Here is the latest South Dakota news from The Associated Press

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) A Sturgis judge, Jerome Eckrich, has been appointed to handle the re-sentencing trial of an Alaska man for a 2000 torture murder of an acquaintance. The South Dakota Supreme Court ruled earlier that a jury not a judge should have decided if Briley Piper got life in prison or death by lethal injection.

BELVIDERE, S.D. (AP) Rescuers used a cell phone signal to locate a Belvidere man who was severely hurt in a horse-riding accident. Snow and ice had limited rescue efforts to find the man.

Once Pennington County dispatchers determined his location, they sent a Life Flight helicopter to get him.

MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) A Washington-based research organization says climate change will cost farmers far more than pending legislation aimed at curtailing it. The Environmental Working Group report singles out U.S. Sen. John Thune as one of the "leaders in the Agricultural community" who are "shouting that the wolf is at the door." Thune says the potential costs imposed on polluters by the climate-change legislation would be passed on to consumers.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) Rapid City schools are getting a thorough cleaning in hopes of reducing the number of students and staff who fall ill from swine flu. Janitors are sanitizing door knobs, desks, light switches and water fountains several times a day. About a fifth of students were out sick earlier this week.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-11-09 0200CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list