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• LaPlante said that three years ago he would not have thought that was possible.
• Crow Creek Chairman Brandon Sazue said the creation of the Tribal Relations Department has improved state and tribal rapport.
• "We tend to talk more decently and respect each other more," he said, adding that LaPlante served as a neutral party between the tribes and state.
• "Hopefully someone can fill his shoes, keep doing the same thing," Sazue said. "He'll definitely be missed by us."
• LaPlante said one of the biggest challenges for the future is turnover. Sazue leaves office next month and other tribal members and state legislators are running for re-election.
• LaPlante himself leaves in August to work on an effort with the U.S. attorney to promote cooperation between federal and tribal court officials.
• "I hope my successor doesn't take the position that he or she can accomplish this work by sitting in an office in Pierre," LaPlante said. "You've got to get out there."
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• CHEVY CHASE, Md. (AP) -- High school students from the Dakotas are competing in the finals of the Department of Energy National Science Bowl.
• Groups of four or five students from Bismarck High School in Bismarck, N.D., and Rapid City Central High School in Rapid City, S.D. are participating in the event in Maryland.
• Students are being tested on a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, Earth science, physics, astronomy and math.
• The winning team of the academic competition will receive a nine-day, all-expenses paid science trip to Alaska. The team that comes in second place will win a five-day, fully guided adventure tour of the Great Salt Lake Park, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park.
• The top 16 teams will receive $1,000 for their school's science departments.
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