Orders for durable goods, excluding automobiles and airplanes, unexpectedly rose in April, signaling that demand from abroad may be helping factories ride out the housing-led economic slowdown, the U.S. Commerce Department said today. Excluding transportation orders, which tend to be volatile, bookings for goods meant to last several years rose 2.5 percent, the most since July. Today’s figures indicate growth in Europe and emerging markets, along with a slide in the dollar, are helping sustain demand for American-made goods even as U.S. consumers rein in spending, Bloomberg said.

The Iowa Concern Hotline is collecting information from people who want to donate goods or services to help victims of tornadoes that struck Sunday. To have items included on a list of donated goods, call (800) 447-1985. The information will be compiled in a database that will be used to direct items where they are needed. Please note that the Iowa Concern Hotline is gathering information only. It asks that people do not attempt deliver items to storm damaged areas.



Hy-Vee Inc. Executive Vice President Ken Waller has been elected chief administrative officer by the company’s board of directors. His sreas of responsibility will include human resources, risk management, safety and security, special projects and customer service initiatives. The 37-year Hy-Vee veteran also will take a lead role in developing the format of the company’s recently announced smaller-store concept, the first of which will be built in Lincoln, Neb. Since 2000, Waller has been a top operations officer of the company, overseeing 112 stores in the company’s Eastern Region He serves on the company’s executive committee and has been a member of the board of directors since 2001.

Unity HealthCare and Iowa Health System have announced an agreement for Trinity Regional Health System, the Quad-Cities-based affiliate of Iowa Health System, to provide interim management services for Unity HealthCare. Under the terms of the six-month agreement, Trinity will provide management support and consulting services to Unity’s senior leadership team that will encompass strategic planning, billing and collections, overall financial operations and regulatory compliance objectives. In addition, Trinity and Iowa Health System will help Unity HealthCare in its leadership recruitment process. The agreement was effective Tuesday. Edward R. Maahs has been designated as the interim CEO at Unity HealthCare. Maahs most recently served as interim CEO for Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines and Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, overseeing hospitals in Cresco and Lake City as well as Oakland, Neb. Prior to that, he worked as a consultant and interim administrator at various health systems in Iowa.

Aviva USA, part of Aviva plc, the fifth-largest insurance company in the world, said it is now the top-ranked seller of fixed indexed annuities and life insurance in the United States. The company has been the top seller of fixed indexed life insurance for the past seven years and for the first quarter of 2008 took over the top spot in fixed indexed annuities, according to AnnuitySpecs.com.

Meta Financial Group Inc has announced that it will pay a cash dividend of 13 cents per share for the third fiscal quarter of 2008. The dividend will be payable on or about July 1 to shareholders of record as of June 16. On March 31, Meta Financial Group had assets of $810.5 million and shareholders’ equity of $52.9 million.

The Belin Quartet, in association with the Civic Music Association, will continue its summer concert series at 12:15 p.m. Friday in Nollen Plaza. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will take place at the Kirkwood Hotel lobby, 400 Walnut St.