Here is the latest South Dakota news from The Associated Press

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) Gov. Mike Rounds is urging motorists to make safety a priority as they travel this Thanksgiving holiday. Five people died in South Dakota accidents last year during the Thanksgiving holiday period. Rounds says 81 other motorists were injured.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) Gov. Mike Rounds is asking that all flags in South Dakota be flown at half staff on Saturday to honor former state Rep. Royal "Bud" Wood. The lifelong Warner resident served in the House from 1967-1992. He died Nov. 19 at the age of 87.

WATERTOWN, S.D. (AP) The South Dakota Water Management Board has barred the Lake Poinsett (PAHN'-set) Water Project District Board from raising a flood gate near Castlewood that would allow overflow water from the Big Sioux River into the lake. Current operation of the gate only allows water to flow from Lake Poinsett to the river.

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) An Aberdeen contractor has finished paving a 22-mile stretch of Interstate 90 west from Mount Vernon to White Lake. Nathan Reede of Upper Plains says the $23.3 million project originally was to have been done over two years, but Upper Plains Contracting of Aberdeen bid it as a one-year project and finished it earlier this month.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-26-09 1433CST | save this article / add to your favorites list