Thursday,  March 20, 2014 • Vol. 16--No. 247 • 22 of 35

(Continued from page 21)

• Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

Police: suspect drove SD homicide victim's vehicle

• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Police in Sioux Falls say the suspect in the homicide of a woman who was found dead over the weekend took her vehicle from her home, drove it and later returned it to the area.
• Authorities are seeking the public's help in identifying the suspect in the death of 56-year-old Kari Ann Kirkegaard.
• Police say the suspect got to the area riding a bicycle, used Kirkegaard's vehicle in the early hours of March 15, and left the area using the same bicycle.
• An image released by authorities shows Kirkegaard's dark blue Ford Explorer has a decal with the number "15" on the rear windshield's lower left side.
• Authorities ask that anyone who may have seen Kirkegaard's vehicle being driven calls police. They also ask that people call in any abandoned bicycles in the area.

Judge: Casinos' free game awards must be taxed

• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A South Dakota circuit judge has ruled that Deadwood casinos must pay taxes on their free promotional games.
• First Gold, Mineral Palace and Four Acres had sued the Department of Revenue. The gaming establishments claimed promotional games should not be taxed. They said the games have no value because they are not sold.
• Judge Mark Barnett sided with the state in the case on March 13. The judge ruled that any awards given out in free games have to be included when a casino calculates its profit. The tax is based off that gross adjusted revenue.
• The ruling supports existing policies set by the Gaming Commission, part of the Revenue Department.

SD Rancher Relief Fund surpasses $5 million

• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- A relief fund set up to help South Dakota ranchers in the wake of an early October blizzard has surpassed $5 million.
• South Dakota Stockgrowers Association Executive Director Silvia Christen says $4.2 million has been doled out to about 600 ranchers, and a decision will be made in early April on distributing the rest.

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