• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Honey production in South Dakota last year totaled 17 million pounds, the second-most in the nation behind North Dakota.
• The Agriculture Department says South Dakota production from producers with five or more colonies was up 3 percent over the year.
• Prices for the 2012 crop averaged $1.94 per pound, up from $1.70 in 2011. The total value of the state's honey crop was $33 million, up 18 percent over the year.
• North Dakota's honey production last year totaled 34.2 million pounds.
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• RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- The Rapid City metropolitan area in western South Dakota is continuing to grow, and officials say the oil boom in western North Dakota might be a reason.
• The Rapid City metro area includes the city and Pennington and Meade counties. New Census Bureau figures put the population at 138,738, up 3 percent from the 2010 census.
• City planner Kip Harrington says he knows of people who are living in the area and commuting to the North Dakota oil fields. He says new businesses also are cropping up to service the oil industry in North Dakota
• Harrington says Rapid City also is experiencing the same general migration of people from rural areas to urban areas that other cities across the country are experiencing.
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• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota officials say low-income elderly and disabled homeowners have until April 1 to apply for a property tax break.
• Under the program, a home's assessed value for property tax purposes is prevented from increasing. If the actual value of the home increases, the homeowner still pays property taxes based on the lower value.
• To qualify, people must be at least 65 years old or disabled, and have incomes

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