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ROUNDS-BUDGET Rounds: Tough budget year ahead PIERRE, S.D. (AP) As the clock ticks on toward his Dec. 8 address to South Dakota lawmakers, Gov. Mike Rounds says most of the decisions on the next state budget already have been made and that no one will be happy with the budget plan.

The governor says the challenge is to minimize the financial problems while continuing to provide needed services.

Rounds has delivered numerous speeches about the budget to groups in cities across the state. He says he has held informational meetings with groups in the education and social services fields in the past few days.

The governor has said it will be a tough budget year because of low projected revenues and that cuts in programs and services are possible.

UNEMPLOYMENT-CITIES Most larger SD cities' jobless rates up in October SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Yankton's 6.9 percent unemployment rate in October was the highest among South Dakota's largest cities, rising from September's 6.6 percent.

The figures, from the state Department of Labor, also show Watertown's October rate at 6.7 percent, up from 6.4 percent the month before.

Rapid City was third, with 5.7 percent unemployment, followed by Sioux Falls, 5.1 percent and Mitchell, 4.2 percent. Mitchell's October rate dropped from 4.8 percent in September.

The statewide unemployment rate for October was 4.5 percent. The U.S. jobless rate hit a 26-year high of 10.2 percent in October.

SIOUX FALLS-PACS 2 groups owe SF $2,800 for late reports SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Two political action committees that donated to Sioux Falls City Council candidates in the 2008 election have yet to pay fines for filing late campaign finance reports.

The Sioux Empire Friends of Affordable Housing owes about $950 and the Electrical Workers Local 426 about $1,850.

Some city councilors have suggested that the fines be forgiven or reduced. Officials with the political groups say they are surprised it is still an issue.

City Attorney Robert Amundson says his office has been overwhelmed by more immediate concerns, but that the issue needs to be resolved before the next campaign season begins in earnest.

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com BANK FRAUD PLEA Huron woman pleads guilty to bank fraud HURON, S.D. (AP) A Huron woman has pleaded guilty in federal court in Sioux Falls to bank fraud.

Twenty-eight-year-old Ashley Contreras was accused of defrauding First Premier Bank out of more than $6,000 in August 2008, while she was an employee at the bank.

She faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, as well as restitution.

Information from: Huron Plainsman, http://www.plainsman.com/ BURGLARY SENTENCE Man who stole cigarettes gets 15 years in prison BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) A 15-year prison sentence has been handed down to an Oregon man who stole cigarettes from a Brookings convenience store.

Twenty-six year-old Jared Smith of Vale, Ore., pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree burglary for the Aug. 15 break-in. He used a tire iron to smash out a glass door, and a surveillance camera showed him stealing cigarettes.

Smith also has admitted to being a habitual criminal with three or more prior felonies and could have gotten up to 25 years in prison.

Before the sentencing this week, Brookings County State's Attorney Clyde Calhoon called Smith a career criminal but not a very good one, "because he seems to always get caught." Information from: Brookings Register, http://www.brookingsregister.com/ MOLD WOES Mold woes spreading ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) While mold is showing up in many Cornfields across the region, Extension educators say not all the fungus poses the same threats and that farmers can avoid more damage with proper storage.

A wet spring, followed by a colder-than-normal summer and fall, have caused growing and harvest problems and some mold issues.

Ron Dodds, Brown County's Extension educator, says mold conditions varied among the half-dozen fields he inspected this week.

He says molds can be pink, green and black but that the most dangerous is the mold that's difficult to see. Dodds says that kind of mold is among the kernels and tends to fluoresce under black light.

Extension educators say moldy corn should not be stored with a high moisture content.

Information from: Aberdeen American News, http://www.aberdeennews.com FOREST VANDALIZED Vandals target some 500 pine trees near Backus BACKUS, Minn. (AP) Investigators are trying to determine who drove six-inch nails into hundreds of red pine trees near Backus, Minn.

They think the vandals might have thought they were saving the trees from logging. But if that was their plan, it backfired.

The stand is thinned every ten to 15 years. About 100 of the 600 trees were slated to be cut down and sold this month. The money would have benefited the community and school district.

But workers found pole barn nails pounded into more than 500 of the trees.

Now the entire forest must be cut down due to safety concerns.

Mike Diekmann of the Cass County Sheriff's Office says that if a saw hit one of the nails, "it would explode like a gun going off" and could cause serious injury.

A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-28-09 0201CST | save this article / add to your favorites list