Crain's Chicago Business articles from December 2003

Crain's Chicago Business archives from December 2003

Ex-Boeing CFO defends himself.(Briefs)
December 1, 2003... Michael Sears, the former Boeing Co. chief financial officer who was dismissed last week, denied any wrongdoing during his tenure at the Chicago-based aerospace giant. "At no time did I engage in conduct which I believed to be in violation of...

AMA mulls HQ move to Washington; Some members seek proximity to national policymakers.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN After more than 150 years in Chicago, the American Medical Assn. is considering pulling up stakes and moving to Washington, D.C. The physician group's 1,000 local employees were told this fall that the American...

Chicago Observer: Navy Pier art show may get new management, new venue or both.(Briefs)
December 1, 2003... Byline: steven r. strahler Worried about lost prestige of the spring Art Chicago extravaganza at Navy Pier and the resulting impact on tourism, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (McPier) is giving thought to replacing the...

India taking marketing destiny into its own hands.(Opinion)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Stefano Hatfield Last month, I worshipped, slack-jawed, before the altar of globalization. I stood before the counter of a McDonald's in New Delhi, capital of India, reading the menu: "McAloo Tikki Burger,'' the "McCurry''...

Mag mile? Not quite; North of the river, Michigan Avenue is a shopping haven. South, it's a stately cultural district. But the stretch between Wacker and Randolph is as welcoming as a dimly lit tunnel.(Real Estate)
December 1, 2003... Byline: ANNE MOORE From Oak Street to the Chicago River, Michigan Avenue is a magnificent stretch of sparkling boutiques and ritzy hotels, with 100,000 shoppers daily trolling its treasures during the holiday shopping season. But...

Finance pros take a round from pols in Springfield.(Opinion)
December 1, 2003... It's always worth noting when sound financial judgment wins out over political considerations in state fiscal affairs. So, our hats are off to the folks who manage the state employee pension funds for refusing to let the Blagojevich...

Sun-Times spinoff urged on Hollinger.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN A major Hollinger International Inc. shareholder is pressing the company to spin off its Chicago-area newspaper holdings-including the Chicago Sun-Times, the Daily Southtown and the Pioneer Press group-into a...

As Foreman grill cools, Salton brews new gadgets; Pinning rebound hopes on vacuum, coffeemaker.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: JAMES B. ARNDORFER With the iconic George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine showing signs of age, Salton Inc. is counting on new coffeemakers and vacuum cleaners to punch up sales. Heavily dependent on the George...

Guv losing gamble on revenues; Casinos cut exposure to receipt tax.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: BOB TITA Operators of Illinois' nine floating casinos are succeeding in their efforts to deprive the state of the money it hoped to raise from higher casino taxes-but they're driving away customers in the process. The...

Starfish sibling opens in Arlington Heights; Casinos cut exposure to receipt tax.(Dining/Restaurant Review)
December 1, 2003... Byline: ANNE SPISELMAN The sign on the door of Wildfish in Arlington Heights says "contemporary sushi,'' and the new suburban sibling of the Randolph Street Market's Starfish delivers-and then some. Tucked near the movie theaters in...

CEOs serving up food for thought at the holidays; Casinos cut exposure to receipt tax.(Opinion)
December 1, 2003... Anyone getting a head start on New Year's resolutions can look to a pair of local CEOs for examples of behavior to avoid next year-or any year, for that matter. John Rowe of Exelon Corp. and Conrad Black of Hollinger International Inc....

Profile: Title matters for chief of City Hall's real estate division.(Real Estate)
December 1, 2003... Byline: GREG HINZ At a time when most local government budgets are tighter than a pair of new shoes, Jamie Rhee has a simple job: Get the city of Chicago more money by selling property it no longer needs. As head of the real estate...

Ho-Chunk hedging bets on casino plan; Extending talks to south suburbs.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY A Wisconsin Indian tribe's long-shot bid to bring casino gambling to the Chicago area has taken a new geographic twist. In June, the Ho-Chunk Nation, based in Black River Falls, Wis., proposed a casino on a...

Timing pays off for Ill. pensions; Funds ignore political pressure, net 7% gains.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: GREG HINZ The state's big new investments in its depleted employee pension funds are paying off so far, thanks in part to a decision by fund managers to reject political pressure to play it safe. The funds received an...

Keep an eye on Exelon's moves after merger's flop.(Opinion)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Howard A. Learner The dust is settling on Commonwealth Edison Co.'s abor-tive acquisition of and merger with Illinois Power Co., and Illinois is back on track with the current rate freeze and market transition to begin in 2007....

Traders are no longer in cheap seats; As CBT, Merc values rise, CHX is still on the floor.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: STEVEN R. STRAHLER Charles Bloomfield despaired of recouping his investment in a Chicago Board of Trade seat he bought in 1972. "A couple of years back, I thought it was all over but the shouting,'' says the 60-year-old...

Archstone Consulting maps Chicago expansion strategy; Fledgling firm eyes demand in rising economy.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON Gambling that businesses will need advice on strategy-and lots of it-as the economy rebounds, Archstone Consulting is planning a major push in the Chicago market. The upstart firm, founded earlier this year with...

Rowe's star fades; Exelon chief faces questions on Wall Street, anger in Springfield.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: STEVE DANIELS Exelon Corp. CEO John Rowe cooled his heels in Michael Madigan's waiting room for 90 minutes on Nov. 20 before facing up to the reality that the Illinois House speaker wasn't going to meet with him. Mr. Rowe had...

Rooms without a view; Christopher Carley had high hopes for his 32-story condo tower. Now, it's an eight-story monument to neighborhood ire-and unit costs are stratospheric.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: ALBY GALLUN The developer of the priciest new condo project in town is struggling to pull off an unusual real estate limbo act: selling low-rise units at penthouse prices. After neighborhood groups and city officials foiled his...

Late News.
December 1, 2003... SANTA COMES EARLY FOR LOCAL STORES The area's retailers breathed a collective sigh of relief Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. Inspired by early-bird bargains, shoppers stocked up on electronics and toys,...

ChicagoBusiness.com; Breaking news throughout the day.(News)
December 1, 2003... Going somewhere? www.ChicagoBusiness.com/travel Prepare for the busy holiday travel season with traffic reports, train schedules and airport guides. CAPTION(S): Into the breach: Kit Pappas of the Hard Rock Hotel is looking to...

Alexian tries cure for insurance ills; In-house coverage trims docs' costs.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN Alexian Brothers Hospital Network is opening its in-house insurance program to doctors facing skyrocketing malpractice insurance costs in the commercial market. The not-for-profit hospital system appears to be...

For-profit schools' color: green; Struggling DeVry, soaring Career Ed seek acquisitions.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY After rocketing past rival DeVry Inc., Career Education Corp. has reached heights at which the slightest misstep can bring disaster. Fueled by a combustible mix of aggressive marketing, federal tuition loan...

Is Ted a new airline, or United's doppelganger?(Commentary)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Joe Cappo Let me get this straight. United Airlines was plunged into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection because of several factors. One of them, no doubt, was fallout from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which caused a worldwide...

Executive Moves.(People)
December 1, 2003... ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING Richard L. Niemi, 49, to senior medical planner in the health care practice at Loebl Schlossman & Hackl, from senior associate and health care planner at Cannon Design. CONSUMER SERVICES Rajeev Batra, 41,...

Real Estate Review: Despite weak demand, developers keep building.(Real Estate)
December 1, 2003... Byline: ALBY GALLUN Sales of new condominiums, lofts and townhouses in downtown Chicago slipped in the third quarter, but that didn't stop developers from trying to build more. Downtown developers sold 824 units in the quarter, down...

QUOTE OF THE WEEK.(Quotes)
December 1, 2003... We don't want to be in this line of business. Dean Grant, CEO of Alexian Brothers Hospital Network, on the group's captive malpractice insurance business PAGE 3

Model maker scripts threats, possibilities.(Technology)
December 8, 2003... Byline: PAUL MERRION Anyone-or at least anyone over the age of 15-who's played the computer game SimCity knows it isn't easy to figure out where to put all those buildings, streets, airports and power plants so that your computer-simulated...

Executive Moves.(People)
December 8, 2003... ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING David C. Roe, 69, to vice-president at American Surveying Consultants P.C., from manager of civil engineering at Metro Design Associates Inc. Brian Umbright, 33, to vice-president at Bowman Barrett &...

Chicago Observer: Sun-Times-London connection still ringing for former counsel.(Briefs)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Steven R. Strahler Mark Kipnis, general counsel of Hollinger International Inc. until he quit last month after disclosure of more than $32 million in unauthorized payments to CEO Conrad Black (a British lord who also resigned) and...

Firm cashes in on drug trials; Some patients worth up to $37,000.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN A national shortage of people willing to participate in the drug industry's clinical trials has created a business opportunity for a Gurnee company that recruits patients for trials, many of which are run by the...

Streamlining certification; After exhaustive process, new clients.(Small Business)
December 8, 2003... Byline: BILL CLEMENTS The city of Chicago is now allowing companies seeking certification as women- or minority-owned businesses to apply online, which officials say will free up personnel to ensure applicants are legitimate. The city...

STONECIPHER TURNING COLD EYE ON BOEING; New boss known as cost-cutter.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: PAUL MERRION After sweet-talking government officials angered by shenanigans in the company's defense contracting business, new Boeing Co. CEO Harry Stonecipher is expected to apply some tough love to Boeing's own operations. ...

Will it play? As the loss of manufacturing jobs continues to corrode the local economy, Peoria is turning to high-tech R&D startups to polish its Rust Belt image.(Technology)
December 8, 2003... Byline: James B. Arndorfer PEORIA - This Downstate city is trying to avoid the fate of neighbors such as Danville and Decatur, Rust Belt towns that have struggled to survive the loss of jobs and investment. "We're reacting to a fear...

Printing merger won't rev up presses; Donnelley deal only adds capacity.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Bob Tita A pending merger will make R. R. Donnelley & Sons Co. the biggest printer in North America, but not big enough to escape the cyclical woes of the printing industry. Like all printers, Chicago-based Donnelley and merger...

Startups hook expertise; New partnership combines public, private support.(Small Business)
December 8, 2003... Byline: LEN STRAZEWSKI No jobs, no opportunity, no future. That's the way many people used to perceive Englewood, says Carl Nicosia, a resident and now an entrepreneur working to erase that image of the South Side neighborhood. ...

MacArthur's mark; Foundation sees no need to focus its giving tightly.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN Taking over the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Jonathan F. Fanton promised a "more sharply focused'' charity within three to five years. Four years later, a slightly scaled-down MacArthur looks much...

Foreclosures rise; Yuppie Belt hit hard as defaults climb 10% citywide.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: STEVE DANIELS Home foreclosures are hitting the city's hottest neighborhoods in the wake of a recession that claimed thousands of white-collar jobs. Once a phenomenon confined largely to the city's poorest neighborhoods,...

Comcast gears up for race with SBC; Upgrades will allow local phone service.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON The area's largest cable TV operator is spending $1 billion to upgrade its network in a bid to lock up the market for high-speed Internet access and crack the local telephone stronghold of SBC Communications Inc. ...

Quote of the week.(Quotes)
December 8, 2003... Certainly, it's helped that I was so visible during the election. David Wilhelm, lobbyist and former Blagojevich campaign chairman PAGE 1

Late News.
December 8, 2003... O'HARE'S LONG SLIDE COMES TO AN END For the first year since 1999, passenger volume at O'Hare International Airport is poised to increase in 2003, data provided by the Chicago Department of Aviation suggests. Through Oct. 31, just under 58...

Real Estate Review: Elgin, tiny neighbor clash over land to grow.(Real Estate)
December 8, 2003... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission is stepping in to referee a five-way boundary dispute in the far northwest suburbs. The towns of Elgin, Gilberts, Hampshire, Huntley and Pingree Grove all submitted...

Campus programs buoy entrepreneurs.(Small Business)
December 8, 2003... Byline: MARGARET LITTMAN In addition to the Chicago West Side Entrepreneurship Center, several university programs are designed to help area residents. In October, DePaul University launched the Men's Employment and Business Ownership...

U of I ad program looking to balance practice, theory.(Opinion)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Rance Crain One of the chief conflicts at university advertising schools is whether the curriculum should study advertising's impact on consumers and society in general or instead concentrate on the practical side of creating ads...

With these gifts, truly better to give than get.(Commentary)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Joe Cappo At this time of year, newspapers and magazines are scrambling to produce articles with gift-giving hints for the holidays. This is not so much that they want to help their readers, but that the makers and retailers of...

Dreary market for collectibles; For some shops, Christmas slump lasting all year.(Small Business)
December 8, 2003... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY On Third Street in Geneva, James and Cleo Gierucki sell porcelain snowmen and hand-carved nativity scenes. With his lederhosen, white beard and portly build, Mr. Gierucki casts a Santa aura no matter the season: He's...

Kinks in plan to wire city for speed; Economy, timing strand CivicNet.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON A city-sponsored proposal to lace Chicago with fiber optic lines from 138th to Howard streets is stalled and appears unlikely to be revived. The telecommunications crash, politics and a city budget crunch have...

MacArthur Foundation's billions spread too thin.(Opinion)
December 8, 2003... It's not our money. And billionaires are certainly free to set up charitable foundations to hand out cash in any way they choose. So, why, you might ask, is Crain's reporter Jeremy Mullman inquiring in this week's edition into the giving...

At Merc, eurodollar trade still in the pits; Politics, inertia plague e-trading of key product.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: STEVEN R. STRAHLER The Chicago Mercantile Exchange hasn't figured out how to trade its biggest product electronically in sizable numbers, and that's putting the business at risk of being stolen away by a tech-savvier rival. ...

New chefs check in, revitalize hotel eateries.(Dining/Restaurant Review)
December 8, 2003... Byline: ANNE SPISELMAN Recent chef changes have prompted renewed accolades for Seasons in the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and Caliterra in the Wyndham Chicago, but lunch may not be peak performance time at these restaurants. Lax service...

'Hitchhiking' toward a cure for parasitic diseases; Targeting malaria, other ills at U of C.(Technology)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Sarah A. Klein Two years ago, University of Chicago researchers discovered that an antibacterial ingredient common in toothpaste, dishwashing detergent and deodorant kills the parasites responsible for malaria and related parasitic...

Conventions.(Calendar/Datebook)
December 8, 2003... WEEK OF DEC. 8 Dec. 10-12: American Seed Trade Assn., Hyatt Regency Chicago, estimated attendance 2,500. Dec. 11-13: Assn. for Persons With Severe Handicaps, Hilton Chicago, estimated attendance 1,500. Dec. 11-14: Skokie Valley...

New to the process? Use these timely tips.(Small Business)
December 8, 2003... Byline: BILL CLEMENTS Women's Business Development Center Procurement Director Kristin Johnson offers these tips on navigating the women- and minority-owned business enterprise certification process: Will certification truly benefit...

Fawell gal pal agrees to talk.(Briefs)
December 8, 2003... Alexandra Coutretsis, a former insider in former Gov. George Ryan's political circle and a top assistant at the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (known as McPier), pleaded guilty to a perjury charge and agreed to cooperate with a...

WILHELM PARLAYS HIS CLOUT INTO CASH; Role in Blagojevich's win helps lure lobbying clients.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: GREG HINZ The man who chaired Gov. Rod Blagojevich's campaign and directed his transition team is cashing in on those connections. Wilhelm & Conlon Public Strategies, a Chicago-based public affairs company run and co-owned by...

Time to find an equitable school funding solution.(Opinion)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Marysue Barrett Disparity in funding Illinois schools is an old and sad story, but political winds may finally be shifting to allow a solution to the problem. A reminder: Schools in Maywood spend less than $5,000 per child a...

Heidrick's struggles continue; Recruiter anxiously awaits recovery.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: ALBY GALLUN The economy is showing some signs of recovery, but Heidrick & Struggles International Inc. isn't feeling it just yet. The Chicago-based executive recruiter has seen its revenues drop 40% since 2000, when the...

As economy rallies, investors take a chance on small-caps.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY A growing tolerance for risk among investors is lifting the shares of smaller Chicago-area companies in a range of industries. The list of leading local stock gainers in November included American Pharmaceutical...

WMS eyeing jackpot from new slot machines; Out to win back biz lost during 2-year hiatus.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: BOB TITA WMS Industries Inc. hopes a new line of slot machines will change its luck. The Waukegan-based maker of video slot machines is rolling out its first new games since 2001, when casinos discovered that a software glitch...

Nothing unusual about business with Blagojevich.(Opinion)
December 8, 2003... When Rod Blagojevich won the Illinois governor's race on a promise of ending "business as usual'' in Springfield, he raised hopes across the state. Opportunities for reform seemed limitless in a superstructure of bureaucracies, statutes and...

The color of money; As the economy waned, fashion followed, dipping into dreary hues. Now, a revival is drawing retailers to a brighter palette.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: SANDRA JONES Marlene Green is wearing color more often these days. From a new pair of orange alligator loafers that cheer her up every time she slips them on to an orange wool hat that always draws compliments, Ms. Green says she's...

Downtown shuffle; As national chains move into revamped suburban city centers, high rents and changing tastes are forcing local shops to find new homes.(Small Business)
December 8, 2003... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Naperville's thriving downtown could provoke envy from any rival municipality. National chains such as Talbots, Eddie Bauer, Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma, along with an assortment of restaurants, testify to the...

Fawell gal pal agrees to talk.(Briefs)
December 8, 2003... ***** Correction: The Dec. 8 stock report had incorrect closing prices that affected the rankings of the week's top 10 winners and losers. A corrected chart appears at ChicagoBusiness.com/stocks. ***** Alexandra Coutretsis, a...

Another wave of HQ job cuts at Sears.(News)
December 15, 2003... Byline: SANDRA JONES Sears, Roebuck and Co. plans to eliminate more jobs at its headquarters-the third wave of cuts in as many years-in a move to bring its high costs in line with those of big-box discount store chains. In a memo to...

Profile: Chicago native on the front lines of WaMu's local push.(Finance)
December 15, 2003... Byline: STEVE DANIELS A year ago, Anthony R. Manisco showed up in Chicago without a staff or an office but with a mandate from his bosses at Seattle-based thrift giant Washington Mutual Inc.: Expand the Chicago market, and do it fast. ...

After the gold rush; Madison Dearborn Partners, under John A. Canning Jr.'s leadership, survived the tidal wave that swamped the private-equity industry-but not without paying a price.(Finance)
December 15, 2003... Byline: STEVEN R. STRAHLER Madison Dearborn Partners Inc., Chicago's biggest private-equity firm, got its third buyout fund off to a rousing start in 1999, plunking down $200 million to acquire Packaging Corp. of America, a stake in the...

Lights, camera, trauma! Local hospitals starring in reality-style TV shows are reveling in the publicity, but they're also finding that fame comes at a price.(News)
December 15, 2003... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN As the public's appetite for reality-based TV programs increases, local hospitals are getting into a new sideline: the documentary business. In exchange for a starring role in shows like "Birth Day,'' "Women...

County Board newcomers: Find waste and eliminate it.(Opinion)
December 15, 2003... The rejection by his fellow board members last week of a $3-billion budget proposed by Cook County Board President John H. Stroger Jr. doesn't guarantee a lean county government. It doesn't guarantee an end to tax hikes. And it doesn't...

2003 In Review; Test your knowledge of the year's top stories; answers appear on page 21.
December 15, 2003... Byline: kelly quigley Things we'll remember about 2003: War in Iraq. Orange alerts. Duct tape. Heartbreak at Wrigley. Garbage strikes. Corked bats. Queer eyes and straight guys. Farewells to Kup, Sis and a bow-tied ex-senator. Look back...

Helping homeowners hang onto homes benefits all.(Opinion)
December 15, 2003... Byline: Richard M. Daley, Michael F. Moskow From 1993 to 2001, the number of home foreclosures initiated in Chicago was up 74% to 8,556 from 4,927. That alarming statistic comes from a study released last year by the Chicago-based National...

An opening at O'Hare.(News)
December 15, 2003... Byline: PAUL MERRION Settlement talks in a lawsuit between United Airlines and the city of Chicago could produce a deal that would open the door to more competition at O'Hare International Airport. While no agreement has been reached...

Chicago Observer: Owners hope to keep plumbing company problems from leaking.(Briefs)
December 15, 2003... Byline: steven r strahler A bankruptcy Court filing this month by Builders Plumbing & Heating Supply Co. has the firm's owners more worried about the potential fallout on another company they control: Kitchen Distributors of America (KDA)....

HOLLINGER CONTACTS VC GIANT; Hicks Muse could see synergies with radio here.(News)
December 15, 2003... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN Hicks Muse Tate & Furst Inc., a Texas investment giant, has held discussions about acquiring media baron Conrad Black's controlling stake in Hollinger International Inc., owner of the Chicago Sun-Times. ...

Oreo woes bringing Kraft down; Fat fears, price hike, private-label brands sap sales.(News)
December 15, 2003... Byline: JAMES B. ARNDORFER Oreos are eating away at Kraft Foods Inc.'s bottom line. Sales of the familiar creme-filled cookie are falling fast, despite Northfield-based Kraft's efforts to rejuvenate it with a series of new flavors. ...

Group casts another line into seafood.(Dining/Restaurant Review)
December 15, 2003... Byline: ANNE SPISELMAN Roger Greenfield and Ted Kasemir's Restaurant Development Group has a knack for recombining restaurant components to create new concepts. Maybe that's why Stonefish Grill in Northbrook, one of the latest...

An urban survivor poised for better times.(Commentary)
December 15, 2003... Byline: Joe Cappo It seemed for years that every economic development report that came out was bad news for Chicago and most other Rust Belt cities. People were fleeing the frosty cities of the Northeast and Midwest for Arizona and...

Bank One reserves feed earnings; Bad-loan cushion proves a handy tool to prop up profits.(News)
December 15, 2003... Byline: STEVE DANIELS Among leading U.S. banks, Bank One Corp. has the biggest cushion against bad loans and is drawing down some of that reserve, buttressing its bottom line. There's nothing improper about the releasing of reserves,...

Factory Card gets back in party mood; Judicious growth, curtailed costs restore firm's health.(News)
December 15, 2003... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY After a bout of bankruptcy, Factory Card & Party Outlet Corp. is opening new stores again for the first time in five years. This time, the company promises to grow carefully. Naperville-based Factory Card, which...

Lesson of the day: Cute has cred, and study confirms it.(Opinion)
December 15, 2003... Byline: Leslie Baldacci Leaving journalism to teach school four years ago, I ditched my blond, spiky hairdo. It was cute and edgy for a woman whose picture was in the paper as a columnist. But I wanted to be taken seriously as an...

From fifth hire to top exec, new CEO to lead SurePayroll.(People)
December 15, 2003... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON Michael Alter hands out Payday bars during the so-called "money days'' at Skokie's SurePayroll Inc., deadline crunches that occur twice each month as the Internet firm processes $2.5 billion in pay checks for 10,000...

Motorola's cell slide resumes; Rivals with camera phones steal marketshare.(News)
December 15, 2003... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON Motorola Inc. is losing ground again in the cellular telephone market as a supply chain snafu keeps its new camera phones off the shelves during the key Christmas shopping season. After arresting a long slide...

Sara Lee's apparel biz bind: rise of store brands; Growth plan snagged as big customers become rivals.(News)
December 15, 2003... Byline: JAMES B. ARNDORFER Sara Lee Corp.'s apparel business increasingly faces competition from its own customers. Big retailers, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Corp. and Kmart Corp., are putting more marketing muscle behind...

Quote of the Week.(Quotes)
December 15, 2003... I was really glad when minute 16 came for me. Children's Memorial Hospital oncologist Stewart Goldman, recalling the 15 minutes of fame he experienced on reality-style TV PAGE 1

Late News.
December 15, 2003... AIRPLANE FOOD DEAL THREATENS JOBS Up to 650 LSG Sky Chefs kitchen workers at O'Hare International Airport are facing layoffs in January when American Airlines shifts its in-flight food business to Gate Gourmet International AG of Zurich,...