South Dakota

WASHINGTON, Feb 1- U.S. Senate Republicans on Friday pledged to block President Barack Obama's choice to lead the consumer finance watchdog until Democrats agree to restructure it, ramping up an expected fight this year over the controversial new bureau.

LINCOLN, Neb.-- Veterans' groups told lawmakers Thursday that Nebraska's tax on military retirement pay is driving people out of the state, while some lawmakers questioned whether the losses are influenced more by warmer climates and family connections elsewhere.

*Nebraska the most drought-stricken state. Jan 31- The unrelenting drought gripping key farming states in the U.S. It's not a pretty picture, "said climatologist Mark Svoboda of the University of Nebraska's Drought Mitigation Center.

The South Dakota law is based on centuries-old British law. Adelstein had hoped his cause would be helped by a recent trial in Rapid City that attracted a lot of attention in South Dakota. Former county prosecutor Glenn Brenner was sued by his wife's ex-husband, businessman Douglas Rumpca, claiming Brenner stole Kellie Rumpca from a loving marriage.

Dee said there would be some light rain in the eastern portions of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas late Monday and Tuesday, with heavier rainfall seen for the eastern and southeastern Midwest late Tuesday and Wednesday.

WAYZATA, Minn.-- TCF National Bank said Friday it will pay a $10 million penalty to resolve a regulatory reporting issue with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The regional bank, owned by TCF Financial Corp., failed several years ago to file a regulatory report on time that noted suspicious activity as required under the Bank Secrecy Act, or BSA.

WASHINGTON, Jan 25- A U.S. bank regulator announced on Friday that it fined a South Dakota bank $10 million over problems with its anti-money- laundering controls.

WASHINGTON, Jan 25- A U.S. bank regulator announced on Friday that it fined a South Dakota bank $10 million over problems with its anti-money- laundering controls.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.-- George McGovern once gave his daughter a bookend made out of soapstone in the shape of a bear _ a symbol of the "Terr the bear" nickname the former South Dakota senator often called Teresa, who froze to death 18 years ago in a snow bank near a bar where she'd been drinking.

WASHINGTON, Jan 24- Four Republican farm state U.S. senators on Thursday expressed concern that possible free trade talks between the United States and European Union may not dismantle longstanding EU barriers to U.S. pork, beef, poultry and other farm products.

PIERRE, S.D.-- A bill allowing the continued sale of 85- octane gasoline in western South Dakota sped through a legislative committee Wednesday after a compromise was reached on how the fuel would be described in labels placed on pumps.

CHICAGO, Jan 23- Farmers in America's corn belt are counting on spring rains to recharge reserves that were drawn down during last year's worst drought in over a half century, which left soil moisture in top producer Iowa at a 27- year low as the new year begins.

*Sierra Club threatened suit last July. Jan 22- Utility company MidAmerican Energy Co said it has reached a settlement with the Sierra Club over power plant emissions, which includes a pledge to stop burning coal at certain plants over the next few years.

*Sierra Club threatened suit last July. Jan 22- Utility company MidAmerican Energy Co said it has reached a settlement with the Sierra Club over power plant emissions, which includes a pledge to stop burning coal at certain plants over the next few years.

CHICAGO, Jan 18- Dry weather should continue through at least the end of January in the drought-stricken U.S. "The hard red winter wheat belt in the Plains looks quiet, dry and cooler next week, but there shouldn't be a cold air threat in the Plains," said John Dee, meteorologist for Global Weather Monitoring.

*Given soil dryness, below-trend corn yields seen for 2013. CHICAGO, Jan 4- The U.S. "We are still concerned about getting the leftovers out of the way from the drought of 2012. At this time we would not anticipate a national corn yield above the trend," said Iowa State University climatologist Elwynn Taylor, who has studied crop production for decades. "

LIBERAL, Kan., Dec 30- Real estate agent Mark Faulkner recalls a day in early November when he was putting up a sign near Ulysses, Kansas, in 60- miles-per-hour winds that blew up blinding dust clouds.

WASHINGTON/ NEWTOWN, Conn., Dec 21- The powerful U.S. gun rights lobby went on the offensive on Friday, arguing that schools should have armed guards, on a day that Americans remembered the victims of the Connecticut school massacre with a moment of silence.

WASHINGTON, Dec 18- Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives pressed the Obama administration on Tuesday to turn over documents that might reveal more about the Federal Housing Administration's shaky finances.