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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Agribusiness jobs focus of meeting

The nonprofit group Inland Northwest Partners will host a Thursday workshop in Moscow on how communities can develop agribusiness jobs.

The public event is set to run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Moscow Best Western University Inn. Cost is $30 for group members, $50 for others.

Speakers will cover several regional agribusiness successes, including the growth in southeast Washington wineries, agri-tourism and agricultural processing. Representatives from Blue Mountain Station Eco-Food Processing Park, Wilson Banner Ranch, the Moscow Co-op and Bronzestone Dipping Co. will take part.

For information, visit www.inwp.org.

Tom Sowa

HOUSTON – Boeing Co. said Tuesday that NASA has given the company a $1.24 billion, 5-year extension to a contract covering engineering work on the International Space Station.

Boeing said it will provide engineering for hardware and software on the U.S. part of the space station and for some hardware and software available to international partners.

Boeing’s work will include oversight of maintenance, monitoring system performance and other duties.

Associated Press

NEW YORK The producers of high fructose corn syrup want to sweeten its image with a new name: corn sugar.

The Corn Refiners Association applied Tuesday to the federal government for permission to use the name on food labels. The group hopes a new name will ease confusion about the sweetener, which is used in soft drinks, bread, cereal and other products.

Some scientists have linked consumption of full-calorie soda – the majority of which is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup – to obesity.

The Food and Drug Administration could take two years to decide on the name, but that’s not stopping the industry from using the term now in advertising.

Associated Press

Briefcase

From wire reports

• Growth in Best Buy Co.’s expanding cell phone business helped the electronics retailer’s second-quarter net income jump 60 percent, the company said.

• Kroger Co.’s second quarter net income was $261.6 million, or 41 cents a share. That’s up 2.8 percent from $254.4 million, or 39 cents, a year ago.

• Cisco Systems Inc. said it would pay its first dividend by July, the end of its current fiscal year.

• Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates received the highest award the Boy Scouts of America bestows on adults for distinguished service to youth. Gates received the Silver Buffalo award Tuesday.