REGION

REGION
Travel agencyopens office
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- A travel agency has opened at 13673 Beaver Springfield Road. Grant Deem and Melanie Whitmire are owners of the business, which is a franchise of Cruise Planners in Coral Springs, Fla.
The agency focuses on cruises but also handles tours, hotel bookings and airline and car travel. The business has a Web site at www.AFirstClassCruise.com.
NATION
Deal approval createspet-food empire
WASHINGTON -- The government cleared the way for the creation of a global pet-food empire Tuesday, approving Swiss food giant Nestle S.A.'s $10.3 billion purchase of Ralston Purina and alarming critics concerned that consumers will pay more to feed Fido and Fluffy.
While the deal brings together such brands as Alpo, Purina and Friskies, the companies agreed to sell Ralston's Meow Mix and Alley Cat dry cat food brands, the Federal Trade Commission said.
The agency's antitrust division has been considering the deal for 11 months.
Nestle holds 32 percent of the U.S. cat food market, while St. Louis-based Ralston has 26 percent.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports