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souri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
• In December, the index climbed to 60.6 from last month's reading of 57.5.
• The survey showed increases in bank borrowing to purchase farmland and equipment and rising confidence in how the economy will perform over the next six months.
• December hiring also increased, although Goss said the region's employment is still 3 percent below its pre-recession levels. The survey's farmland price index continued to show brisk growth, even though the December reading dipped.
• Home sales remained strong in December while retail sales soared to 59.0 from last month's 51.5.
• Nearly one-fourth of the bankers surveyed said they expect temporary shutdowns of ethanol plants in their area because of lower ethanol prices. Less than 4 percent said they expected an increase in 2013 ethanol plant revenues when compared to this year, according to the survey.
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• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- A Sioux Falls woman who pleaded guilty to embezzling from a bank has been sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution.
• U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson announced Thursday that 62-year-old Lona Mahon was sentenced to one day of time served and five years of supervised released for embezzling approximately $23,000 over a two-year period from a bank.
• Mahon must serve the first four months of her released confined at home. She must also pay $14,400 in restitution. She has already paid $10,600 to the bank.
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• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A funeral will be held Saturday in Pierre for a 16-year-old South Dakota boy who authorities say was shot by a classmate.
• The funeral for Dalton Williams is set for 1 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church.
• Authorities say the Riggs High School sophomore was found lying in the entryway of the accused shooter's house about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday with a gunshot wound to the chest.
• The boy accused of shooting Williams has been arrested on a first-degree murder charge. Authorities say he is being charged as an adult and will make his first court appearance late Thursday.

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