Midwest economy: a state-by-state glance

The Institute for Supply Management, formerly the Purchasing Management Association, began formally surveying its membership in 1931 to gauge business conditions.

The Creighton Economic Forecasting Group uses the same methodology as the national survey to consult supply managers and business leaders. Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss oversees the report.

The overall index ranges between 0 and 100. A figure greater than 50 indicates an expanding economy over the next three to six months.

Here are the state-by-state results of the May survey in the Mid-America region:

_ Arkansas: For the fifth straight month, the …

Tootsie Roll's Sweet Deal // Will Add Jobs, Space Thanks to Multimillion State Aid Package

Tootsie Roll Industries will stay on the city's Southwest Sidewith the help of a $20 million low-interest state loan, allowing thefirm to expand and create 200 new jobs, the state treasurer's officesaid Tuesday.

Tootsie Roll officials, Mayor Daley, Gov. Edgar and TreasurerPatrick Quinn are scheduled to announce the agreement during a newsconference in the company's plant at 7401 S. Cicero.

Company President Ellen Gordon refused to comment, but GregLonghini, a spokesman for Chicago's Department of Planning andDevelopment, said the candy maker will use the money to purchase the2.2 million-square-foot plant it has leased for the last 27 yearssince the company …

Greek Football Results

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Results from the 10th round of the Greek football league (home teams listed first):

Saturday's Games

AEK 2, Asteras 0

Kerkyra 2, Ergotelis …

EU says half of normal flights may run Monday

Some European airports were reopening to limited traffic Monday after volcanic ash forced their closures, a day after the European Union said that if weather forecasts confirm the skies are clearing, air traffic over the continent could return to about 50 percent of normal levels.

Austrian authorities said they had reopened the country's airspace, though many flights remain canceled, and Stockholm's Arlanda Airport was reopening for limited air traffic after the country's aviation authority lifted airspace restrictions over a large part of the country. Most flights were still canceled.

Finland opened its Tampere and Turku airports but kept its main airport …

Serbs' UN Harassment Fuels Showdown Fears

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina Bosnian Serb rebels intensifiedtheir menacing of United Nations forces throughout Bosnia onThursday, stirring fears that nationalist hard-liners are trying toprovoke a showdown.

Jets from NATO countries flew low over the capital city in whatappeared to be an attempt to intimidate the rebels who havekidnapped, physically threatened or restricted the movement of almost5,000 UN personnel in anger over recent UN-ordered air strikes.

Rebel gunmen crept into a weapons containment site before dawn,captured 17 peacekeepers at gunpoint and presumably recovered theheavy artillery the soldiers had been guarding.

The latest UN personnel …

KORTEX 2004 Slated for May 11th to 14th

The 15th Korea International Textile Machinery Exhibition (KORTEX 2004) will be held at the Daegu Exhibition & Convention Center (EXCO) from May 11th to 14th in Daegu, Korea, in line with the Secretariat's aim to develop the most advanced technology and to maximize high value addition in the textile machinery industry. Exhibitors are expected to number 250 overseas and domestic companies.

KORTEX 2004 is hosted by Daegu Metropolitan City and the Korea Federation of Textile Industries with strong support from the government. This exhibition had been held biennially in Seoul since 1976, but Daegu will host KORTEX this time, as the city is considered the briskest market for …

Palin stylist draws higher pay than policy adviser

An acclaimed celebrity makeup artist for Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin collected more money from John McCain's campaign than his foreign policy adviser. Amy Strozzi, who works on the reality show "So You Think You Can Dance" and has been Palin's traveling stylist, was paid $22,800, according to campaign finance reports for the first two weeks in October. In contrast, McCain's foreign policy adviser, Randy Scheunemann, was paid $12,500, the report showed.

McCain's campaign said the payment covered a portion of her work in September and a portion of October. An earlier campaign finance report showed Strozzi was paid $13,200 for a portion of …