PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - A South Dakota Senate committee has endorsed a scholarship plan aimed at recruiting new teachers for math, science and other critically needed subjects.

The Education Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the idea and send the bill to the Senate Appropriations Committee, which will review the measure because it would spend money.

The measure's main sponsor, Sen. Tim Rave of Baltic, says South Dakota colleges are not turning out enough new teachers to replace those who are retiring in school districts.

The bill would give scholarships to college students who agree to teach in critically needed subjects for at least five years after graduation. Students preparing for teaching careers could get scholarships to cover tuition for their final two years in a private or public college. 

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - A South Dakota House committee has rejected a measure that would have let people charged with possessing small amounts of marijuana argue in court that they need it for medical reasons.

The Health and Human Services Committee voted 7-6 to kill the bill.

The sponsors said they do not want to legalize marijuana or set up a distribution system where people could get it for medical purposes. But they said people suffering or dying from cancer or other diseases should be able to use medical necessity as a defense in court.

State and local law enforcement officials opposed the bill, saying it could open the door to eventual legalization of marijuana in South Dakota. 

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - A South Dakota Senate committee has endorsed a scholarship plan aimed at recruiting new teachers for math, science and other critically needed subjects.

The Education Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the idea and send the bill to the Senate Appropriations Committee, which will review the measure because it would spend money.

The measure's main sponsor, Sen. Tim Rave of Baltic, says South Dakota colleges are not turning out enough new teachers to replace those who are retiring in school districts.

The bill would give scholarships to college students who agree to teach in critically needed subjects for at least five years after graduation. Students preparing for teaching careers could get scholarships to cover tuition for their final two years in a private or public college. 

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - The South Dakota Army National Guard has appointed a woman to the highest ranking senior-enlisted position for the first time.

Command Sgt. Maj. Susan Shoe replaces State Command Sgt. Maj. Larry Zimmerman as the new state command sergeant major. The position is the highest ranking noncommissioned officer position for the South Dakota Army National Guard.

Shoe says the selection means a lot to her, and she is honored to be the first woman to serve in the role. Shoe assumed the role during a ceremony over the weekend.

James Welch, of Sioux Falls, also became the state's first senior enlisted leader for the South Dakota National Guard over the weekend. He will serve as an adviser to the state's adjutant general.  

YANKTON, S.D. (AP) - A fire that gutted a mobile home west of Yankton left four people homeless and killed at least six pets.

Investigators believe the mid-day Monday blaze was sparked by combustible materials near a wood-burner.

The Daily Press & Dakotan newspaper reports (http://bit.ly/12pu8HX ) that the Red Cross is helping the people who lived in the home. 

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - The Rapid City Council has voted to draft a policy regarding prayer after a nonprofit group asked the council to end its practice of beginning meetings with an invocation.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation advocates the separation of church and state and says a compromise would be for the council to hold a moment of silence before meetings rather than a prayer. City leaders say they don't have any plans to change their tradition.

The council on Monday night decided to have staff draft a policy on the matter that would help the city defend itself in court. The Freedom From Religion Foundation has said it plans to become involved in lawsuits on the issue of prayer at public meetings, though it has not said it will sue Rapid City.  

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Xcel Energy plans to capitalize on what could be a buyer's market for wind energy this year.

The Minneapolis-based utility has told regulators in Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas that it will look for up to 200 megawatts of wind power by April 1. The federal tax credit for wind production has been extended to next January.

Xcel regional vice president Laura McCarten tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press (http://bit.ly/11FVSYO ) the utility could buy a wind farm outright or just purchase power from it. But McCarten says the utility is under no obligation to buy any wind power if it doesn't find the right deal. Xcel has no need for additional wind power until 2017 at the earliest.

Xcel needs to generate 30 percent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2020.  

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - Four Rapid City Council members and several city residents are calling for Councilman Bill Clayton to step down after remarks some said were racist.

Clayton was accused of making racist comments to a black TV reporter last August. He publicly apologized last month for the controversy.

The Rapid City Journal reports (http://bit.ly/XJm8Ma ) the council heard Clayton's full testimony behind closed doors in December and took no action against him. The calls during Monday night's council meeting for Clayton to resign came after former council member Malcolm Chapman criticized the council for not taking action against Clayton.

Clayton defended himself, saying news coverage of the incident has been inaccurate and that "this is the ugly side of politics."