Crain's Chicago Business articles from February 2005

Crain's Chicago Business archives from February 2005

Meet at the station, grab a bite nearby; Better than just 'fuel': Meals at city crossroads.(The Business of Life)
February 7, 2005... Byline: LAURA BIANCHI Chicago's transportation hubs provide plenty of foot traffic for nearby restaurants. I sampled one convenient spot each at Union Station (50,000 commuters daily), the Randolph Street station (15,000 commuters daily)...

Drive & Dine Dangers.(The Business of Life)(eating while driving causes more risk to drivers)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says eating is a greater distraction to drivers than using a handheld mobile phone. The 10 most distracting and dangerous items, according to Hagerty Classic Insurance of Michigan:

The big deal: domestic outsourcing; Companies ship out technology functions, but to U.S. firms.(Focus: Technology)
February 7, 2005... Byline: STEVEN R. STRAHLER In 2004, Chicago companies eliminated thousands of technology jobs, largely by shipping those functions to outside contractors. But in at least a few cases that didn't mean shipping jobs to South Asia. In fact,...

Time Out set to clock in: Aims at Chicago mag, Reader.(News)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN Time Out Chicago, the local version of the lifestyle and listings weekly magazines that thrive in New York and London, is launching March 3 and has already sold 11,000 subscriptions, says Publisher Steve Timble. ...

Orange Alert.(The Business of Life)(Marcia Johnson, administrative hearing officer for the city of Chicago)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Jim Hatfield Marcia Johnson, 65, administrative hearing officer for the city of Chicago Salary: $70,000 a year Years on the job: 14 Duties: Hears up to 75 cases a day on vehicle citations, mostly parking tickets or...

Employer-housing plan gains ground in Chicago; City aims to get more businesses to offer down payment aid.(News)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: SHRUTI DATE SINGH About a dozen Chicago companies are now offering employees a hand with putting a down payment on a house, part of a city-backed plan to boost home ownership, especially in low-income neighborhoods. The city...

Trained Eye.(The Business of Life)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Dan Weissmann Frank Kruesi never finished his doctorate in political science at the University of Chicago; instead, in 1974, he went to work for then-state Sen. Richard M. Daley. Since 1997, Mr. Kruesi, 54, has been president of...

Stock Report: Orders, earnings send Boeing stock aloft.(Markets)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Bob Tita Expanding orders for commercial aircraft and better-than-expected earnings lifted Boeing Co.'s stock 5.3% to $52.58 last week. The Chicago-based aircraft maker received an order Friday for 30 737-model airplanes from...

Late to the next party? Maybe.(News)(Verizon Communications Inc. introduces broadband service)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Julie Johnsson Verizon Wireless last week rolled out V Cast in Chicago, the first wireless broadband service in the U.S. offered over a super-fast, next-generation data network. It's a taste of what's to come in the U.S. as all of...

FEW BACK BUSH ACCOUNTS; Ill. delegation says little on Social Security reform; president faces an uphill climb.(News)(George W. Bush)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: PAUL MERRION Crain's asked the state's congressional delegation: What's the problem facing Social Security? What should be done about it? With its fairly even mix of Republicans and Democrats-urban, suburban and rural-Illinois...

SBC deal muzzles critic; AT&T was biggest foe in battle over rules for Ill. telecom competition.(News)(AT&T Corp.)(SBC Communications Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: PAUL MERRION The merger of SBC Communications Inc. and AT&T Corp. won't be final for a year or more, but it's already sending shock waves through Illinois. The epicenter is Springfield, where SBC has neutralized what was...

Who to see; Big technology firms are all around Chicago. You just have to look for them.(Focus: Technology)
February 7, 2005... Byline: LAURA KOSS-FEDER This isn't San Francisco, but that doesn't mean there are no big technology firms in town. None of the major hardware, software or Internet companies want to miss out on selling to the Boeings, Allstates and Sears,...

State probes Pritzker fund; Eyeing shift of Hyatt stock from foundation to holding company.(News)(Hyatt Corp.)
February 7, 2005... Byline: GREG HINZ Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is investigating whether a Pritzker family charity received fair value for Hyatt Corp. stock that was transferred to a family holding company. At least two law firms and...

Some static on Telular's overseas call; Phone equipment maker pins hope on China, India; Sprint also testing products.(News)
February 7, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Telular Corp. went public in 1993 amid high hopes that its fixed wireless phone products would catch on in rural areas and emerging countries where conventional copper land lines could not reach homes. But in...

Color of money; EVEN AS THE GUV WOOS GREEN VOTERS, HE'S ACCEPTING LOTS O' GREEN FROM POLLUTERS.(News)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Greg Hinz Gov. Rod Blagojevich has discovered green power. Last week, he moved to mandate the use of clean, renewable wind to generate electricity. A bit earlier, he shut two dumps amid a family feud, saying he had to protect...

The mother of all data storage.(Focus: Technology)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Brandon Copple Afraid terrorists might destroy your database? Hide it in a concrete bunker. Savanna Depot Technologies Corp. has 400 of them for rent 160 miles west of Chicago. Dug into the former Savanna Army Depot in Carroll...

Metal maker aims to shield buildings; Chicago firm's steel box praised as attack barrier.(News)(Corrugated Metals Inc.)
February 7, 2005... Byline: PAUL MERRION A family-owned Chicago company has developed what it hopes is a brute-force solution to a big problem: how to protect vital facilities and personnel against suicide attacks by car and truck bombers. Chain link...

There's opportunity, but not a real crisis, in Social Security.(Opinion)
February 7, 2005... Byline: U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel As the Bush administration tries to convince a skeptical public that Social Security is in "crisis,'' the facts keep getting in the way. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects that even if...

The Last Ice Man; Richardson Electronics has made quite a living behind the tech curve.(Focus: Technology)(Company Profile)
February 7, 2005... Byline: CARLEEN HAWN Most high-tech companies are perpetually scrambling to stay ahead of demand for new gadgets and services. Not Richardson Electronics Ltd. Since its 1947 founding, the LaFox-based designer and maker of electronic parts...

Commercial breakthrough; Getting new technology to market is less risky with tougher patent laws.(Focus: Technology)
February 7, 2005... Byline: SAMANTHA STAINBURN Last month, Scott Stern, 36, an associate professor of management and strategy at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, won a $50,000 award for Distinguished Research in Entrepreneurship from...

Gallagher results signal more pain for brokers.(Markets)(Arthur J. Gallagher and Co. )(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: STEVE DANIELS Disappointing fourth-quarter results at insurance broker Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. reveal a new worry for local rival Aon Corp. and the rest of the battered brokerage industry. Falling insurance premiums stalled...

Expert Opinion: What's the best music to get you through a long commute?(The Business of Life)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Dan Weissmann "I listen to talk radio now,'' says Jerry "Iceman'' Butler, 65, an R&B hitmaker in the '60s, '70s and '80s and a Cook County commissioner since 1986. "But I used to own a beer distributorship at 83rd and Wallace, so...

City schools look to fix funding gap; Study: Per-pupil inequity within Chicago system.(News)
February 7, 2005... Byline: SHRUTI DATE SINGH Chicago Public Schools over the next five years plans to change its funding formula to allocate money on a per-pupil basis to eliminate inequities among individual schools. "Are the amounts equal per school?...

Late News.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Boeing pumps more cash into pensions Boeing poured $4.4 billion in cash into employee pension plans in 2004 and expects to add at least $1 billion in 2005. Boeing said the '04 cash contribution "significantly improved'' the plans' funding...

Commuters hit the road alone; Most employers do little to ease strain on workers.(The Business of Life)
February 7, 2005... Byline: BOB TITA At most Chicago-area companies, commuter assistance for employees extends no further than painting lines on the company parking lot. Despite ever-worsening traffic congestion and increasingly longer commutes, 71% of...

Road to the Top.(The Business of Life)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Dan Weissmann Miguel d'Escoto, 43 Commissioner, Chicago Department of Transportation Commutes from: Irving Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side to 30 N. LaSalle St., via the Kennedy Expressway or Elston or Milwaukee...

Spotlight: Yellow Cab boss trolling for drivers.(People)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Bob Tita Job: President and CEO of Yellow Cab Management Inc. since Jan. 3. Replaced Casey Decker, who moved to Yellow's cab financing unit. Vitals: 40 years old; chief operating officer at Yellow since March 2004; joined...

Calling for backup: Firms move to protect tech; Software makers, others offer contingency plans.(Focus: Technology)
February 7, 2005... Byline: STUART LUMAN The day after the Dec. 6 fire at the LaSalle Bank building, 250 of LaSalle's commercial bankers showed up for work as usual-at the IBM Plaza on Wabash Avenue. Displaced by the blaze that injured 39 people and...

The old college try: schools reach for tech riches.(Focus: Technology)
February 7, 2005... Byline: KELLY BARRON After failing to capitalize on the technology boom of the 1990s, are Illinois universities finally getting their act together? They're making headway, but they still have a long way to go, says Prith Banerjee, dean...

TRIBUNE BREAKUP? INVESTORS WONDER; Low stock price creates pressure to boost performance or be considered potential prey.(News)
February 7, 2005... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN As the mergers and acquisitions market heats up, Tribune Co., which has long fancied itself a buyer, more resembles a target. The media conglomerate trades at about two-thirds its breakup value and at a discount...

'Very good' area not great for Elston Ace; Nearly 65-year-old independent loses battle with big boxes.(News)
February 7, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY The Elston Avenue corridor on the North Side is alive with retail development, but one high-profile home-improvement store, the Great Ace, is going under in the face of the new competition. An Ace Hardware...

Zell's $2-bil. sale rattles Wall St. Some worry: Will a sale make it harder for Equity to cover its $2 dividend?(Markets)
February 7, 2005... Byline: ALBY GALLUN A real estate investment trust led by Chicago financier Sam Zell is taking advantage of the hot real estate market by dumping office properties valued at about $2 billion from Philadelphia to San Francisco-roughly 7% of...

Walk This Way.(The Business of Life)
February 7, 2005... After Sept. 11, many buildings closed to the public, foiling commuters looking for warm, dry shortcuts. But cut-through routes remain, including Nordstrom/North Bridge, Marshall Field's and the Harold Washington Library Center, all of which...

A green light to tap overseas cash stash; New tax law allows it; Abbott, McD have piles.(Markets)
February 7, 2005... Byline: BOB TITA Several of Illinois' largest companies are in a position to harvest billions of dollars from subsidiaries that they otherwise wouldn't bring into the U.S. because of steep federal tax rates. A new federal program...

For the Record.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Sears said domestic same-store sales rose 0.8% in January. Separately, Standard & Poor's plans to assign a junk rating to Sears Holdings, the company set to be formed by the merger of Sears and Kmart. Meanwhile, after nearly 95 years on the New...

On the Move.(People)(Clifford Law Offices P.C. promotes Timothy S. Tomasik)(Aon WARRANTY GROUP promotes Michael Frosch, Mark Mishler)
February 7, 2005... Consumer Services Kraft Foods Inc., Northfield: Richard A. Lerner, 66, to director and continuing as president at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif. financial services Aon WARRANTY GROUP, Glenview: Michael Frosch, 43,...

Airlines hand out freebies; Goody bags for some on United, Continental.(News)
February 7, 2005... Byline: RICH THOMASELLI Crain News Service Coffee, tea, $1,000 goody bag? Now that Delta Airlines has incited a price war by capping first-class, one-way seats at $599, airlines are searching for extra incentives to lure the full-fare...

Mercury Finance CEO indicted.(Briefs)(John Brincat Sr. of Mercury Finance Co.)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... John Brincat Sr., the former head of now-defunct Mercury Finance Co., was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly defrauding financial institutions and individuals out of more than $2 billion. The 12 charges include wire fraud, two...

Terror and public transit: How safe are we on the CTA?(The Business of Life)(Brief Article)(Interview)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Mark Scheffler Ron Huberman, 33, executive director of the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communications, is on the front lines of thwarting terrorism in the city-and on its transit system. His department is charged with...

In The Bag; So what does an upgrade get you? here's what's in United's Valentine's Day promotional goody bag.(News)
February 7, 2005... Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory chocolate (small box): $10 Murad Soothing Lip Therapy: $11 Rene-Furterer-Okara hair care kit: $52 Wyndham hotel DVD: $18 Kushy foot socks (black): $5 Luggage Express: $25 gift certificate...

Daily trek, driven to extremes; Complicated paths, creative solutions - and that's before the workday starts.(The Business of Life)(Tanveer Ahmed)
February 7, 2005... shifting gears Tanveer Ahmed had a 42-mile ride to and from work in a van with six people-and she loved it. "You become like a little family,'' says Ms. Ahmed, 29, a research associate in chemistry for Abbott Laboratories. "We talk...

Developer trying again to put retail on Randall; Plan calls for shopping at road's intersection with Bowes in Elgin.(News)(Patrick Daly)(Daly Group LLC)
February 7, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Chicago developer Patrick Daly has been shot down twice before in building shopping centers along Randall Road in the far west suburbs. He's back with another plan, this one for the intersection of Randall and Bowes...

Shrinking budgets ahead; CIOs put brakes on tech spending, take stock of what's next.(Focus: Technology)(Chief Information Officers)
February 7, 2005... Byline: MARK HENRICKS American corporate spending on information technology is expected to increase 7% in 2005, following a 5% rise in 2004. Nationally, spending will mostly be for software upgrades, disaster recovery, regulatory...

On the Web.(The Business of Life)(http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com)(www.metrarail.com)(www.chicagobikes.org)(Transportation industry)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Mark Scheffler OFFICIAL SITES http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com Regional Transportation Authority is the parent agency of the three public transit operators in Northeastern Illinois: Chicago Transit Authority, Metra commuter rail...

Discover Card: Grow or be sold; 2,400 local jobs at risk as Morgan Stanley CEO battles sagging stock.(News)(Discover Card Services Inc.)
February 7, 2005... Byline: STEVE DANIELS Discover Card's prospects of being sold appear increasingly strong, putting at risk more than 2,400 jobs at the credit card concern's north suburban Riverwoods headquarters. Under fire from investors impatient...

Moto catches up as sales dial down; Buyers may sit tight until 2006 upgrades.(News)(Motorola Inc.)
February 7, 2005... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON Motorola Inc. finally has its cell phone business in shape. It's got the hottest phone on the market, and sales rose 53% last year. Too bad the market is tanking. Handset sales will increase just 6%...

Corrections.
February 7, 2005... * Crain's Jan. 24 list of 2004's 100 largest mergers and acquisitions left out General Growth Properties Inc.'s $12.6-billion acquisition of Rouse Co., announced in August and closed in November. * Playboy Enterprises Inc. CEO Christie A....

Need to Know.(Focus: Technology)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Source: Forrester Research Inc. 4.2% average share of U.S. companies' revenue spent on information technology. $221 billion U.S. companies' projected 2005 software spending. 9% projected increase in U.S....

Social Security fence-sitters must take sides.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... President Bush's plan to overhaul Social Security, five years in the making, seems to have caught Illinois' congressional delegation by surprise. As Senior Reporter Paul Merrion writes in this week's issue, few of our representatives in...

High sale price likely for Nuveen; Strong growth boosted money manager's value.(Markets)(Nuveen Investments's market value)
February 14, 2005... Byline: STEVE DANIELS Management at Nuveen Investments Inc., now on the sales block, can only hope its new parent doesn't meddle with a formula that has sent the Chicago-based asset manager's stock soaring. The Jan. 31 announcement by...

Net phones cost state tax dollars; Pol aims to cut VoIP's edge over rival services.(News)(politician, Steven Rauschenberger, voice over internet protocol)
February 14, 2005... Byline: PAUL MERRION The growing popularity of Internet-based telephone service threatens the budgets of Illinois, Chicago and other municipalities around the state. Voice over Internet protocol, or VoIP, is exempt from the taxes and...

Need to Know.(Focus: Small Business)(employees wages and benefits planning)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2005... 15% of employers list workplace stress as the most common cause of employee absences. 72% of Chicago small businesses plan to increase wages and benefits this year. 500 Standard maximum employees to be considered a small...

Personnel Reading: Human Resource Guide.(Focus: Small Business)(Directory)
February 14, 2005... Byline: MARK HENRICKS Human resources consulting is one of the fastest-growing businesses in the service sector for a good reason-managing employees is hard. It's also something most small business owners must figure out as they go. Here...

Brain Trust.(The Business of Life)(Denise Brown)(Biography)
February 14, 2005... Byline: Samantha Stainburn Denise Brown, 52, college counselor, Evanston Township High School Salary: $53,000 to $100,000, depending on experience. Years on the job: Four in Evanston Duties: Manages college-related activities...

DRIVERS STEER CLEAR; After years of stagnation, trucking firms boost pay to fill driver gap; turnover hits 121%.(News)
February 14, 2005... Byline: BOB TITA When the economy improves, long-distance truck drivers head for the first exit ramp out of the business. Low pay, long hours and time away from home make truck driving a job of last resort in a soft employment market. ...

Part-time's fine by them; Accounting firm's clients don't object to schedules.(Focus: Small Business)(Mann Weitz and Associates's human resource management)
February 14, 2005... Byline: DEE GILL Eleven years ago, amid growing chatter over the need to balance work and personal life, Mark Mann and Lenny Weitz figured they could build a better company by letting professional employees set their own hours. Today,...

Hedge fund assets up, set to top $1 trillion.(News)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2005... Byline: Crain News Service Hedge fund assets will likely top $1 trillion in the first quarter, according to predictions from Hedge Fund Research. The Chicago-based source of hedge fund data and performance information bases its analysis on...

Pension fund mess is legislators' fault-and responsibility.(Opinion)(Editorial)
February 14, 2005... Byline: Laurence Msall There's a wise old saying: "Beware any gift that eats.'' Too bad the General Assembly didn't heed that bromide when it handed out pension benefits to state and local government workers. Those benefits are now...

What's the best place to propose in Chicago this winter?(The Business of Life)(ice-skating rink in Millennium Park)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2005... Byline: Darci Smith "The ice-skating rink in Millennium Park,'' says bridal consultant Frank J. Andonoplas, owner of Frank Event Design in Chicago. "I think of the ice-skating rink and the twinkling lights above it and the fresh smell of...

Late News.(appointments)(promotion startegy of Charter One Bank)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2005... Chicago Express attracts bidders Connecticut-based NatTel LLC bid $25,000 plus the assumption of certain debts for Chicago Express Airlines, the commuter subsidiary ATA operates out of Midway. A retired Delta pilot in Georgia also has...

Stock Report: Earnings surprise boosts Aon shares.(Markets)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2005... Byline: Steve Daniels Stronger-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter lifted Aon Corp.'s shares 12% to $25.24 last week. The Chicago commercial insurance brokerage reported net income from continuing operations of $192 million,...

Local firm succeeds in game of chicken; Distributor finds niche as a specialty provider.(News)(Cougle Commission Co.'s management)
February 14, 2005... Byline: KATHERINE STEPHAN A 132-year-old Chicago company is surviving in the competitive poultry distribution business by offering specialty services that meet the quirky needs of restaurants, high-end hotels, grocery store chains and...

Concept shines, execution snags; Entrepreneurs seek distribution solution for hair care business.(News)(Michael Puican, Timothy Bennett, JossClaude Products LLC.)
February 14, 2005... Byline: JULIE JARGON Michael Puican and Timothy Bennett think they've found an untapped market with their Formula Latina line of hair care products, pitched to Hispanic women. Finding the right distribution formula is something else....

Suburbs step up meeting space; Hotels add on in hopes of beating out Chicago for convention business.(News)
February 14, 2005... Byline: KRISTINA BUCHTHAL Suburban hotels are jumping into the crowded competition for conventions and corporate meetings. Throughout the suburbs, hotels are adding thousands of square feet of meeting space in an effort to attract...

Online Poll.(Focus: Small Business)
February 14, 2005... What's your biggest HR concern? A Health Insurance B Finding good help C Getting sued D Getting fired Go to ChicagoBusiness.com/poll to add your input.

Welcome, Brenda. Now Hurry Up; Brenda Barnes' predecessor couldn't turn around Sara Lee in five years. Shareholders won't give her that much time.(News)
February 14, 2005... Byline: JULIE JARGON and KATE RYAN Brenda Barnes must move fast if she wants a long tenure as CEO of Sara Lee Corp. Shareholders fed up with five years of subpar investment returns under her predecessor, C. Steven McMillan, aren't...

Quick clicker.(The Business of Life)(Orbitz L.L.C.' Mike Sands opinion)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2005... Byline: Dan Weissmann Mike Sands, 37, became president of Orbitz Inc. in December 2004. The Chicago-based online travel booker has 400 employees. "It's really critical, as a big advertiser, that I understand how people receive media,'' he...

'Valets' hear cry for time; Tame the errand beast: Hand your to-do list to personal concierge.(The Business of Life)(Concierge services)
February 14, 2005... Byline: LISA BERTAGNOLI Some busy people hire personal assistants; others rely on spouses (or teenagers) to give them a hand with unwieldy to-do lists. How about the rest of the time-strapped masses? For an hourly fee, concierge...

Spread the wealth; There are many good reasons to extend ownership to workers.(Focus: Small Business)
February 14, 2005... Byline: CHRISTINA LE BEAU At some point, if your company is succeeding, you'll look around at the employees who've helped you make it and ask yourself: "Should I cut them in on the action?'' Steve Sarowitz asked the question early. The...

Event planner's job: Dressing any part.(The Business of Life)(Wolf Events & Entertainment's Jodi Wolf)(Interview)
February 14, 2005... Byline: Lisa Bertagnoli Jodi Wolf, 34, is president of the company her mother founded, Paulette Wolf Events & Entertainment in Chicago; she plans and attends 50 to 100 corporate events each year. A custom-designed, 7-by-12-foot closet in...

Conventions.(Calendar/Datebook)(Calendar)
February 14, 2005... THIS WEEK FEB. 15-16: Construction Safety Council, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, estimated attendance 1,500. FEB. 16-17: American Builders and Contractors Assn., Lakeside Center, estimated attendance 5,000. FEB. 17-20: RV,...

Philadelphia REIT buys big in far west suburbs; Major moves along I-88 are raising eyebrows.(News)(real estate investment trusts, Liberty Property Trust)
February 14, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Vacancies at industrial properties have risen in parts of the Chicago region, but that hasn't deterred Liberty Property Trust from entering the market with big investments. Based in suburban Philadelphia, with an...

Beitler, broker's battle over fee slated for trial; Developer contesting claim that he owes firm more than $4.6 million.(News)(J. Paul Beitler, Gaylord Toft, Julian Toft & Downey Inc., J. Paul Beitler Development Co.,)
February 14, 2005... Byline: ALBY GALLUN J. Paul Beitler will face off in court next month against a mortgage broker who charges that the prominent real estate developer stiffed him out of a $4.6-million fee. Mr. Beitler hired the broker, Gaylord Toft of...

Ill. lawmaker, industry spar over insurance bill; Effort afoot to toughen conflict-of-interest law for brokers in state.(News)(Illinois)
February 14, 2005... Byline: STEVE DANIELS A state senator is moving to put more teeth into legislation designed to clamp down on the commissions at the center of a scandal that's roiled the insurance industry. Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, likes the...

For The Record.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2005... United Airlines is halting some pension payments to its retired pilots while the U.S. Bankruptcy Court resolves a dispute over when and how the pilots pension plan will be terminated. Meanwhile, United says it will recall 150 furloughed pilots...

Lacy can exercise options.(Briefs)(Sears, Roebuck and Co., Alan Lacy's share)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2005... Sears, Roebuck and Co. Chairman and CEO Alan Lacy is clear to exercise up to 1.1 million stock options-which would give him shares valued at roughly $50 million-before the merger with Kmart Holding Corp. closes, according to a filing with the...

Sharp 'shrooms; EVEN SPRINGFIELD'S 2ND-CLASS CITIZENS-A.K.A. MUSHROOMS-GROW A GOOD IDEA NOW AND THEN.(News)(Susana Mendoza's economic policy, John Cullerton's telecommunications policy)
February 14, 2005... Byline: Greg Hinz When it comes to power and glory, the Illinois General Assembly has two distinct castes: the Four Tops and the mushrooms. The tops, the Democratic and Republican leaders of the House and Senate, determine what...

Short-circuit in power bids; Your electric bills could rise if MidwestGen sits out ComEd auction.(News)(Midwest Generation L.L.C.)
February 14, 2005... Byline: STEVE DANIELS With Commonwealth Edison Co. preparing to auction the right to supply electricity to its customers beginning in 2007, the state's largest independent power plant owner is talking about sitting the bidding out. ...

Borg boosts diesel biz with purchase of German firm.(News)(BorgWarner Inc., Beru AG)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2005... Byline: TERRY KOSDROSKY Crain News Service Auto parts supplier BorgWarner Inc. added key components and systems to its diesel business with its recent $490-million stock purchase of German electronics supplier Beru AG. The acquisition...

Taking stock of efficiency; Entrepreneurs measure productivity differently.(Focus: Small Business)(Actoras Partners Ltd., Pacific Construction Services Inc., SWD Inc.)
February 14, 2005... Byline: MARK HENRICKS The average U.S. business increased its productivity by 4% in 2004, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the fourth quarter alone, the durable manufacturing segment boosted productivity, as measured by...

Datebook.(Calendar)
February 14, 2005... THIS Week FEB. 14: Chicago Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors presents Quality Program Assessments: An Overview. 8 to 9:30 a.m. University of Chicago, Gleacher Center, 450 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive. Fee: $35 members, $45...

Hefty innovation aims to counter high material cost; As resin prices erode profits at Pactiv, high hopes for a sales hit.(Markets)(Pactiv Corp.)
February 14, 2005... Byline: BOB TITA Pactiv Corp. executives are counting on interlocking plastic plates and stronger trash bags to offset the soaring raw material costs that have clipped company profits. Sales for the Lake Forest-based maker of Hefty...

Sound hokey? Employers trot out quirky perks; But how much electric slide is too much?(Focus: Small Business)(Bloom Gross & Associates Inc., New Age Transportation, Distribution and Warehousing Inc., Bamboo Worldwide Inc. )
February 14, 2005... Byline: SANDRA SWANSON You thought quirky workplace perks died in 2001? You thought wrong. The dot.com era may be over, but that doesn't mean the workplace pingpong table is a thing of the past. In fact, plenty of companies still offer...

Fresh on the scene: culinary surprises; Unexpected dishes sing in playful surroundings.(The Business of Life)(China Grill, Masck, Kan Zaman services)
February 14, 2005... Byline: ANNE MOORE New restaurants open all the time in Chicago-but not all are open for lunch. We dropped in on new places downtown that serve more than dinner. China Grill 230 N. Michigan Ave. (312) 334-6700 Forget doing...