• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Six people accused of stealing identities in South Dakota and using them to fraudulently collect tax refunds have pleaded not guilty in federal court in South Dakota.
• Four of the six are former University of South Dakota football players. One of them -- 21-year-old Alphonso Valdez -- is accused by the Internal Revenue Service of being the leader of the fraud scheme.
• Nine people from South Dakota and Florida are charged in the alleged plot. They were indicted last month. Authorities say the IRS paid fraudulent claims of about $500,000 before the scheme was uncovered.
• Two others pleaded not guilty last month, including 21-year-old Christopher Lundy, who was still on the team this past fall, and former USD track athlete and student body president Terry Liggins.
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• KEITH FREEMAN,Associated Press
• LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Trevor Brazile clinched his 10th all-around gold buckle by finishing third in team roping with partner Patrick Smith in round five of the National Finals Rodeo on Monday night.
• Brazile, of Decatur, Texas, has won 10 of the last 11 eleven world all-around titles, including a record seven in a row.
• He increased his all-around lead over Bobby Mote of Stephenville, Texas, and Stephen Dent of Mullen, Neb.
• Brazile competes in team roping, tie-down roping and steer roping. The $284,197 he has earned in 2012 give him an insurmountable lead over Mote ($146,017) and Dent ($144,465), who hasn't cashed a check at the 2012 NFR with five of 10 rounds completed.
• In team roping, Brazile and Smith, of Lipan, Texas, finished third with a time of 4.3 seconds. They lead the world standings, with Smith having $169,973 and Brazile totaling $168,463.
• Spencer Mitchell of Colusa, Calif., and Dakota Kirchenschlager of Stephenville, Texas, tied for first in team roping, matching Brock Hanson of Casa Grande, Ariz.,

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