• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota Democrats and labor unions said they've gathered more than enough signatures to force a public vote on a minimum wage increase in the state.
• Organizers of the petition drive said they delivered 25,861 signatures to Pierre on Monday, the deadline to get the initiated measure on the November 2014 ballot.
• Secretary of State Jason Gant said 15,855 signatures need to be valid, or 5 percent of the total votes cast in the last governor's race.
• The measure has three components: raise the minimum wage from the current federally set $7.25 to $8.50 an hour; increase the $2.13 hourly tip wage to half the minimum wage; and tie future increases to the cost of living "so we don't ever have to argue about it again," said Mark Anderson, president/financial secretary of SD-AFL-CIO.
• "For far too long we've been worried about keeping the business climate friendly," he said. "I think it's time we keep South Dakota friendly for the workers."
• The increase would represent about $50 additional per week for a full-time worker, and about 62,000 South Dakotans would get a raise if the measure passes, organizers said.
• David Owen, president of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said the biggest concern for business is tying the minimum wage to the cost of liv

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