Latest South Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

EXAM STATIONS Legislator vows to solve exam station dilemma TYNDALL, S.D. (AP) A Republican lawmaker from Tyndall (TIN'-duhl) says he will try to find a compromise to mitigate the closure of 15 South Dakota driver's license stations earlier this month.

State Representative Bill Van Gerpen says he will talk with state officials about a compromise. He says closing the stations in Parkston and Tyndall means constituents will have to drive long distances.

He'd like to make sure each county can have at least one licensing station.

But if that doesn't work, he plans to introduce a bill in the 2010 Legislature to reverse the closures. Van Gerpen says other lawmakers have pledged to co-sponsor the bill.

After talking with colleagues and constituents, Van Gerpen says he thinks the issue will be a "hot topic" in the next legislative session.

CAMERAS IN COURT Opinions mixed on cameras in SD trial courts MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) Some court and law enforcement officials in Davison County say they generally don't have a problem with the idea of cameras in trial-level courtrooms.

The county's chief deputy, Steve Brink, says it would have to be done professionally and that juveniles must be protected.

Circuit Judge Sean O'Brien, who handles cases for Aurora and Hanson counties in Davison County, says he'd want to make sure the cameras would not bother witnesses. He says he's generally in favor of cameras if they are not a distraction.

State's Attorney Pat Smith says the cameras would give people a better understanding of what goes on in courtrooms.

A special committee has recommended to the state Supreme Court that cameras and other recording devices be allowed in South Dakota'a trial courts, but only when the judge and the attorneys in the case agree.

Information from: The Daily Republic, http://www.mitchellrepublic.com GOLD BAR SCAM NC man charged in SD with $40,000 gold bar scam PIERRE, S.D. (AP) Federal grand jurors in Pierre have indicted a 32-year-old Mount Airy, N.C., man on charges he received $40,000 for gold bars that didn't exist.

Denny Ray Randall pleaded not guilty to one count of mail fraud and nine counts of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison, a fine and restitution.

According to the indictment, Randall put up for sale in early 2008 gold bars he said he inherited from his great-grandfather.

The document says Randall e-mailed pictures of gold bars and later a false tracking label to Brad Simon, who mailed a cashier's check to Randall, and that Randall refused to return the money.

CROP DUSTERS-TOWERS Crop dusters worry about wind measurement towers MILBANK, S.D. (AP) Wind measurement towers put up ahead of planned wind farm projects are drawing concerns from crop dusters who say they blend in with the landscape.

Crop duster Brian Hauschild says the main problem with the towers is they have no markings.

Flying 140 mph at low altitudes in a small airplane carries numerous dangers.

But Hauschild says the unmarked towers add a danger that could be eased by the markings or lighting Hauschild asked the Grant County Board of Commissioners to consider creating a requirement that the towers be ringed with colored markings to make them more visible.

Information from: Watertown Public Opinion, http://www.thepublicopinion.com CHILD KILLED Pine Ridge man and woman indicted for child death RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) Federal grand jurors in Rapid City have indicted a man and woman from Pine Ridge for the death of a child who was younger than 7 years old.

Prosecutors say 23-year-old Kendra Warrior and 37-year-old John Bissonette pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Warrior and Bissonette are both charged with abuse of a minor child, and Warrior is also charged with involuntary manslaughter.

According to the indictment, the child died July 11 near Cheyenne Creek on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

The child's name, cause of death and relationship to Warrior and Bissonette are not included in court documents.

CHECKPOINT CRASH SD man faces DUI charge after checkpoint incident RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) Authorities say a Rapid City man speeded through a DUI checkpoint and crashed his car during a high-speed pursuit.

Thomas Broadbent faces several charges, including driving under the influence, in the Saturday night incident.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol says the 53-year-old Broadbent was traveling about 55 mph when he drove through the checkpoint on Interstate 190. He accelerated to 90 mph during the ensuing police chase before crashing his car on an exit ramp.

Authorities say Broadbent has two prior convictions for drunken driving.

Information from: KEVN-TV, http://www.kevn.com LESS SPAM Study finds less spam in SD e-mail SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) An Internet security company says South Dakota has gone from having a high rate of e-mail spam to being one of the least spammed states.

Symantec rated the state the second most spammed state in 2008, with 90 percent of all e-mail being spam. This year, it was the fifth-least spammed state.

Symantec analyst Paul Wood says that in spite of the big change in the state ranking, the amount of e-mail spam going to South Dakotans is down only 3 or 4 percent.

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com SALMON RUN State begins collecting salmon eggs SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) The salmon spawn has started on Lake Oahe, where crews have opened the spawning station at Whitlocks Bay.

Salmon don't reproduce naturally on the reservoir so the state fisheries department collects eggs from salmon that climb a water ladder into the spawning station. The eggs are hatched artificially and the young are stocked back in Oahe.

Fisheries biologist Bob Hanten says the state wants to stock 210,000 salmon next year. It will collect 700,000 salmon eggs this fall.

He says conditions are good on Lake Oahe because of high water and plenty of baitfish.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-11-09 1600CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list