• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- State Sen. Jason Frerichs of Wlimot says the atmosphere in this year's South Dakota legislative session is less divisive than in previous years.
• Frerichs, who is leader of the Senate's Democratic minority, says lawmakers and the public were divided two years ago by Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaard's proposed budget cuts. He says people were divided again last year by the governor's proposal to make big changes in the education system.
• Frerichs says Republicans and Democrats start this year's legislative session with what he calls a clean slate. He is optimistic lawmakers can cooperate on many issues.
• Daugaard's major proposal this year is to cut prison costs by treating more offenders outside prison walls with intensive supervision programs. Lawmakers in both parties have praised the idea.
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• WATERTOWN, S.D. (AP) -- Regional livestock experts will discuss how to manage input costs within the cow-calf and feedlot sectors of the beef industry Thursday and Friday during a conference in Watertown.
• University of Wyoming Extension Beef Specialist Scott Lake and University of Minnesota Professor Alfredo DiCostanzo, Professor will speak at the Northern States Beef Conference at the SDSU Extension Regional Center. Both have years of experience evaluating options and management to influence beef industry input costs.
• SDSU Extension Beef Reproduction Management Specialist George Perry will discuss adding value to the cowherd. University of Missouri Professor Dave Patterson will talk about the Quality Beef program, which is focused on adoption of applied reproductive and genetic technologies that will add value to beef cattle produced.
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• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- The Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society is offering free admission on Saturday.
• The museum is located at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The free admis

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