• BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- Residents in much of the Dakotas are on alert for flash flooding as a storm system sweeps in from the Rockies.
• The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch through Friday night for western and central North Dakota, and for western and north central South Dakota.
• Forecasters say the storm system moving east from the Rockies could drop as much as 6 inches of rain. Many areas in the two states already have saturated soils from recent heavy rains.
• Meteorologist Todd Hamilton says,

"Everyone is going to have to keep an eye on the weather."

• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A vice president of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology testified before a congressional panel this week in Washington about its role in the energy industry.
• Duane Hrncir told the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources that the public university in Rapid City is becoming a leader in advanced energy exploration and production.
• School officials say 14 of its programs offer courses related to the energy industry and it recently announced a new undergraduate minor and graduate certificate in petroleum systems.
• School of Mines is one of four in the nation to offer mining engineering, metallur

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