Latest South Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

MINA FATAL Aberdeen reporter killed in crash MINA, S.D. (AP) Authorities say a reporter for the Aberdeen American News was killed in the collision of a semitrailer and a car on U.S. Highway 12 near Mina.

The Highway Patrol says 61-year-old Russell Keen died in the crash that happened shortly before 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

The patrol says Keen's car crossed the center line and collided head-on with the semi. Authorities say the semi driver, 56-year-old Wayne Krage of Aberdeen, suffered minor injuries and refused medical attention.

The highway was closed for about four hours after the crash.

BROKAW AWARD KOTA-TV's Loos and Duhamel win Tom Brokaw Award SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) This year's Tom Brokaw Award from the South Dakota Broadcasters Association and University of South Dakota has been given to KOTA-TV Operations Manager Monte Loos (lohs) and KOTA-TV President Bill Duhamel (doo-HAM'-ul).

The awards were presented at the association's annual state conference in Keystone.

The Tom Brokaw Award is presented annually by the association and USD's Department of Contemporary Media and Journalism, to recognize excellence in broadcasting.

The first recipient was former NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw in 1981.

Information from: KORN-AM, http://www.1490korn.com SCHOOLS-LOANS SD schools thankful for fed construction money SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) All of the South Dakota school districts that applied for federal stimulus money for construction projects have been approved for interest-free loans. Officials say that's unusual.

The federal program aimed at helping struggling schools catch up on infrastructure has found demand in some states far beyond what the government is willing to fund. But in South Dakota, the 24 districts that applied to the Qualified School Construction Bonds program have been approved for $56 million.

That shaves as much as one-third off the total cost of the building projects. At least four of the districts say they would have done the projects without the incentive, and they're thankful for the federal help that will cut the cost.

Jennifer Cohen, education policy analyst at the nonpartisan New America Foundation, says South Dakota's experience with the program is unusual. She says most states have so many needy school districts that they have had to reject program applications.

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com FORT PIERRE WATER Fort Pierre residents object to water deal FORT PIERRE, S.D. (AP) About 150 Fort Pierre residents have signed a petition objecting to the City Council's decision to buy water from a rural water system.

If the petitions are upheld, the contract with the West River Lyman Jones Rural Water System would be referred to a vote of residents this fall.

Opponents of the deal say water rates would be increased by as much as 66 percent, and they think the city is rushing into the deal.

Proponents say minerals in Fort Pierre's well-based water are hard on appliances and add significant costs to water-using businesses such as bars, car washes and water parks.

Information from: Pierre Capital Journal, http://www.capjournal.com pheasant HUNTING Hunters disappointed by lack of pheasants SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Many South Dakota hunters who took to the fields in search of pheasant over the weekend returned home empty-handed and frustrated.

They say standing crops that farmers haven't been able to harvest because of poor weather made it difficult to find birds.

A hunting season for state residents only began Saturday and ends Monday. Hunting is allowed only on public land from noon to sunset. There is a daily limit of three roosters.

Chad Kaiser of Hartford says he didn't see any pheasants and never fired his gun during his two hours outside Sunday afternoon.

But he says it was still fun to go out with the dogs.

A 79-day hunting season for residents and nonresidents opens this coming Saturday.

Information from: KELO-TV, http://www.keloland.com PAIRING HUNTERS Program matches hunters and landowners PIERRE, S.D. (AP) A Web site through the Game, Fish and Parks Department can be used to match deer hunters with landowners who want someone to hunt on their property.

People with licenses for anterless deer can list their contact information and counties where they are interested in hunting.

Landowners can check the list for someone they might invite to hunt on their land.

The GF&P's Art Smith says it helps both the landowner who wants a deer herd reduced and the hunter who is looking for access to private land.

SLAUGHTERHOUSE-TRIAL Iowa meatpacker manager going on trial in SD SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) A former manager at a kosher slaughterhouse in northeast Iowa is going on trial in South Dakota.

Sholom Rubashkin is to go on trial Tuesday in Sioux Falls on 91 fraud-related charges. He is accused of cheating a bank, laundering more than $1 million, concealing months of fraud and failing to pay livestock providers on time.

The 49-year-old Rubashkin was an executive at the former Agriprocessors Inc. plant in Postville, Iowa the site of a massive immigration raid in May 2008. Prosecutors also have charged him with 72 immigration-related charges for his alleged role in a scheme to hire illegal workers. The immigration trial begins one week after the bank fraud trial concludes. Rubashkin has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Officials say the bank fraud trial could last up to six weeks.

It was supposed to take place in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but a judge said news coverage of the case could influence potential jurors there.

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com CENTER ENROLLMENT More students attending University Center SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Enrollment at the University Center in Sioux Falls is up 3.1 percent this fall to 2,275 full- and part-time students.

The center offers courses from five of South Dakota's half-dozen state universities.

The executive dean, Mark Lee, says the University Center continues to attract students who have part- or full-time jobs.

Just over half the students are considered full-time equivalent students.

Enrollment has grown by 23 percent since fall 2004.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-12-09 1102CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list