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Groton Daily Independent
Friday, April 20, 2018 ~ Vol. 25 - No. 280 ~ 10 of 43
News from the
Constitutionality of murder conviction upheld by high court
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of a man’s con- viction for killing his 4-year-old son.
Forty-four-year-old Chris Miller was sentenced to life in prison for the death of his son, Jacob Miller, and an additional 50 years for aggravated assault in January 2013.
Attorney General Marty Jackley says the Supreme Court found Miller failed to show his attorney was ineffective and that the jury selection process was flawed.
Dakotas sunflower seed competitors settle federal lawsuits
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Federal lawsuits between two sunflower seed competitors in the Dakotas who ac- cused each other of false advertising have been settled out of court.
Wahpeton, North Dakota-based Giant Snacks Inc. filed the original lawsuit against Mound City, South Dakota-based Wild Dutchman Products Inc. and one of its partners. It accused Wild Dutchman of mislead- ing consumers about the amount of salt in its products.
Wild Dutchman then filed a countersuit for what it said were bogus claims that Giant Snacks, which calls its seeds “Giants,” was making about its relationship with sunflower farmers.
Court documents show that the two sides reached an agreement during a meeting with a federal mag- istrate judge on Tuesday. Terms were not disclosed.
Giant Snacks attorneys Donna Gonzales and Joel Leviton and Wild Dutchman lawyer William Harrie did not return messages seeking comment.
April rural bankers survey drops slightly in April
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly survey of bankers shows that concerns over a trade war have hurt confidence in the economy in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says weak farm income continues to weigh on the rural economy, but that the survey in recent months shows the economy is trending upward.
The overall Rural Mainstreet index slipped slightly to 53.5 in April from 54.7 in March. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy in the months ahead, while a score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Da-
kota and Wyoming were surveyed.
South Dakota mountain lion season harvest data is stable
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — This year’s mountain lion harvest in South Dakota was about the same as last season, despite more purchased licenses and more snow that can help hunters track the animals.
The Rapid City Journal reports hunters killed 31 lions in the Blacks Hills, 19 of them female. Last season, 30 lions were killed, 16 of them female.
John Kanta with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks says snowfall isn’t the only factor in hunter success. And he says just because more licenses were purchased doesn’t mean they were used — colder weather can keep some hunters inside.
The harvest numbers the past two years are down from 41, 43, 53 and 56 in preceding years. Kanta says the downward trend fits with the lion population, which is stable to slightly decreasing.
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Information from: Rapid City Journal, http://www.rapidcityjournal.com