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• Despite the rugged winter weather, supply managers, especially those in manufacturing, reported healthy business activity for the first two months of 2014, Goss said.
• The inventory index, which tracks the level of raw materials and supplies, rose to 59.7 in February from 53.2 in January.
• "This is yet another signal that supply managers are more upbeat about the economy as they increased inventories in anticipation of expanding sales for their companies in the months ahead," said Goss.
• The index for new export orders climbed hit 55.4 last month, compared with 54.9 in January. The import index was unchanged from 52.4 in January.
• "It is a very encouraging signal to track a fourth straight month of healthy new export orders," Goss said. "At the same time, firms in the region continued purchasing from abroad in expectations of upturns in company sales in the weeks and months ahead."
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• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development agency is providing grants for two new fire halls in South Dakota.
• The money is being funneled through rural electric cooperatives, with $250,000 going for a new fire hall for the Delmont Fire Protection District and $300,000 going to the Parkston Rural Fire Protection District.
• Rural Development State Director Elsie Meeks says the new fire halls will give firefighters a "top functioning facility" and provide them with greater safety features.
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• YANKTON, S.D. (AP) -- No one was hurt in an early morning fire that heavily damaged a motel in Yankton.
• Firefighters responded to the Colonial Inn about 1 a.m. Tuesday. Part of the building was destroyed in the blaze and the rest suffered smoke damage.
• Officials say no one was in the motel at the time.
• There was no immediate word on a possible cause.
•

• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A South Dakota Senate Committee is considering a bill in

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