• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota corrections officials say the death of an inmate at the State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls is an apparent suicide.
• Authorities say the state Division of Criminal Investigation is still looking into the death of 22-year-old Corey Rhodes. An autopsy is planned.
• Rhodes was found unresponsive in his cell on Friday and taken to a hospital, where he died Sunday.
• Rhodes was serving a six-year sentence for a 2011 burglary conviction in Brown County.
•

• OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- A monthly economic index report suggests an economic slump will continue over the next three to six months for nine Midwest and Plains states.
• The Mid-America Business Conditions index rose slightly in November to a weak 48.0 from 46.5 in October. The figure was 50.4 in September.
• The survey of business leaders and supply managers uses a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth while a score below 50 suggests decline for that factor.
• Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says it is tracking "economic weakness, particularly for nondurable-goods producers."
• The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
•

• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- The Sioux Falls Regional Airport is increasing the price of landing fees and rental space in its terminal next year for commercial planes and cargo carriers.
• Dan Letellier, the airport's executive director, says it's the first fee increase since 2009. He says the Sioux Falls airport's fees will remain cheaper than those charged

(Continued on page 21)