Heard on the Street

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FED GETS PERSONAL|ret||ret||tab|

For those who just can't get enough of the Federal Reserve Board, the Fed announced Aug. 25 that wireless personal digital assistants can now be used to read items on the Fed's Web site. The most popular items on the site will be available, including statistical reports on foreign exchange rates, selected interest rates, consumer credit, industrial production and capacity utilization, and Federal Open Market Committee announcements also are accessible. Users of Palm OS-compatible personal digital assistants can download the required application from the board's Web site to their personal computers and then transfer it to their PDAs. Users of Windows CE-compatible PDAs can directly access pages that are optimized for display on their PDAs. The application can be found at |bold_on|www.federalreserve.gov/wireless/.|ret||ret||tab|

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ANOTHER FIRST|ret||ret||tab|

Drury University announced Sept. 1 that it is again ranked No. 1 among Midwestern universities in the "Great Schools at Great Prices" category of U.S. News & World Report's annual ranking of colleges and universities. In that category, it was noted that 85 percent of Drury students receive need-based financial aid, with an average award of $7,983. Drury also is ranked No. 15 on the magazine's list of the Midwest's best universities. Last year's U.S. News and World Report college guide also ranked Drury a No. 1 value among Midwestern universities, and ranked Drury 14th among the best Midwestern universities overall, according to a Drury press release.|ret||ret||tab|

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BIG MAC ATTACK|ret||ret||tab|

Remember the first time you sat down at a computer, afraid to touch anything because you might hit the wrong button and wipe out the whole system? Of course, now you know that it isn't that easy to kill a computer ... or is it? Apparently, a rarely encountered glitch in the Apple iBook can cause the laptop to permanently lock up at the touch of a single button. If the user hits a key at the exact moment that the computer goes into "sleep" mode, the screen goes blank ... and stays that way. SBJ discovered this the hard way. The computer we use for our Daily Update e-mail publication has entered the Twilight Zone and is now en route to Apple headquarters for repair. The Daily Update, temporarily suspended, returns this week. Meanwhile, other iBook users should be aware that a patch to prevent this problem can be downloaded at |bold_on|www.apple.com/hardware/articles/sleepext.html.|ret||ret||tab|

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PAY ME IN ST. LOUIS|ret||ret||tab|

Associated Industries of Missouri reports that voters in the city of St. Louis have approved a living-wage proposal that establishes a minimum wage of $8.67 per hour for companies receiving more than $100,000 in city subsidies or tax breaks. Companies that do not provide health care insurance and receive more than $100,000 in city subsidies or tax breaks must provide a living wage of $9.92 per hour. Meanwhile, AIM-supported legislation passed in 1998 prevents municipalities with such a minimum wage from receiving key state economic development assistance. Chris Long, AIM president, said in Associated Industries' newsletter that this puts St. Louis at a competitive disadvantage in attracting new jobs.|ret||ret||tab|

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BURST YOUR BAUBLE|ret||ret||tab|

Burst Your Bauble, an Association of Women in Communications professional development fund raiser, will be held 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Sheraton Ballroom on Glenstone. Inside winning balloons will be gift certificates and other awards, including a certificate for a piece of fine jewelry from Maxon's. Features of the event include hors d'oeuvres, desserts, champagne and sparkling water; a cash coffee bar with exotic coffees; a fine jewelry fashion show by Maxon's; and plenty of fun and networking. Tickets are $15 in advance; $20 at the door. For tickets or more information, call Marlene Chism, 831-1799; Linda Regan, 889-2326; or Debbie VanStavern, 831-7283.|ret||ret||tab|

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