Aviation

Northwest latest airline to cut flight attendants

Northwest Airlines said Wednesday that it would cut up to 1,600 flight attendants because of the continuing slump in the industry since 9-11.

The Minnesota-based carrier asked its flight attendants to take voluntary leaves to reduce their numbers to match its forecast level of flying for this year and next. If enough flight attendants do not take voluntary leaves to reduce the payroll by 1,600 positions, there will be more furloughs, the airline said.

After the attacks, Northwest cut its flight attendant work force using a combination of voluntary short-term leaves and 300 furloughs.

Kansas City, Mo.

Pasta company buys three brands

Kansas City, Mo.-based American Italian Pasta Co. announced Wednesday it has purchased the Martha Gooch and LaRosa pasta brands from ADM Inc. in the United States and the Lensi brand of pasta products from Pastificio Lensi of Italy.

American Italian Pasta President and CEO Timothy Webster said the deal would help strengthen the company’s position as the largest manufacturer of dry pasta goods in the United States.

The brands produce approximately $15 million in annual revenues. Both acquisitions were mostly cash transactions totaling $9.5 million.

Chemical Industry

Dow lowers outlook

Dow Chemical Co., citing increased costs of raw materials, lowered its third-quarter earnings outlook Wednesday. The company’s shares fell more than 8 percent.

Dow, the nation’s second-largest chemical company behind DuPont, had said it had anticipated substantially better results in the July-September period. But the company said Wednesday that it now expected earnings would be “about the same” as third-quarter 2001 earnings of 16 cents per share.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call expected earnings of 29 cents a share.

The Midland, Mich.-based chemical giant’s stock fell $2.55 to close at $27.25.

Newspapers

Topeka publisher dies

Cliff Hall, publisher of the Topeka Metro News, has died of a brain tumor. He was 54.

Hall died Monday in Topeka.

Hall’s company, Hall Publications, publishes the Metro News, Home Buyers Guide and Hall’s Street Guide of Topeka.

Hall began the company in 1987. Prior to that, he had been a partner with his brother Steven, in Hall Directory Inc. and a real estate broker.