REGION

REGION
Winner gets grantto improve rail line
SHARON, Pa. -- Winner Steel has been awarded a $225,750 state grant to improve its rail line.
The Rail Freight Assistance Program grant will help maintain 220 jobs and create 30 new ones, said State Sen. Bob Robbins, R-50th, and State Rep. Michael Gruitza, D-7th. The grants are designed to help companies meet "just in time" shipping needs.
NATION
IBM plans to purchaseRational Software Corp.
NEW YORK -- IBM Corp. said Friday it will purchase Rational Software Corp., a maker of development tools, for $2.1 billion in cash -- its biggest software acquisition since purchasing Lotus in 1995.
IBM agreed to pay $10.50 per share for Rational, a price 28 percent above the software maker's Thursday closing price of $8.17. Rational's tools are used to hone development of software.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports