Oct. 15--More to Baltimore

Southwest Airlines released its spring schedule this week, which will result in a third daily flight between Kansas City and Baltimore. That was the only change for Southwest's operations at Kansas City International Airport, where Southwest has 60 departures daily. Southwest is adding more than 100 daily flights nationwide beginning March 14, with Chicago and Baltimore getting the most additional service. Southwest also is adding three Kansas City-Milwaukee flights next month, providing competition to Midwest Airlines.

Chick abuse, part 1

IHOP is misleading customers and promoting animal abuse by not living up to its claims to use "cruelty free" eggs, the Humane Society of the United States says in complaints filed with two federal agencies. Hens often are raised in cages so cramped they can't spread their wings, walk around or nest, the society says. IHOP said it is "committed to the humane and dignified treatment of animals in our food supply chain."

Chick abuse, part 2

PepsiCo has apologized for its iPhone app that provides lines to help men entice two dozen stereotypes of women. The "Amp up before you score" program, promoting the Amp energy drink, also provides a "scorecard." The application could still be downloaded Wednesday.

Almost done deal

Pfizer's $68 billion purchase of Wyeth will close today after antitrust regulators in the U.S. and Canada cleared the deal, which will make Pfizer the world's largest drugmaker by revenue. Pfizer will have to sell about half of Wyeth's animal health business, including two production plants in Iowa for Wyeth's Fort Dodge Animal Health subsidiary, which will remain based in Overland Park.

Fed minutes

Federal Reserve policymakers last month were conflicted over whether to expand or cut back a program intended to drive down mortgage rates and prop up the housing market. The minutes of the meeting, released Wednesday, showed that in the end Ben Bernanke and his colleagues agreed to slow down the $1.25 trillion program to buy mortgage securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

| Randolph Heaster, rheaster@kcstar.com

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