The former Liberian president is being tried on 11 counts of war crimes, including charges of murder, rape and sexual slavery, in a trial that has already lasted two years. Mr Taylor, 62, is accused by prosecutors of trading in “blood diamonds” to fund a brutal and bloody war carried out by rebels in Liberia’s neighbouring Sierra Leone. Critical to their case is the allegation that his staff gave the supermodel gems as a present after they ... Jump to full article >>

The state ban on smoking in public places that has been delayed by a legal fight is going to get its day in court this week. A trial is set for today and Friday in Pierre over Secretary of State Chris Nelson’s decision to invalidate 8,845 petition signatures, which denied opponents of the state smoking ban the chance to put a referendum on the 2010 ballot and let voters decide whether the prohibition should stand. The smoking ban was appro ... Jump to full article >>

South Dakotans could knowthe fate of the statewide smoking ban by the end of the week. Both sides of the ban will be heading to Pierre Thursday to dispute the nearly ten thousand petition signatures that were thrown out, keeping the issue off next November’s ballot. In July supporters of the smoking ban were able to get the Secretary of State to throw out nearly ten thousand names on the petition turned in by opponents of the ban. Bar and ... Jump to full article >>