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• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- A man whose life prison sentence was mistakenly commuted was denied parole Tuesday in his first try.
• The South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected Joaquin Ramos' request. He can apply again in July.
• Ramos pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter for the 1994 fatal shooting of his pregnant girlfriend, Debbie Martines, in Rapid Valley.
• Former Gov. Mike Rounds, in his final term in 2010, commuted Ramos' sentence to 150 years, making Ramos eligible for parole beginning this month.
• However, state corrections officials had not reached out to the victim's family, so the recommendation was made without input from those who felt Ramos should remain in prison and serve out his life sentence.
• State law prohibits the governor from reversing his clemency ruling, so instead he has recommended parole be denied for Ramos.
• Rounds wrote a letter to the Board of Pardons and Paroles explaining that the commutation never would have been issued if he knew about the victim's family's opposition.
• Ramos initially was accused of murder, but the charge was reduced to manslaughter when he agreed to plead guilty. South Dakota law allows a sentence of up to life in prison for first-degree manslaughter.
• Authorities said Ramos and a co-worker had several drinks at a bar after work on the day of the slaying. Ramos became enraged when he got home and learned Martines had gone to the bar to get him. The shooting occurred shortly after Martines returned home.
• Ramos said the gun went off accidentally when he hit Martines with it.
• Martines, who was four months pregnant, was shot in the neck.
• Her daughter, Jackie McClain, said she will do her best to keep Ramos in prison.
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• RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- Former South Dakota School of Mines and Technology president Harvey Fraser is being remembered for everything from his frequent cussing to his addiction to the sport of squash.
• Fraser died Sunday at the age of 97, the Rapid City school said in a statement. Funeral arrangements were pending.

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