South Dakota Juvenile Services Center around 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Lt. Corey BruBakken with the sheriff's office said he couldn't release any information about the detainee.

UROLOGY LAWSUIT 16 patients of SD clinic test for hepatitis SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) A South Dakota urology clinic being sued by five Iowans says 16 of its patients have tested positive for hepatitis but didn't it get from other patients.

State health officials warned patients in April that there was a risk of infection because some medical equipment at Siouxland Urology Center in Dakota Dunes was being reused.

Five former patients from Iowa filed a class-action lawsuit against the clinic, and recently filed an amended complaint.

The clinic on Wednesday said it reported to the state Health Department the results of 3,900 tests done since the disclosure.

It says 16 people tested positive for hepatitis, which is the normal occurrence rate. Another 12 people disclosed that they had the disease before being treated.

SANFORD-MeritCare Dakotas hospitals to discuss merger Fargo, N.D. (AP) Officials from the two largest hospitals in the Dakotas have invited opponents and other members of the community to a town hall meeting to discuss their merger.

MeritCare of Fargo and Sanford Health of Sioux Falls, S.D., are hoping to complete the merger by the end of the year. The two hospitals would serve about 2 million people in the Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska.

A Fargo group called Citizens for Meritcare says the merger could cost the community jobs and has asked that the talks be suspended.

CELL PHONES-DRIVING Number of cell phone-driving accidents jumps SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Figures show the number of South Dakota accidents that authorities blame on drivers distracted by cell phone use has jumped 60 percent in the four years since the state Office of Highway Safety began collecting such information.

The number in 2004 was 82. Last year, it was 138.

The numbers are in line with the accidents and fatalities nationwide that are linked to distracted driving. Some studies show drivers sending text messages can be as dangerous as drunken drivers.

Attempts to limit drivers' cell phone use have failed in recent sessions of the Legislature.

State Rep. Shantel Krebs, who chairs the House Transportation Committee, says any new ban attempt probably would come from a lobbying group.

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com VOLESKY-GUBERNATORIAL BID Former lawmaker Volesky to seek bid for governor SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Former state lawmaker Ron Volesky says he is running for governor in 2010.

Volesky, a Huron lawyer, made a bid of the office in 2002 but fell short in the Democratic Primary. He announced his candidacy for the 2006 governor's race but dropped out to challenge Larry Long for attorney general, a race that he lost.

He also fell short in a bid to return to the House during last year's primary.

Volesky served six years in the House as a Republican, then eight years in the House and two years in the Senate as a Democrat.

He said in a statement Wednesday that his candidacy would be based on fiscal responsibility, accountability and the principals of open government.

BLENDER PUMPS Groups unite to push blender pumps SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) ethanol backers have embarked on a campaign to persuade fuel dealers to install 5,000 new blender pumps pumps that can dispense higher blends of ethanol at gas stations nationwide within three years.

The announcement was made Tuesday during the American Coalition for Ethanol Conference and Trade Show in Milwaukee.

Darrin Ihnen of Hurley, an officer in the National Corn Growers Association, said his group will tell petroleum marketers how blender pumps can make them money.

It's called the Blend Your Own Ethanol campaign. Supporters say they will pay particular attention to big cities along major east-west and north-south driving routes.

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com PLANT CLOSING Pending Merillat sale worries employees RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) Employees of Rapid City cabinet maker Merillat say they're worried that they might not get promised severance packages.

Merillat told its 157 workers last spring that the factory would close in September because of the economy, and that employees would get severance pay and help with job searches.

Susan Cross, spokeswoman for Merillat owner The Masco Group, says the plant now is being sold. She says if the new owner makes a job offer to a Merillat employee, that worker won't get severance pay from Masco.

Cross says she doesn't know whether the new jobs will come with wages comparable to those Merillat employees currently are earning.

Masco is not releasing the name of the plant buyer until the sale is complete.

Information from: KEVN-TV, http://www.kevn.com (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 08-13-09 0201CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list