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• The facility that is home to more than 200 species of reptiles from around the world is listed in the latest edition of the Guinness World Records book, as the world's largest collection of reptiles.
• Gardens spokesman Johnny Brockelsby sought the listing, and says he's "absolutely thrilled." He says the attraction has always claimed to be the world's largest, and now it has documentation to back it up.
• Brockelsby's father, Earl, started Reptile Gardens 77 years ago with a sack of rattlesnakes. It now has everything from a salt water crocodile from Australia to a Komodo dragon from Indonesia.
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• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- It's a sure sign that summer's getting close -- free admission to South Dakota parks and fishing areas.
• The Department of Game, Fish and Parks says its annual open house is next weekend, May 17-19.
• Anglers can fish without a license anywhere in the state, and entrance fees are waived for all visitors to South Dakota's state parks and recreation areas. But camping fees and fishing regulations and limits still apply.
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• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota's 2014 winter wheat crop is forecast to be up 88 percent from last year.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting the crop based on May 1 conditions to be 49.1 million bushels Average yield is forecast at 45 bushels per acre, up 6 bushels from last year.
• Acreage to be harvested for grain is estimated at 1.09 million acres, up 63 percent from last year. That would be 91 percent of planted acres.
• May 1 hay stocks, at 1.48 million tons, are up 74 percent compared to one year ago.
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• ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) -- Northern State University has graduated the largest class in its history.
• The Aberdeen American News (http://bit.ly/1siwUHq ) reports that 311 students walked across the stage during commencement exercises this year. Of those, 66 received a master's degree and nine obtained an associate's degree.

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