• OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- A monthly economic survey index for nine Midwest and Plains states dipped last month, suggesting only slow growth for the region over the next three to six months.
• The Mid-America Business Conditions index hit 53.1 in February, compared with 53.2 in January and 49.5 in December.
• Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the region's manufacturing sector "continues to restrain overall growth for the region and nation."
• 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.
• The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
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• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- Bob Dooley, the warden at the state prison in Springfield, will become South Dakota's new director of prison operations in June.
• State Corrections Secretary Denny Kaemingk (KAY-mink) says Dooley will serve as chief warden and be responsible for the overall management of all the state's adult prison facilities. Dooley will continue to be warden of the Springfield prison and oversee minimum-security units in Yankton and Rapid City.
• Dooley is replacing Doug Weber as director of prison operations. Weber, who is warden of the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, has announced he will retire in June.
• The state is seeking applications for a new penitentiary warden to replace Weber at the Sioux Falls prison.
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• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- East River Electric Power Cooperative has been recognized as "Wind Cooperative of the Year."
• The award was presented during a recent conference in New Orleans sponsored

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