• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls says the election of Pope Francis is recognition of the changing face of Catholicism.
• Pope Francis is the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope. Bishop Paul Swain in Sioux Falls says church membership is growing outside of Europe, so it made sense for cardinals to look elsewhere for the church's new leader.
• Swain says it's important to have a pope "who understands the dynamics of the whole world."
•

• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota says the addition of a communications director makes it the state's largest civil rights organization.
• Heather Smith has been named director of communications for the ACLU of South Dakota, which is based in Sioux Falls and also administers the ACLU of North Dakota.
• Smith will be responsible for promoting ACLU initiatives to members, volunteers, news organizations and others.
• The organization supports freedoms of the press, speech, assembly and religion and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy. Officials say the ACLU of South Dakota also seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups that have traditionally been denied their rights.
•

• HURON, S.D. (AP) -- The Huron Police department has been awarded more than $28,000 to purchase a utility vehicle and a K-9 patrol cage to be used in drug investigations.
• Attorney General Marty Jackley recently announced that the police department received the money out of the Drug Control Fund.
• Jackley says the Drug Control Fund allows law enforcement to combat controlled substance abuse by funding local programs with money sized from drug arrests.

(Continued on page 14)