Saturday,  February 23, 2013 • Vol. 14--No. 219 • 20 of 30 •  Other Editions

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agencies to approve a school's program.
• Republican Rep. Scott Craig of Rapid City -- the measure's main House sponsor -- said 24 other states have similar programs. He said arming school personnel would be just one part of a comprehensive security plan. Lawmakers have said some schools need to improve security at entrances and boost counseling to identify troubled students.
• But Craig said making the program law could deter assaults because potential attackers would be afraid to meet armed resistance inside school buildings. Attackers target schools now because they know the buildings are gun-free zones, he said.
• Before approving the bill, the committee removed a section that could have allowed school boards to keep decisions about the program secret. Tieszen said a decision to start a program should be made in a public meeting, but details could be set in a closed meeting.

Buffalo Co. woman arrested in death of 4-year-old

• GANN VALLEY, S.D. (AP) -- A South Dakota woman has been arrested in connection with the death of a 4-year-old child.
• Attorney General Marty Jackley issued charges Friday against 22-year-old Donika Gonzalez of Buffalo County's Gann Valley.
• State Division of Criminal Investigation spokeswoman Sara Rabern declined to say whether Gonzalez is related to the child, nor would she say how officials believe the child died. An autopsy is under way.
• Rabern says the child died Thursday night in Gann Valley. Gonzalez is charged with one count of felony abuse or cruelty to a minor, a class 3 felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. An attorney for Gonzalez could not immediately be located by The Associated Press.
• Gann Valley is about an hour west of Mitchell in central South Dakota.

Snowfall tapering off in eastern South Dakota

• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- A winter storm that moved into eastern South Dakota is tapering off.
• The National Weather Service says the Sioux Falls airport accumulated 6.1 inches of snow through Friday morning, but heavier amounts were reported around other parts of Minnehaha and Lincoln counties.

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