11.   As the water level begins to decline, Lum said, rafting will improve for families.

12.   As surgeon general, Burney worked to improve health care for the elderly, particularly in nursing homes.

13.   At the same time, defense spending would be increased over the next decade to improve living standards for soldiers and modernize weapons.

14.   Bank of Japan Gov. Yasuo Matsushita has repeatedly said he will not raise the discount rate until conditions improve for small businesses and consumer spending clearly picks up.

15.   Bank of Japan Gov. Yasuo Matsushita on Wednesday reiterated that the central bank will keep rates low until conditions improve for small businesses and consumers.

16.   Both prime ministers said that despite unionist opposition, prospects were improving for formal negotiations involving their governments and all the northern parties including Sinn Fein.

17.   Both races saw improving prospects for black job applicants to receive equal treatment, but blacks were far less optimistic than whites.

18.   Bo Barrett, the wine maker, says it will improve for up to eight years.

19.   A few residents said the rules should be ended, asserting that housing would improve for all classes of people if government allowed the free market to set rents.

20.   A contrary view is that, while the process might be on hold in the short run, chances have improved for deal down the road.