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PIERRE, S.D. (AP) The South Dakota Department of Public Safety says driver licensing stations will remain open in Mission and Wagner while 15 other sites are closed effective Thursday.

Mission and Wagner originally were on the closure list. But Gov.

Mike Rounds reviewed the plan and told the department to continue serving those communities.

Public Safety Secretary Tom Dravland says Mission is in Todd County, a jurisdiction where the Voting Rights Act requires preclearance of changes that could affect voting rights.

He says Wagner, although not subject to preclearance, is in an area that has been subject to Voting Rights Act challenges in the past.

Sites being closed are in Beresford, Britton, Canton, Clark, Clear Lake, Deadwood, De Smet, Flandreau, Freeman, Howard, Parkston, Philip, Platte, Salem and Tyndall.

The department says its restructuring is aimed at shifting resources to high-volume areas such as Sioux Falls and Rapid City while maintaining basic service across the state.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-30-09 1442CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list