OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly economic survey index for nine Midwestern and Plains states has dipped again. A survey report issued Monday says the overall Mid-America Business Conditions Index fell in November to 51.3 from 51.8 in October. September’s figure was 54.3.

After rising in June to its highest level in more than three years, the overall reading has hovered in a range pointing to much slower growth for the overall regional economy over the next three to six months. The survey results from supply managers are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth, while a score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Charity groups are reminding Iowans about “Giving Tuesday,” which follows the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa in Waterloo is promoting the effort by holding a photo contest on its Facebook page. The organization is asking community members to post pictures of their volunteer efforts. The three winners will be given a grant of $500 to donate to the nonprofit charity of their choice. Jake Byers, spokesperson for the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, says Giving Tuesday is an important day to have among the holidays.

“We have a day of thanks for Thanksgiving, we have Black Friday, and then we have Cyber Monday. So, Giving Tuesday is a way to highlight giving and making your community a better place,” Byers says. While Giving Tuesday is meant to draw attention to charities, Byers is hoping Iowans will think about “giving back” more than one day a year. “We want people to understand that Giving Tuesday is more than just one day. It’s something that people can do throughout the year, whether that’s through volunteering, sharing their talents, or making a gift to nonprofits,” Byers said.

According to Byers, staff at the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa will look for the most creative photo posts to decide the contest winners.

(Radio Iowa)

The National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa is looking for help in putting together an exhibit featuring bikes known as choppers. Museum spokesperson, Mark Mederski, says choppers became a way for Iowans and others to build their own bikes after World War Two. “The period, I guess you’d say in the 50’s and 60’s where people got into extreme customizing of motorcycles first, with changing the steering head rakes, and extended forks and sissy bars and wild exhausts and such, both in American and British bikes and Japanese,” Mederski says. Mederski says they are looking for anyone who is willing to lend their bike to fill out the exhibit.

“We’d like to borrow motorcycles from May of 2015, roughly when the exhibit opens, for one year through May of 2016,” Mederski explains. “And then at our annual vintage rally event, which is June 20th, 2015, we’ll have a special class for chopped, bobbed and cut down machines.” The exhibit won’t only feature the bikes, but also the other things that go with them. “We’ll also try and bring you some of the peripheral memorabilia, study the art of pinstriping, try to bring some leather jackets that fit the era, photographs, magazine covers and such,” according to Mederski. He encourages anyone who is interested in lending their bike to contact the museum.

“They can send email to the museum if they have interest in participating in the exhibition, and that email is: museum@nationalmcmuseum.org. They can also got to the website, which is www.nationalmcmuseum.org and we’ve got information there on participation,” Mederski says. The museum was founded in 1989 and in 2010 moved to a new building that doubled its space.

(Radio Iowa)

Children in Iowa schools and across the country are encouraged to make good choices in the lunch line. The U-S Department of Agriculture is making nearly six-million dollars available in Team Nutrition grants. Economist David Just says the money will go to agencies in Iowa and other states that fall within the National School Lunch program and many will use the money to implement a project called Smarter Lunchrooms.

“It’s a lunchroom that uses behavioral science to help children to both choose and eat fruits and vegetables and other healthier options,” Just says. Small, simple changes or alterations in presentation techniques are showing big results in the school lunchrooms.  “Taking fruit out of the stainless steel bins and placing them in an attractive bowl near the cash register can increase fruit consumption by 102%,” he says. He reveals other basic tricks that work.

“Placing white milk in front of the chocolate milk can increase white milk sales by as much as 26%,” he says. The U-S-D-A is funding more than two-thousand Smarter Lunchroom kits that will be distributed to school districts nationwide which provide information on how to help kids eat healthier. Iowa has 351 school districts and more than 473-thousand students.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa state Representative Dwayne Alons, who was battling renal cancer, has died. Alons, a Republican from Hull, announced his diagnosis last month. The Oolman Funeral Home in Hull said Sunday the 68-year-old Alons died on Saturday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After four tumultuous years, Secretary of State Matt Schultz is preparing to leave office with no regrets. Schultz, an attorney who previously worked at a Council Bluffs law firm, says he’s excited to return to the practice of law after winning easy victory in the November 4th election for Madison County attorney. He’ll take a pay cut and have a much smaller staff but says the job will keep him closer to his home in Truro and allow him to continue public service.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa town of Forest City has bought a new police dog and plans to revive its K-9 unit early next year. The Globe Gazette reports the police department plans to use $6,100 from forfeited property to pay for the German shepherd that’s expected to be ready to start patrolling the area in February.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A 5-year-old Iowa girl has died two weeks after she was hit by a truck while sledding down her grandfather’s driveway. Council Bluffs Police told KETV Kailey Maloney died Saturday at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. She had been treated there since her November 16th injury.