Tuesday,  Aug. 6, 2013 • Vol. 15--No. 22 • 19 of 30

(Continued from page 18)

during the rally. There were 251 drunken driving arrests and 219 drug arrests.

Below normal temperatures slow SD crop development

• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Below normal temperatures across South Dakota have been slowing crop development.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its weekly crop report that rain showers were reported across most of the state, but a lack of moisture in some areas has been affecting crops. Statewide, there were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork.
• Corn silking is at 87 percent, behind last year's 95 percent but ahead of the 70 percent average. Winter wheat is 94 percent ripe, compared to the average of 98 percent.
• Topsoil moisture supplies are rated 5 percent very short, 23 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus.
• Pasture and range conditions are rated 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 55 percent good and 14 percent excellent.

Judge: Fraud convict's wife can't get policy money
DAVE KOLPACK,Associated Press

• FARGO, N.D. (AP) -- The wife of a man convicted of bilking millions of dollars out of people in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and elsewhere in an investment fraud scheme cannot collect proceeds from his insurance policy, a federal judge ruled Monday.
• Verlin Swartzendruber, of Laredo, Texas, was sentenced in 2010 to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud. He was ordered to pay back about $3.2 million, and court documents show he still owes about $2.2 million.
• His wife, Lois Swartzendruber, filed a motion in federal court asking to keep about $10,000 in insurance proceeds, primarily to cover eventual burial costs for her husband, who has battled health problems. She said the money should be excluded from restitution because the law considers her an innocent spouse.
• In denying the claim, U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson wrote that he's sympathetic to her financial hardship, but she's the primary beneficiary, not the owner, of the policy.
• "Not only has Lois not identified a valid exemption, she does not have an ownership interest to protect," Erickson said.
• Nick Chase, assistant U.S. attorney in North Dakota, said he was pleased with the ruling.

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