Latest South Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

VILSACK-DISASTER Vilsack: Disaster request should be decided soon BATH, S.D. (AP) U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says his agency will decide soon whether to approve a request for disaster declarations for counties in the northeast part of South Dakota hurt by spring flooding.

In late March, Gov. Mike Rounds asked for a presidential disaster declaration for 14 counties and two American Indian reservations. A preliminary survey found more than $3.5 million in emergency costs and damages.

Vilsack said Monday he expects many of those counties will be designated as disaster areas, which would help farmers qualify for additional assistance programs.

A presidential disaster declaration would provide federal money for up to 75 percent of the eligible costs to repair public facilities like roads, bridges and sewage systems.

CROP REPORT Rain slows harvesting in SD last week SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) This week's U.S. Department of Agriculture crop report says rain and wet conditions slowed row-crop harvesting in South Dakota last week.

Much of the heavier rain fell in the northeast quarter of the state.

Average temperatures last week were from 4 degrees to 10 degrees cooler than normal. Much of the southwest and northwest reached a hard freze last week, while parts of the area from the Missouri River to the James River had a frost.

The 2009 Corn harvest was estimated at 2 percent complete as of Sunday. That compares to a five-year average of 11 percent. Sixteen percent of the Soybeans were harvested, while the five-year average is 30 percent.

SD GOP GOV-DAUGAARD Daugaard announces for governor at family farm GARRETSON, S.D. (AP) South Dakota's lieutenant governor has formally entered the race seeking the Republican nomination for governor.

Dennis Daugaard (DOO'-gard) held the first of seven scheduled announcement events Monday at the farm near Garretson where his grandparents settled in 1911.

A standing-room-only crowd huddled on the second-floor hayloft of the barn to hear Daugaard say he has the political and business experience the state needs in tough economic times.

Other planned stops include Pierre and Rapid City on Monday and Aberdeen, Watertown, Mitchell and Yankton on Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader Dave Knudson, former Brookings Mayor Scott Munsterman and Buffalo Gap rancher Ken Knuppe (kuh-NOOP'-ee) also are running for the GOP nod.

Gov. Mike Rounds can't run for re-election because of term limits.

SD GOP GOV-MUNSTERMAN Munsterman sells chiropractic practice BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) A Brookings chiropractor who wants the Republican nomination for South Dakota governor has sold his practice.

Scott Munsterman says he turned over his chiropractic practice to Steve Clites (KLY'-tuhs) in August.

Munsterman, a former Brookings mayor, says it's important to devote all his time and energy to his campaign to win the GOP nod for South Dakota's open governor's seat next year.

Munsterman says he has been campaigning full-time since mid-April and has logged more than 35,000 miles the last few months.

Other Republican contenders include Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard (DOO'-gard), state Senate Majority Leader Dave Knudson of Sioux Falls and rancher Ken Knuppe (kuh-NOOP'-ee) of Buffalo Gap.

Information from: Brookings Register, http://www.brookingsregister.com/ BUSINESS SCHOOL USD dedicates new business school building Friday VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) A dedication ceremony has been set for Friday afternoon for the new $19.5 million School of Business building on the University of South Dakota campus.

The building, with 69,000 square feet of space, opened this fall. In a release, USD says it contains state-of-the-art classrooms, offices, laboratories and conference rooms.

The USD Foundation got a $5 million gift for construction of the new School of Business building. Additional funding was from private donations and from a percentage of student tuition.

On the Net: www.usd.edu/business/business-school-building.cfm.

TEACHER HONOR Spearfish man receives teaching award PIERRE, S.D. (AP) Science teacher Tom Mead of Spearfish has been named Teacher of the Year in South Dakota and will represent the state in the national competition.

Mead has been teaching at Spearfish Middle School since 1989.

He was one of seven candidates for the state award.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-06-09 0201CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list