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managers remain somewhat optimistic about the next six months.
• The June export index fell into negative territory at 48.4, which is the lowest reading since August 2009. That's down from May's 55.1.
• "Given the importance of exports to regional growth over the past year, this pullback in exports is a significant problem if this trend continues," Goss said.
• The import index also declined to 51.5 in June from May's 57.1.
• Other components of the overall index were:
• -- The inventory index, which declined to 53.9 from May's 55.3.
• -- New orders increased slightly in June to 57.3 from 57.2.
• -- Production or sales fell to 56.7 in June from 61.9.
• And delivery lead time increased to 56.2 from May's 52.7.
•

• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota voters will decide the fate of Gov. Dennis Daugaard's plan to give bonuses to top teachers, phase out tenure and recruit candidates for critical teaching jobs, Secretary of State Jason Gant said Monday.
• Gant said the state's main teachers union, the South Dakota Education Association, has submitted enough petition signatures to refer the measure to a public vote in the November election. The law will be suspended from taking effect pending the outcome of the public vote.
• The South Dakota Education Association turned in more than 30,000 petition signatures two weeks ago, and the secretary of state's office has been checking to make sure enough valid signatures were submitted to put the measure on the ballot. A sample of the petition signatures indicated more than 25,000 were valid, far more than the 15,855 needed to refer it to a public vote.
• Daugaard has said the measure will improve student achievement, but teachers argued it would instead hurt the quality of education because teachers might stop collaborating to help students as they compete for bonus money. Teachers also said the law ignores the need to boost general state aid to school districts.
• The bill, which was modified by lawmakers to give school districts a bigger say in some programs, was one of Daugaard's key proposals during this year's legislative session. The Democratic minority opposed the Republican governor's bill, which passed by a narrow margin.
• The teachers union will organize a campaign to persuade voters to reject the

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