Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News articles from December 11 2003

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News archives from December 11 2003

Air Products Wins Injunction to Block Chinese Firm from Using Chemical.
December 11, 2003... By Kurt Blumenau, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Air Products and Chemicals earned an injunction last week in U.S. District Court blocking a Chinese company from using chemical formulas and...

Head of Easton, Pa., Theater Emphasizes Focused Marketing to Fill Seats.
December 11, 2003... By Tracy Jordan, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--When Shelley Brown entered the State Theatre in Easton 11 years ago to become its executive director, she found four sheets of letterhead, one...

Buyer of Bankrupt Zinc Processor Intends to Keep Jobs at Allentown, Pa., Plant.
December 11, 2003... By David Slade, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--An investment group's $73.6 million purchase of bankrupt Horsehead Industries prevented mass layoffs and should return the zinc company to...

Fairfield County, Conn., Firms Seek Foreign Language Training Close to Home.
December 11, 2003... By Richard Lee, The Stamford Advocate, Conn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--When in Rome, you do as the Romans. When in international business, you should do -- and speak -- as your customers. Lower Fairfield County...

Stamford, Conn.-Area Money Managers Make Nelson's World's Best List.
December 11, 2003... By Richard Lee, The Stamford Advocate, Conn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Stamford-area money managers have returned to the Nelson's World's Best Money Managers rankings for the third quarter of 2003, scoring in some of...

Printing Giant Quebecor World to Close U.S. Headquarters in Greenwich, Conn.
December 11, 2003... By Peter Healy, The Stamford Advocate, Conn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Montreal-based Quebecor World Inc. plans to shut down its U.S. headquarters in Greenwich during the first quarter of next year, causing the town to...

Columbia County, Ga., Opens New Road to Serve Business Park.
December 11, 2003... By Vicky Eckenrode, The Augusta Chronicle, Ga. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Columbia County Bureau Chief Columbia County officials now have a road they hope will lead to new investments. Bracing themselves from the...

Augusta, Ga., Area Budgets for Continued Growth in Tourism Tax Revenue.
December 11, 2003... By Matthew Mogul, The Augusta Chronicle, Ga. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Tax dollars collected from tourism revenue should grow slightly in the coming year on the back of strong visitor interest in new Columbia County...

Workplace Gift Giving Fraught with Potential Pitfalls.
December 11, 2003... By James Gallagher, The Augusta Chronicle, Ga. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--When Clark Griswold's boss replaced his yearly Christmas bonus with a one-year membership in the Jelly of the Month club, Clark wasn't happy. ...

Wayne County, Ohio, Will Try to Keep Rubbermaid in Town.
December 11, 2003... By Erika D. Smith, Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--One day after Newell Rubbermaid Inc. said it was leaving town, flabbergasted Wayne County leaders put aside their shock long enough to address one...

Albuquerque, N.M.-Based Eclipse's Contract for Jet Tails Worth $380 Million.
December 11, 2003... Albuquerque Journal, N.M. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--Eclipse Aviation has signed a deal worth about $380 million with Hampson Industries PLC of England -- a supplier to Airbus, Boeing and Rolls Royce...

Industrial and Office Properties Group Picks Favorite New Mexico Projects.
December 11, 2003... By Diane Velasco, Albuquerque Journal, N.M. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--The New Mexico chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties this week recognized several commercial...

Grocery in Albuquerque, N.M., Helps Foreign Nationals Get Taste of Home.
December 11, 2003... By Diane Velasco, Albuquerque Journal, N.M. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--Holidays far from home can be made a little brighter if you can keep up traditions -- especially traditional recipes. The All the...

Albuquerque, N.M., Groceries See Steep Rise in Egg Prices.
December 11, 2003... By Charlotte Balcomb Lane, Albuquerque Journal, N.M. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--No, Chicken Little, the sky isn't falling, but egg prices have definitely jumped up. At Albuquerque grocery stores and...

Atlanta-Area Consumers More Upbeat in November, Survey Says.
December 11, 2003... By Michael E. Kanell, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Consumers in metro Atlanta were a slightly more optimistic lot in November, but many people do not expect their spending power to grow,...

CarrAmerica Realty Puts Its Atlanta Office Properties on Market.
December 11, 2003... By Walter Woods, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--CarrAmerica Realty Corp., a Washington-based real estate investment trust, is pulling out of the Atlanta market and putting its 11 metro area...

More Retailers Investigate Use of Greeters to Add Personalization to Stores.
December 11, 2003... By Renee DeGross, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Wal-Mart and Waffle House aren't the only places where patrons are greeted when they walk in the door anymore. In an age of self-checkouts...

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Maria Saporta Column.
December 11, 2003... By Maria Saporta, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--DEPARTING CEO EAGER TO GO FISHING: Don't expect Allen Franklin, chairman, president and chief executive of Southern Co., to spend a lot of...

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Wall Street Column.
December 11, 2003... By Tom Walker, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--INTEREST-SENSITIVE SECTORS DECLINE: Investors dumped shares of interest-sensitive stocks on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve hinted that it...

Beaumont, Texas, Expects to Increase City Fees in 2004.
December 11, 2003... By Angela Macias, The Beaumont Enterprise, Texas Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--BEAUMONT, Texas--From the cost of zoning changes to renting Riverfront Park, select city fees will increase next year. The City Council...

Beaumont, Texas-Based Small Businesses Encouraged by Federal Matchmaking Event.
December 11, 2003... By Christopher Clausen, The Beaumont Enterprise, Texas Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Many small business would love to get a piece of the $240 billion the federal government spends through contracts each year. And by law...

Buna, Texas, Embroiled in Criminal Investigation of County Water Board.
December 11, 2003... By Jacqueline Lane, The Beaumont Enterprise, Texas Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Finger-pointing, misconduct allegations and a district attorney's investigation regarding Buna's water board has created a community dustup....

Stamford, Conn.-Based Carpool Effort Gives Lift to All-Women Ridership.
December 11, 2003... By Rob Varnon, Connecticut Post, Bridgeport Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Stamford-based Metro-Pool has begun offering women-only carpools in an effort to stop a decade-long decline in people sharing a ride to work. ...

Connecticut Small-Business Groups Duck Politics on Report Blaming Congress.
December 11, 2003... By Rob Varnon, Connecticut Post, Bridgeport Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Connecticut business organizations said the stakes are too high to get pulled into a partisan battle over federal initiatives affecting small...

Even with Parking Garage Opening, Biloxi, Miss., Casino Valets Have Work.
December 11, 2003... By Timothy Boone, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--BILOXI, Miss.--Valet attendants at Isle of Capri Casino have been busy the past year because an ongoing expansion has blocked access to hundreds...

Gulfport, Pascagoula, Miss., Get Federal Homeland Security Grants for Ports.
December 11, 2003... By Timothy Boone, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--BILOXI, Miss.--The Mississippi State Port at Gulfport and the Port of Pascagoula received more than $1 million Wednesday in port security grants...

Mississippi Gulf Coast Retiree Partnership Honors Senior Volunteers.
December 11, 2003... The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--BILOXI, Miss.--The Mississippi Gulf Coast Retiree Partnership honored senior volunteers Wednesday for helping the organization mark a record year in which 257 new...

Revenues Are Up a Bit This Year for Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Ill.
December 11, 2003... By David van den Berg, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--So far this year, gambling revenues and admissions are virtually flat at the Casino Queen in East St. Louis compared to the same period in...

Belleville, Ill., Gourmet Sandwich Shop Closes.
December 11, 2003... By Danielle McNamara, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--BELLEVILLE, Ill.--Jimmy John`s Gourmet Sandwich shop closed its doors in Belleville last week. The closing does not affect Jimmy John`s...

Boulder, Colo., Mall Retailers Aim to Lure Shoppers with Gift Certificates.
December 11, 2003... By Meredith Richards, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Merchants at several shops, restaurants and galleries on the east end of Pearl Street Mall are hoping to lure customers to their shopping...

New Sales Tax Report Shows Continued Collection Decreases in Boulder, Colo.
December 11, 2003... By Matt Branaugh, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Scribbled on a small bundle of note cards held together by a rubber band are five decades' worth of monthly sales data for Keith Hurdle's...

Cheeseburger Fries Are 'Next Big Thing' for Montana Beef Council.
December 11, 2003... By Jim Gransbery, Billings Gazette, Mont. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Cheeseburgerfries. Yup, all in one mouthful. It's the "Next Big Thing" for the bar and grill crowd to munch on while downing a couple of beers...

Council on American-Islamic Relations Threatens Bank of America Boycott.
December 11, 2003... By Jamie Smith Hopkins, The Baltimore Sun Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--The Council on American-Islamic Relations pledged yesterday to call for an international boycott of Bank of America if the company doesn't meet with...

Legg Mason Managers See 2004 as Year of Rising Stocks, Falling Jobless Rates.
December 11, 2003... By Paul Adams, The Baltimore Sun Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--NEW YORK -- After three years of market pessimism, the top stock pickers at Baltimore-based investment firm Legg Mason Inc. predict 2004 will be a year of...

Baltimore Area Sees Rise in Average Home Sale Prices in November.
December 11, 2003... By Trif Alatzas, The Baltimore Sun Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Average sale prices for Baltimore-area homes rose 6.3 percent to $207,098 last month, snapping a seven-month string of double-digit increases, even as the...

Maryland Health-Care Providers to Push Legislation to Cut Malpractice Premiums.
December 11, 2003... By M. William Salganik, The Baltimore Sun Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Setting the stage for a bruising battle in Annapolis over the rise in malpractice insurance premiums, a coalition of health care providers yesterday...

Large Maine Group to Buy Small Hyannis, Mass., Bank.
December 11, 2003... By Ethan Zindler, Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--A day after Banknorth Group of Maine announced it was buying CCBT Financial Companies, the Cape bank's commercial clients were still struggling...

Hyannis, Mass.-Area Businesses Worry about Big Size of New Bank.
December 11, 2003... By Frederick Melo, Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Business owners aren't the only ones wondering about the new bank in town. Barnstable County also does its banking with CCBT Financial...

Scant Relief in Sight for Walnut Creek, Calif.-Area Economy.
December 11, 2003... By George Avalos, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Pain without gain could hound the Bay Area economy and job market throughout next year, according to a report released today. And...

San Francisco, Calif.-Area Ports to Benefits from New Federal Security Funding.
December 11, 2003... By Guy Ashley, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Port facilities across the East Bay will benefit from the latest round of port security grants that were announced Wednesday by Tom...

Charleston, S.C., Firm Buys Stake in Big Canadian Retailer.
December 11, 2003... By John P. McDermott, The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--A firm led by Charleston industrialist Jerry Zucker has invested about $60 million for a 10 percent stake in Canada's biggest...

Airlines Await Pension Changes.
December 11, 2003... By Eric Torbenson, The Dallas Morning News Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Airlines were left hanging when Congress recessed this week before acting on a series of bills affecting pension laws. The House of...

Utility's Grid Proposal Could Fuel Energy Trading between Texas, Mexico.
December 11, 2003... By Sudeep Reddy, The Dallas Morning News Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--From oil to clothes, all kinds of goods are bought and sold between Texas and Mexico. But electric power has barely flowed across the border due to...

Money to Redo, Expand Terminals at Detroit Metro Airport.
December 11, 2003... By Rajiv Vyas, Detroit Free Press Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Detroit Metro Airport expects to pick up $346 million today, money it plans to spend on two major building projects that will bring huge changes to the...

Detroit Free Press Architecture Column.
December 11, 2003... By John Gallagher, Detroit Free Press Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--It's been a busy year in metro Detroit architecture. If we didn't have a single defining moment in local architecture -- nothing like Frank Gehry's...

DaimlerChrysler Chief Says Former Chrysler Chair Pushed Key Points of Merger.
December 11, 2003... By Sarah A. Webster, Detroit Free Press Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--WILMINGTON, Del.--DaimlerChrysler chief executive Juergen Schrempp said Wednesday it was former Chrysler Chairman Robert Eaton who masterminded some of...

Detroit Free Press Tom Walsh Column.
December 11, 2003... By Tom Walsh, Detroit Free Press Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--"We can do more than just kill people," said Major Gen. Craig Whelden, only half in jest. Whelden, 52, two weeks from retirement, was one of 12 Army...

Detroit Free Press Mike Wendland Column.
December 11, 2003... By Mike Wendland, Detroit Free Press Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--As I write this column, my Mac is playing a series of Christmas carols -- Mannheim Steamroller is causing me to whistle along right now -- I downloaded as...

Governor's Panel on Health-Care Reform Arrives in Duluth, Minn.
December 11, 2003... By Melanie Evans, Duluth News-Tribune, Minn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Gov. Tim Pawlenty's push to reform health care in Minnesota arrives in Duluth today seeking input from patients, employers and consumer advocates....

Duluth, Minn., Port Receives Federal Security Grant.
December 11, 2003... Duluth News-Tribune, Minn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--A $400,600 federal grant should go a long way toward helping the Duluth Seaway Port Authority meet new safety requirements set out by the Maritime Transportation...

Debris from Forest Fires Harming Escondido, Calif., Water Supply.
December 11, 2003... By Erin Massey, North County Times, Escondido, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--ESCONDIDO, Calif.--Every time the Santa Ana winds pick up, they pollute the city's local water supply with leftover ash and light debris...

Don't Wait to Mail Holiday Packages.
December 11, 2003... By Joby N. Cunningham, The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--If you still want to send Aunt Edna those Christmas cookies you've baked or need to get your holiday cards in the mail, you might...

Author Says Fredericksburg, Va., Area Should Consider 'Living Wage'.
December 11, 2003... By Michael Zitz, The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--It's become a familiar refrain. Companies such as Wal-Mart are the enemy of the worker, it is said. The argument is that while they...

Florida Officials to Rein In Online Pharmacies Shipping Drugs to State.
December 11, 2003... By Bob LaMendola, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--MIAMI -- The state Board of Pharmacy is taking another stab at reining in online pharmacies that ship drugs to almost any Floridian who wants them....

South Florida Sun-Sentinel Business Strategies Column.
December 11, 2003... By Marcia Heroux Pounds, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--HERE'S A HOLIDAY LIST FOR RETAILERS TO CHECK TWICE: I'm nearly finished with my holiday shopping, no thanks to some retailers. I usually...

San Francisco-Based Bank to Unveil New Features At Fresno-Area Branches.
December 11, 2003... By Joan Obra, The Fresno Bee, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Union Bank of California customers should notice a new look in branches by mid-January. Televisions, electronic ticker-tape announcements and...

Fresno, Calif., Brewery, Restaurant Owners to Open Second Area Location.
December 11, 2003... By Sanford Nax, The Fresno Bee, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--The owners of a well-known Tower District restaurant will open a second outlet in an upscale shopping center in north Fresno that also could feature an...

Continental Airlines Warns Average Fares Will Remain Low Through Holiday.
December 11, 2003... By Trebor Banstetter, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Continental Airlines warned Wall Street Wednesday that despite stronger holiday bookings, average air fares will drop during the rest of...

Pasadena, Calif., Merchants Hope Discount Gift Book Attracts Customers.
December 11, 2003... By Andrew Blazier, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Crate&Barrel. Gap. Saks Fifth Avenue. In Old Pasadena, it seems, nationally-recognized chain stores rule the roost -- especially on...

The Boston Globe Boston Capital Column.
December 11, 2003... By Steven Syre, The Boston Globe Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Can a falling dollar help the Red Sox solve their shortstop problem? Not really, unless John Henry is sitting on a large pile of euros he can change into...

Chinese Leader Promotes Massachusetts Trade Links during Statewide Tour.
December 11, 2003... By Ross Kerber, The Boston Globe Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao praised growing trade ties between Chinese and Massachusetts companies and sampled farm-fresh vanilla ice cream during a series of...

New England Supermarkets Respond to Counterfeit Coupon Epidemic.
December 11, 2003... By Bruce Mohl, The Boston Globe Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Counterfeit coupons are such a fast-growing, multimillion-dollar problem nationally that several New England supermarkets have instituted new redemption policies...

Portland, Maine, Dairy Attempts to Settle Suite with St. Louis Hormone Maker.
December 11, 2003... By Bruce Mohl, The Boston Globe Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Oakhurst Dairy of Portland, Maine, and Monsanto Corp. said yesterday they are attempting to settle out of court a lawsuit brought by Monsanto alleging that...

Specialists, Attorneys Say MFS Investors Used Complex Market Timing Method.
December 11, 2003... By Andrew Caffrey, The Boston Globe Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Unlike the fund managers at Putnam Investments who exploited time differences among world stock exchanges to profit from rapid trading in international...

Economist Say Pentagon Move to Limit Iraq Contractors Will Drive Up Costs.
December 11, 2003... By Stephen J. Glain, The Boston Globe Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--WASHINGTON--The United States is likely to inflate Iraq's spiraling postwar costs by limiting the number of companies that can participate in Iraqi...

Boston Union Members March for Stiffer Labor Laws.
December 11, 2003... By Diane E. Lewis, The Boston Globe Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Thousands of union members marched from Boston Common to the Thomas P. O'Neill Building yesterday to call for stiffer labor laws and to protest what they...

Helena, Mont., Doctors Get National Anti-Smoking Group's Award for Study.
December 11, 2003... By John Harrington, Independent Record, Helena, Mont. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--A national anti-smoking group presented its first "Smokefree Advocate of the Year" to a pair of Helena doctors who authored a study looking...

The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, Mathis Network Column.
December 11, 2003... By Karen Brune Mathis, The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--RIVER CITY MARKETPLACE MOVING ALONG: As developers announced tenants yesterday for the 207-acre St. Johns Town Center in Southside,...

Aquila Rate Plan Receives Setback in Missouri.
December 11, 2003... By Steve Everly, The Kansas City Star, Mo. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--KANSAS CITY, Mo.--Aquila Inc.'s bid for higher electric rates in Missouri suffered a blow Wednesday when the state's utility regulatory staff...

The Kansas City Star, Mo., Workplace Column.
December 11, 2003... By Diane Stafford, The Kansas City Star, Mo. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--KANSAS CITY, Mo.--There are about 8.7 million unemployed Americans on the official radar screen. About 2 million of them have been unsuccessfully...

Earnings Forecast for Combined Yellow Roadway Is $3 Per Share.
December 11, 2003... By Randolph Heaster, The Kansas City Star, Mo. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Barring the unforeseen, the newly combined Yellow Roadway Corp. expects to earn about $3 a share in 2004. That was the early forecast...

Salina, Kan., Meets Target for Volunteers in Curbside Recycling Trial.
December 11, 2003... By Darrin Stineman, The Salina Journal, Kan. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Recycling proponents hail it as a win-win proposition for consumers and the environment, so perhaps its fitting that Salina's trial curbside program...

Refinery's Tax Refund Affects Nine Entities in Lima, Ohio.
December 11, 2003... By Jim Sabin, The Lima News, Ohio Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--LIMA, Ohio--Once Premcor figures out how much it accidentally overpaid in taxes on its inventory, more than the Shawnee schools will be adjusting their...

Lexington, Ky.-Area Guitar Players Pick Gibsons.
December 11, 2003... By Jim Niemi, Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11-- Guitar players in the Bluegrass are strapping on Gibsons. "The interest just keeps on picking up," said Ryan Zimmerman, buyer and repair...

New Kentucky Governor Calls for Resignations of Racing Commission Members.
December 11, 2003... By Janet Patton, Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Gov. Ernie Fletcher asked members of the Kentucky Racing Commission to get out yesterday, but so far they aren't budging. Daniel Groves,...

Kentucky Court Further Postpones Smoking Ban Decision.
December 11, 2003... Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Kentucky's highest court yesterday stepped into the fray of Lexington's smoking ban, unanimously blocking the ordinance for an additional three months -- ample time...

Signs Approved for Roof of Fifth Third Bank Building in Middletown, Ohio.
December 11, 2003... By Michael Kurtz, Middletown Journal, Ohio Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--MIDDLETOWN, Ohio--The eight-story Fifth Third Bank building could soon have more visibility after the Planning Commission Tuesday unanimously granted...

Carlisle, Ohio, City Official Honored.
December 11, 2003... By Phyllis Cox, Middletown Journal, Ohio Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--CARLISLE, Ohio--Ron Hovell has been named Assistant City Manager of the Year by the Dayton Area Managers Association of Southwest Ohio. He was...

Ohio Transportation Council Approves $44 Million to Upgrade Interchange.
December 11, 2003... By Thomas Gnau, Middletown Journal, Ohio Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--MONROE, Ohio--The Ohio Transportation Review Advisory Council has approved $44 million to upgrade the Interstate 75/Ohio 63 interchange, the council...

Oakland Park, Fla.-Based Body Armor Maker Opens Third Broward County Plant.
December 11, 2003... By Patrick Danner, The Miami Herald Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--With demand outstripping Point Blank Body Armor's manufacturing capabilities, the Oakland Park-based maker of protective vests for the military and police...

Trump to Build Hotel, Condo Tower in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
December 11, 2003... By Douglas Hanks III, The Miami Herald Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Donald Trump has signed on to build a hotel and condominium tower near the Fort Lauderdale oceanfront, people familiar with the deal said Wednesday. ...

Doctors Can Proceed with Class-Action Suit against Health Insurers.
December 11, 2003... By John Dorschner, The Miami Herald Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--Lawyers for 700,000 doctors can proceed with their class-action case against six of the nation's major health insurers, U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno...

Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Mall Works to Complete $50 Million Renovation.
December 11, 2003... By Elaine Walker, The Miami Herald Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--The Galleria mall is hoping to get back on the map as one of South Florida's premier shopping and dining destinations. The Fort Lauderdale mall is putting...

Florida Attorney General Urges Regulators to Reject Phone Rate Increase.
December 11, 2003... By Marc Caputo, The Miami Herald Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 11--TALLAHASSEE, Fla.--Stating that a rate hike would hurt the little guy the most, Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist made a rare appearance before the Public...