• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A South Dakota legislative panel has at least temporarily blocked a proposed 3 percent increase in the rates cities, counties and school districts pay newspapers to print their minutes and other legal notices.
• The Legislature's Rules Review Committee decided to hold another hearing on the issue in September. The state Bureau of Administration proposed the increase and is supposed to present the lawmakers with more information to justify the increase.
• If the committee decides in September that the increase is not justified, it could suspend the increase so next year's Legislature could consider the issue.
• Dave Bordewyk of the South Dakota Newspaper Association says the increase is justified, but local government officials oppose the boost. Many local governments would rather put legal notices on the Internet, rather than in newspapers.
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• HURON, S.D. (AP) -- Opening statements start Thursday in the trial of a South

Dakota bar owner accused of raping a 12-year-old girl and two 14-year-olds after serving them booze.
• Prosecutors allege 35-year-old Werner Fajardo (fa-HAHR'-doh) provided alcohol to the three girls at his El Cuervo bar in Huron and assaulted them. He's pleaded not guilty.
• Testimony is expected to last through Friday.
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