OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – An economic survey index for nine Midwest and Plains states has rebounded, suggesting slow growth in the months ahead. A survey report released Thursday says the overall regional Business Conditions index rose to 52.6 in November, jumping 2.7 percentage points from the 49.9 in October. Organizers say any survey score above 50 suggests growth while a score below 50 suggests decline for that factor. Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss oversees the survey. He says the regional surveys over the past several months indicate the slowdowns in the national and global economies are pushing down the region’s economy.

The nine states are Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

The Walnut City Council will hold its regularly scheduled meeting this evening. On their agenda for the 5-p.m. session at City Hall, is: a request for possible business incentives; discussion with regard to a proposed trail plan for Pottawattamie County; the Appointment of a replacement Zoning Administrator; Discussion pertaining to: solid waste disposal, the City’s budget, and, the annual evaluation of City Employees’ salary.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is shifting his Iowa campaign into a more aggressive phase, launching his first TV ads in the state with a spot in which he declares he knows about how economies grow. In the 30-second spot set to begin running Friday, Romney says the right answer for America is to stop the growth of the federal government and to start private-sector growth. Romney’s decision to start spending money on paid advertising in Iowa just five weeks before the Jan. 3 caucuses signals a belief that he can fare well in the state even though his 2008 bid was tripped up there. The move comes as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has emerged as Romney’s chief challenger for the nomination.