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Group says SD has poorest human trafficking laws
• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- A national advocacy group ranks South Dakota's human trafficking laws as the weakest in the nation.
• The Washington, D.C.-based Polaris Project says South Dakota lacks safe harbor laws for underage victims, doesn't require training on human trafficking for law officers, doesn't seize assets obtained through trafficking, hasn't lowered its burden of proof for sex crimes involving juveniles, and doesn't allow sex trafficking victims to easily purge prostitution convictions from their record.
• Gov. Dennis Daugaard and Attorney General Marty Jackley say they see the report as an opportunity for improvement.
• U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson cautions against reading too much into the rankings. He says state and federal law enforcement work together closely in South Dakota, and any state-level trafficking cases are prosecuted under federal law, where the penalties are more severe.
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Pipe-maker operating in western South Dakota
• RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- A company that makes pipe for the energy industry is up and running in western South Dakota.
• WL Plastics in Rapid City is servicing the oil fields in North Dakota and Wyoming. It started operations in June and held an official ribbon-cutting ceremony this week.
• The business is employing about 50 people. The plant is built for expansion, and could add another 10-15 jobs in the future.
• Texas-based WL Plastics now has facilities in five states and the Canadian province of Alberta.
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Chief Justice reappoints SD presiding judges
• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson has reappointed the presiding judges in the state's seven judicial circuits.
• The presiding judges are administrative heads of their respective circuits.
• Gilbertson reappointed the presiding judges after he was recently elected by the other Supreme Court justices to a new four-year term as chief justice.
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