Latest South Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

BARTLING-AUDITOR State senator to run for state auditor PIERRE, S.D. (AP) State Sen. Julie Bartling wants to be South Dakota's next state auditor.

The Democrat from Burke has announced her candidacy for the position.

Bartling has served as Gregory County auditor for 18 years. She and her husband, Bart, run an Agriculture-based business.

She is in her fifth term as a state legislator and has served on numerous committees, including both the House and Senate appropriations committees.

The state auditor position is up for election next year. The incumbent is Republican Rich Sattgast, who cannot seek a third four-year term because of term limits. He is seeking the GOP nomination for state treasurer.

Steve Barnett, who is on the staff of Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., is considering seeking the Republican nomination for auditor.

RAPID CITY SHOOTING Bond reduced for Rapid City shooting suspect RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) A judge has cut in half the $500,000 bond for a man stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base who is charged with shooting another airman at an apartment complex in Rapid City.

Investigators say 21-year-old Vinicius Santana shot 21-year-old David Piland several times on Sept. 5 after the two were involved in some sort of altercation.

Santana is charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, possession of a controlled substance and having a loaded firearm while intoxicated.

Information from: KEVN-TV, http://www.kevn.com MURDER TRIAL DELAYED Watertown murder trial delayed again WATERTOWN, S.D. (AP) Trial has been delayed until next year for a man accused of killing a woman in Watertown.

Prosecutors are still waiting for some evidence to be processed by the FBI in the killing of 18-year-old Brandy Cotton, who was found dead Jan. 30 in her grandmother's home.

Twenty-one-year-old David Amotun (AH'-muh-ton) is accused of murdering her. The two had been in a relationship.

Amotun was indicted Feb. 6 by a grand jury and originally scheduled for trial May 4. The trial was then pushed back to give attorneys more time to prepare, then delayed again this week. Judge Ronald Roehr said proceedings will resume next Jan. 19.

Information from: Watertown Public Opinion, http://www.thepublicopinion.com SPEARFISH MOTEL KILLING Spearfish murder suspect pleads guilty DEADWOOD, S.D. (AP) A Spearfish man accused of murdering his girlfriend at a motel and trying to kill her sister has reached a deal with prosecutors. He will escape a possible death penalty.

In exchange for 30-year-old Shane Bell's guilty plea to second-degree murder, prosecutors are dropping charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder and committing a felony while in possession of a firearm.

Bell was charged in the December shooting death of 42-year-old Bobbi McClure at a Spearfish motel, and with attempted murder for allegedly trying to kill McClure's 40-year-old sister, Tammy Anderson.

Bell said in court Thursday that he shot McClure multiple times with a .22-caliber rifle during an argument after they had been drinking.

The state had been seeking the death penalty. The second-degree murder charge carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. Bell is to be formally sentenced on Oct. 13.

KIDNAPPING CHARGE Bond set for mother charged with kidnapping RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) A Rapid City woman accused of kidnapping her children and fleeing with them to the United Arab Emirates has had bond set at $200,000.

Court records say 44-year-old Amber Solay flew out of the country July 7 with her two children, ages 5 and 7, and was arrested when she returned two weeks later.

Solay and the children's father, Kurt Solay, are divorcing.

Amber Solay is to go on trial in December.

Information from: KOTA-TV, http://www.kotatv.com VERMILLION FATAL USD student killed in crash VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) The Highway Patrol says a University of South Dakota student was killed in a head-on collision just east of Vermillion shortly before midnight.

The 21-year-old woman was not immediately identified. The patrol says she was driving on state Highway 50 when she collided with another USD student and died at the scene.

The 20-year-old driver of the other vehicle was taken to a hospital with undisclosed injuries.

The patrol has not said which woman was driving on the wrong side of the road.

Information from: KELO-TV, http://www.keloland.com SCHOOL BADGES Tea schools stick with ID policy TEA, S.D. (AP) Students in Tea area schools will have to continue wearing identification badges, after the School Board decided against changing the policy.

Some administrators say the policy is hard to enforce, and that it might be better to allow students to produce the badge from a wallet rather than force them to wear it.

School district officials say the badges are aimed at boosting security. Board Vice President Kristy Baker says it's similar to the policy in her workplace, where she is required to wear ID.

Students in middle school and high school as well as school officials are required to wear the ID badges. Students who do not are disciplined.

Toby Smythe, activities director and dean of students, says enforcement is a challenge. He says last year he didn't have enough detention room for all the violators.

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com SIOUX FALLS FLIGHTS Sioux Falls to get new Chicago flights SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) A regional carrier for American Airlines plans to start service between Sioux Falls and Chicago.

The three American Eagle daily flights are expected to start between April and June, marking AMR Corp.'s return to the Sioux Falls market it left in 2004. AMR Corp. is the parent company for American Airlines and American Eagle.

Officials with the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and Regional Airport Authority say competition between American Eagle and the existing carrier to Chicago United will help keep fares lower.

Sioux Falls Regional Airport consultant Mark Sixel says officials hope to persuade American Eagle to add a Dallas-Sioux Falls flight, as well.

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-18-09 1103CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list