Crain's Chicago Business articles from July 2005

Crain's Chicago Business archives from July 2005

For The Record.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... As expected, an association of Sears dealer store owners sued the Hoffman Estates-based retailer, alleging unfair competition over plans to sell key Sears brands in nearby Kmart stores (Crain's, June 27). The Federal Energy Regulatory...

UAL to file reorg plan in Aug.(UAL Corp)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... United Airlines' parent company said it will submit its formal plan for exiting bankruptcy protection to a judge early next month. In a Bankruptcy Court filing, Elk Grove Township-based UAL Corp. detailed its timeline for filing the documents...

Fee caller: Blame the courts; Q&A Lynn Lopucki.(Lynn LoPucki)(Interview)
July 4, 2005... Byline: SAMANTHA STAINBURN Plenty of surprises crop up during corporate bankruptcy reorganizations, but two researchers are trying to make one aspect of the process more predictable-the cost. In two studies, the second due out this month,...

Cook should split forest preserves from county government.(Opinion)(Cook County Forest Preserve)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Laurence Msall If somebody wants to chop down a tree in a Cook County Forest Preserve, does that tree deserve an independent hearing? The answer depends on whether you believe that the Forest Preserve commissioners-aka the Cook...

Slim pickings spark ITW's stock buybacks; Returning to acquisition strategy is goal for 2006.(Illinois Tool Works Inc)
July 4, 2005... Byline: BOB TITA Finding the market for take-overs too pricey, Illinois Tool Works Inc. is using its big pile of cash to buy its own stock, but the Glenview-based company hopes to be back in the acquisition game in a bigger way next year....

Andersen's ghost haunts KPMG; If legal woes sink another big audit firm, clients would suffer most.(KPMG L.L.P)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Byline: SHRUTI DATE SINGH The threat of prosecution hanging over KPMG LLP has raised questions in the local business community about whether history could repeat itself. Three summers ago, the indictment of Chicago-based Arthur...

Energetic Learner.(Desiree Rogers)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Dan Weissmann Desiree Rogers, 46, was named president of Chicago-based Peoples Energy Corp.'s two utility subsidiaries, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, in 2004, becoming the first African-American woman to hold those posts. Here's...

Need to Know.(Focus: Corporate Restructuring)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Compiled by Emily Bryson York 912 business bankruptcy cases were filed in Illinois last year-the fewest in five years. 3 of the 15 largest U.S. bankruptcies since 1980 were filed in Chicago. Oct. 17: Effective date of the...

Intriguing golf amid lax service; Cerebral game wins at Trent Jones Jr. course.(Prairie Landing Golf Club in West Chicago)(Robert Trent Jones Jr)
July 4, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY There's a generally held theory-mostly supported by experience-that public agencies and golf don't mix well. Chicago's western suburbs are cluttered with county- and municipal-owned golf clubs such as Oak Meadows in...

Zander goes for Nokia's gut; Scalpel cell phone designed to slice open Nokia's strongholds.(Edward Zander)
July 4, 2005... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON In the smaller-is-deadlier battle for control of the worldwide cell phone market, Motorola Inc. CEO Edward Zander is trading in his Razr for a Scalpel. The new quarter-inch-wide phone is his weapon of choice in...

City should leave smokers a little breathing room.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... In our age of hypersensitivity, kid-glove treatment seems mandatory for every group except one: smokers. As society in general becomes more inclusive and egalitarian, those who light up become more and more ostracized, marginalized and...

Outsourcing inhibits Accenture; Investors want more profits from consulting, fewer low-margin administrative contracts.(Markets)
July 4, 2005... Byline: SHRUTI DATE SINGH Accenture Ltd. last week held on to a contested $840-million contract to process applications for food stamps and Medicaid for the state of Texas, but investors aren't looking for more big outsourcing deals these...

New law could result in more liquidations; Bankruptcy act applies to Chapter 11s, too; exclusivity curbed.(Focus: Corporate Restructuring)(The federal Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005)
July 4, 2005... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN The federal Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which takes effect Oct. 17, got a lot of press for making it tougher for consumers to file bankruptcy. But corporate bankruptcy lawyers...

House Rules.(The Business of Life)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Don't fear that an urban B&B is a fly-by-night operation-the city of Chicago began requiring licenses in 2003. Here's a sampling of the requirements: * An owner must live on the premises. * Commercial liability insurance of $300,000...

B&Bs.(Bronzeville B&B)(Windy City Urban Inn)(Gold Coast Guest House)(House of Two Urns)(Hotel Review)
July 4, 2005... BRONZEVILLE Bronzeville B&B 3911 S. King Drive (773) 373-8081 The innkeeper: Pamela Johnson, 37. Ms. Johnson, a real estate broker and developer (and president of the Bronzeville Black Chamber of Commerce) bought the house 11...

Plant Manager.(Doug Hoerr)(Douglas Hoerr Landscape Architecture of Evanston)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Kevin Davis Doug Hoerr, 49, principal, Douglas Hoerr Landscape Architecture, Evanston Salary: Senior landscape architects earn $80,000-$100,000. Years on the job: 14 Duties: Designs plantings for residential,...

a bankruptcy for all seasons.(Focus: Corporate Restructuring)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Christina Le Beau The reorganization of Spiegel Inc., formerly based in Downers Grove, is being hailed as a model Chapter 11 reorganization. The company's exit plan, approved in May, creates a new company, Eddie Bauer Holdings...

At Deadline.(Late News)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... McDonald's working on crispier french fry McDonald's is getting new machines designed to deliver crisper french fries. The machines are being rolled out across the country but aren't in all restaurants yet. They contain a refrigeration...

Bankruptcy central? Chicago has become a premier destination for big filings, but will it last?(U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Chicago)
July 4, 2005... Byline: JOHN T. SLANIA The wake-up call came in July 1997, when venerable Chicago retailer Montgomery Ward & Co. filed for bankruptcy protection in Delaware. "It was very unsettling. Why wouldn't such a big Chicago firm file here?''...

Seeking sex celebrity; Public but profitless, therapist craves exposure.(Berman Center Inc)(Laura Berman)
July 4, 2005... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN Sex therapist Laura Berman hopes ramping up her celebrity wattage will reverse the fortunes of her money-losing sexual health spa. Ms. Berman, who dispenses sex tips in newspaper columns and on network...

Last guy you want to see; If you go broke, you may run into the U.S. bankruptcy trustee.(Ira Bodenstein)
July 4, 2005... Byline: STUART LUMAN U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee Ira Bodenstein is used to walking into a roomful of despondent people. With about 35,000 personal bankruptcy cases passing through his Chicago office each year, the waiting room across the...

Stock Report: Drop in oil prices drives up Sears.(Sears Holdings Corp)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Alison Granito Shares of Sears Holdings Corp. rose 3% this week as oil prices fell and an analyst predicted Chairman Edward S. Lampert will boost the retailer's profit. The shares closed at $151.75 on Friday. They have climbed...

Lively lunches out with the interns; A taste of the good life at Nine, SushiSamba.(Nine)(SushiSamba Rio)(Restaurant Review)
July 4, 2005... Byline: VIRGINIA GERST Hard-working summer interns need to be brought into the fold-and maybe convinced they're entering a promising field-with an icebreaker. What better way than with a deluxe lunch courtesy of the bosses? We checked out...

Fish Lesson.(The Business of Life)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... While the Japanese love sushi-sliced raw fish atop rice that is flavored with sweetened rice vinegar-South Americans prefer seviche (also spelled ceviche and cebiche): raw seafood that has been marinated in citrus. Each Latin country puts its...

I'm bored with my book club. How can I find a new one?(The Business of Life)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Darci Smith Nearly all of the Chicago Public Library's 79 branches have monthly book clubs. You can also check at neighborhood bookstores, coffee shops and watering holes, or Internet sites like www.book-clubs- resource.com or...

Star power; STATE SENATOR, TV HOST AND MEGACHURCH PASTOR, REV. JAMES MEEKS IS ONE TO WATCH.(News)(Biography)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Greg Hinz "It's all about star power sometimes,'' confesses the Rev. James Meeks. Standing in his enormous new, 10,000-seat Salem Baptist Church, which was due to open over the weekend with pews full of big-name politicians,...

LINEUP SINKS WMAQ; Demise of 'Must-see TV' helps Channel 7 widen lead over perennial No. 2 Channel 5.(NBC affiliated channel)
July 4, 2005... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN NBC's prime-time lineup-once WMAQ-TV's greatest asset in its 19-year pursuit of market leader WLS-TV-isn't propping up WMAQ's 10 o'clock news any longer. In May, ratings for WMAQ /Channel 5's late newscast fell...

After-hours at boutiques.(celebrities late arrivals for endorsements)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Mark Scheffler Oprah recently was turned away at Hermes in Paris when she showed up after closing time. She felt there were racial overtones and is planning a show on the high-profile snubbing. Still, it was after-hours. We...

Who you gonna call?(Focus: Corporate Restructuring)(opinions on bankruptcy law)
July 4, 2005... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN When Crain's asked Chicago's restructuring gurus how the business of bankruptcy has changed, their answers were surprisingly similar: Cases are more complicated, creditors are more sophisticated and consensus is...

Brenda came back: Can Betsy do it, too? After missteps as Kraft co-CEO, a tricky hiatus.(Brenda Barnes)(Betsy Holden)
July 4, 2005... Byline: JULIE JARGON Betsy Holden's plan to leave Kraft Foods Inc. for a year to spend time with family looks like the hiatus of another prominent female executive, Sara Lee Corp. CEO Brenda Barnes. But a comeback for the 49-year-old...

TRADERS' CHOICE; Sell or float? CBOT members weigh lucrative options.(Board of Trade of the City of Chicago)
July 4, 2005... Byline: KATE RYAN While Chicago Board of Trade executives juggle buyout offers and a planned initial public offering of stock, the final decision on the 157-year-old exchange's future belongs to its members. A sale of the Board of...

City B&Bs: Do you dare? It's home-style charm vs. hotel convenience; stay away if anti-social.(Bed and breakfast accommodations)
July 4, 2005... Byline: LISA BERTAGNOLI Visitors are descending, and you'd rather put them up than put up with them. The question is where. Hotels have downtown amenities and convenience, but city bed and breakfasts present an upscale but homey...

Lofty expectations await Boeing's CEO; McNerney a boost to faded civic arena.(W. James McNerney Jr. appointed as chairman and chief executive officer)
July 4, 2005... Byline: STEVEN R. STRAHLER W. James McNerney Jr.'s appointment last week as Boeing Co. chairman and CEO promises to add some badly needed star power to Chicago's business leadership and amplify its faded voice in civic affairs. Mr....

REIT now shopping for bigger deals; Lifestyle centers, big boxes in Inland's sights.(Annual Meeting)(real estate investment trusts)
July 11, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Inland Real Estate Corp., primarily an investor in small neighborhood shopping centers in the Chicago area and the Twin Cities, is scoping out bigger targets in the Midwest. Oak Brook-based Inland owns nearly 150...

Ring Upper.(The Business of Life)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Kevin Davis Barbara Parker, 48, sales manager, Sidney Garber Jewelers Inc., Chicago Years on the job: 25 Salary: More than $100,000. Duties: Design for custom pieces; also, "I do the appraising, I do sales, I do...

Guiding hands for mom & dad; When keeping watch gets complicated, care managers fill gaps; 'a tremendous relief'.(home care services)
July 11, 2005... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN Kathy Reavis is part of the sandwich generation, a subset of baby boomers whose hectic lives include caring for both elderly parents and young children. Ms. Reavis, 52, lives in Northern California, thousands of...

Ex-nurse now head lawyer at new Global Hyatt.(Susan Smith)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Gregory Meyer Job: Senior vice-president and general counsel, Global Hyatt Corp., since April. Vitals: 54 years old; bachelor's degree in nursing, University of Iowa, 1973; master's degree in nursing, Texas Women's University,...

Conventions.(Calendar/Datebook)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
July 11, 2005... THIS WEEK JULY 11-12: AdTech, Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, estimated attendance 2,500. JULY 11-17: American Osteopathic Assn., Fairmont Hotel, estimated attendance 600. JULY 12-17: Khe Sanh Veterans, Wyndham O'Hare, estimated...

Datebook.(Calendar/Datebook)(Calendar)
July 11, 2005... this Week JULY 12: Career Resource Center Inc. presents Making Connections/Gathering Information. 7 p.m. Career Resource Center, Grove Cultural Campus, 40 E. Old Mill Road, Suite 105, Lake Forest. Fee: $40. (847) 295-5626. JULY 12:...

Investors taking slow boat to Asia; Smaller firms leading push into Far East.(investment firms are acquiring asian companies)
July 11, 2005... Byline: KATE RYAN Private-equity firms in Chicago are treading lightly into Asia. As some of the biggest U.S. investment firms amass huge war chests to fund acquisitions of Asian companies, Chicago's leading players aren't joining the...

Crain's adds designer, photographer.(News)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Melissa Phee, 25, has joined Crain's as a designer responsible for laying out news and feature pages, assigning photos and creating graphics. Ms. Phee attended the University of Colorado-Boulder, where she graduated with bachelor's degrees in...

It's high time exchanges mull a merger.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... We're glad the Chicago Board of Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange are setting aside old grudges to discuss a merger that might be good for both businesses and for Chicago. Despite compelling reasons to hook up-greater liquidity,...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
July 11, 2005... WMAQ-TV/Channel 5's annual revenues rose 3% from 2002 through 2004; a July 4 story incorrectly indicated revenues declined over that period. The station was the top biller in the Chicago market in 2004. In addition, WMAQ's late news program...

Thunderhawk Golf Club.(The Business of Life)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... 39700 N. Lewis Ave., Beach Park (847) 872-4295 Head pro: Bill Ebdon Tee times: Available 30 days in advance. Green fees: Range widely, from $98 for 18 holes in prime time on weekends for non-residents of Lake County to as...

In the beginning, an idea.(Focus: Small Business)
July 11, 2005... Byline: CYNTHIA HANSON Ideas for new businesses are like eyeballs: Almost everybody has at least one. But it takes a certain type to grow an idea into an actual business. "Entrepreneurs are an insane group by nature,'' says Robert...

Fast greens color play at ThunderHawk; Well-preserved wetlands hide a few tricky secrets.(The Business of Life)(ThunderHawk Golf Club)
July 11, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Give golf architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. credit. In the mid-1990s, when the Lake County Forest Preserve District presented him with an old dairy farm in far north suburban Beach Park, on 243 acres notable for...

Ex-Publicis executive keeps pay coming in; $3.5 million in contracts with firm, Leo Burnett.(News)(Publicis Groupe S.A.)
July 11, 2005... Byline: JAMES B. ARNDORFER Roger A. Haupt resigned as president and chief operating officer of Publicis Groupe SA in December. But that won't stop him from drawing $3.5 million in paychecks over the next five years from the advertising...

On the Move.(People)(appointments)
July 11, 2005... ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING Environmental Systems Design Inc., Chicago: Kurt Karnatz, 41, to executive vice-president, from senior vice-president. CONSUMER SERVICES Body-Solid Inc. and Fitness Factory Outlet, Forest Park: Stuart...

Growing from trash.(Focus: Small Business)(Compass Environmental Inc.)(Interview)
July 11, 2005... Byline: SAMANTHA STAINBURN The annual sales of Jonathon Markoff's Chicago environmental remediation company grew 854% between 1999 and 2003, according to the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, a Boston organization that tracks...

Boeing CEO gets first-class deal.(Briefs)(James McNerney)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... When Boeing boss James McNerney touched down at the jumbo aerospace firm, a lofty pay package awaited. The new CEO's base salary and annual bonus will be at least $4.7 million. In lieu of unvested options at Minnesota-based 3M, where he was...

For the Record.(Sara lee executives sell away shares)(Salton Inc may be delisted due to low market capitalization)(Boeing exports aircrafts without license)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Chairman C. Steven McMillan and other top Sara Lee execs sold small percentages of their stock holdings last week, adding to the more sizeable sales they reported last month. The New York Stock Exchange warned George Foreman grill maker...

Now it's go time.(Focus: Small Business)
July 11, 2005... Byline: JOHN T. SLANIA Growth is never more dramatic than at the start-up stage: Going from zero sales to anything is a triumph. And the stakes are sky-high: You've put your credibility on the line and probably some of your own money. You...

Ill. Restaurant Assn. needs to get out from behind smoke screen.(Opinion)(Illinois Restaurant Association)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Dan Rosenthal On June 29, Alderman Ed Smith (28th) introduced an ordinance to make all public places in Chicago, including restaurants and bars, smoke-free. The wording of this ordinance is similar to no-smoking legislation adopted...

Firm looks to expand use of cancer drug; Abraxane exceeding Street's sales forecasts.(Annual Meeting)
July 11, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY American Pharmaceutical Partners Inc.'s new breast cancer drug is beating Wall Street's sales estimates as the company starts testing it for other types of cancer. American Pharmaceutical started selling Abraxane...

Growth means letting go.(Focus: Small Business)
July 11, 2005... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN Most entrepreneurs want to turn their creations loose and cash out at some point. And selling to a larger outfit with more resources may be the best way to keep a business growing. That's especially true for a...

The plan: Improvise.(Focus: Small Business)
July 11, 2005... Byline: STUART LUMAN Even with a well-written business plan, it's a long way from your back-of-the-napkin idea to a real-live business. The trip requires money, of course, along with the intestinal fortitude to stay dedicated to a...

This Week: Local unemployment drops again in May.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Sandra Jones Unemployment in the Chicago metropolitan area fell to 5.8% in May from 6.0% in April, the fourth consecutive month of improvement, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The preliminary figure, which isn't...

Trunk Secrets.(Elephant and Castle London intersection)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Elephant and Castle is a London intersection, transportation hub and neighborhood. Common lore says the name is a corruption of Infanta de Castile, commemorating a visit by a Spanish monarch's daughter. More likely, historians say, the phrase...

DRUGSTORE DILEMMA; Dearth of pharmacists threatens Walgreen's high-touch strategy in fight with mail-order rivals.(News)
July 11, 2005... Byline: SANDRA JONES The Chicago-area pharmacist strike against Walgreen Co. exposes a weakness in the No. 1 drugstore chain's plan to beat back a challenge from mail-order prescription drug houses: It relies on pharmacists, a commodity in...

KPMG's tax shelters leave Sidley exposed; Law firm's defenses erode as auditor seeks to avoid indictment.(News)(KPMG L.L.P. (New York, New York))(Sidley Austin Brown and Wood)
July 11, 2005... Byline: STEVEN R. STRAHLER Big Four accounting firm KPMG LLP wants to avoid becoming another Arthur Andersen, killed by a criminal indictment. Some of its survival costs may fall on Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP. KPMG's admission of...

Fare wars erupt again; UAL vows to match Southwest cuts even as it heads for Ch. 11 exit.(News)(United Air Lines Inc.)(Southwest Airlines Co.)
July 11, 2005... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON Southwest Airlines is slashing fares out of Chicago's Midway Airport and other cities, renewing an industrywide price war as United Airlines attempts to exit bankruptcy. Elk Grove Township-based United says it...

Exelon generates new rate worries; Consumer group predicts 10% price hike.(News)(Exelon Corp.)
July 11, 2005... Byline: STEVE DANIELS Consumer advocates are objecting to power-plant funding changes they say will boost electric rates in Chicago, which are already poised to jump in 2007. PJM Interconnection, the regional power-grid operator...

Glove maker spread thin; Keys to survival: Cut costs, land customers.(Annual Meeting)(American Health Products Co.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: DANIEL ROME LEVINE AHPC Holdings Inc., an Itasca-based supplier of disposable gloves, is trying to diversify its customer base, cut costs and secure long-term financing. The money-losing company is hoping to become profitable...

Filming at the intersection of culture and commerce.(The Business of Life)(films shoot in town )(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Mark Scheffler Over the years, many Chicago businesses and corporate headquarters have served as stunt doubles of sorts for other "businesses'' conjured up by Hollywood filmmakers. As several films shoot in town this summer, here's...

Everything a growing entrepreneur reads; What to read during summer vacation-if you're taking one.(books websites videos for entrepreneurs to develop their career)(Buyers Guide)
July 11, 2005... Byline: MARK HENRICKS The owners of fast-growing businesses have little if any time to keep up with the literature on business growth. Which is a shame, because there's some useful stuff out there. Here's a sampling of resources worth...

Taking it to the next level.(Focus: Small Business)(business growth)
July 11, 2005... Byline: SANDRA SWANSON Growth doesn't come any easier once a business has proven viable. At some point, many entrepreneurs face the dreaded profit plateau. Taking a business to the next level might mean expanding geographically,...

When the rest of them catch on.(Focus: Small Business)(business success)
July 11, 2005... Byline: SANDRA SWANSON When you've got a successful business, you can't stay under the radar for long. While your hard work has attracted more customers, it's also drawn the attention of others itching for a piece of your marketshare. It's...

Broad Minded.(books read by Allen Turner )(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Christina Le Beau Allen Turner is a "compulsively interested'' investor, philanthropist, art collector, composer and performer who is also the new chairman of Columbia College Chicago. Mr. Turner, 68, doesn't suffer fools:...

What to Look Out For.(when appointing care takers)
July 11, 2005... Finding someone to establish a plan of care for a parent takes as much as consideration as finding a nanny or babysitter. Here are some factors to consider: Professional credentials: Many care managers have some form of state license-as a...

REIT stocks defy expectations; Property firms gain as industry consolidates; other stocks slide.(Markets)(real estate investment trusts)
July 11, 2005... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Shares in real estate investment trusts, which many analysts figured were overvalued at the start of the year, reached new highs in the second quarter. Crain's scoreboard of winning stocks for the quarter includes...

Stock Report: Solid 3rd quarter boosts Accenture.(Markets)(Accenture Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Shruti Date Singh Accenture Ltd. shares jumped more than 9% to $24.21 Friday on heavy trading after the firm posted solid results for its fiscal third quarter. "For the first time in the past three quarters, Accenture...

JOFFREY BALLET'S TURNAROUND ARTIST; A coal miner's son taught dance troupe steps other cultural groups might want to follow.(News)(Jon Teeuwissen)
July 11, 2005... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN In four years at the helm of Chicago's Joffrey Ballet, Jon Teeuwissen has choreographed an enviable financial pirouette, along with a lesson in how to revive an old-line cultural organization. When Mr. Teeuwissen...

Energy bill is Cat's meow; $1-billion subsidy to cut diesel emissions would expand retrofit business.(News)(Caterpillar Inc.)
July 11, 2005... Byline: BOB TITA Caterpillar Inc. has put its lobbying muscle behind the federal energy bill after the Senate added a diesel emission reduction program that could boost the company's growing engine retrofitting business. The federal...

Trimming lunch down to size; Summer-weight entrees (with room for dessert).(The Business of Life)(Porter's Steakhouse, Carson's Ribs and Elephant & Castle)
July 11, 2005... Byline: ANNE MOORE With summer's heat, it's a relief to find lighter entree selections, even at places known for traditionally heavy meals. We sampled both. Porter's Steakhouse Hotel 71 71 E. Wacker Drive (312) 346-7100...

Gravy train; CASH-POOR CTA MUST SHOW WHY IT HAS MORE HIGHLY PAID EXECS THAN OTHER AGENCIES.(Transit Authority of Chicago)
July 11, 2005... Byline: greg hinz There's a man-bites-dog story coming out of Springfield. It's about how an executive who recently accepted a top state job was shocked to find that he'd be making less-much less-than at his old, smaller post at the...

At Deadline.(Briefs)(human resources of United Air Lines Inc.)(Mittal Steel Company N.V. shelved plans for expansion)(Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... UAL bringing back all idled attendants By Nov. 30, United Airlines plans to rehire all 1,451 flight attendants now furloughed, a company spokesman confirms. The airline now plans to recall 600 flight attendants by Aug. 9, up from the 150...

July 26th.(Focus: Small Business seminar)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Compiled by Emily Bryson York SBA seminar in Chicago for small business executives who have been in business for at least six years. All-day program focuses on assessing your firm's growth potential, strategies for managing...

LINEUP SINKS WMAQ; Demise of 'Must-see TV' helps Channel 7 widen lead over perennial No. 2 Channel 5.(News)(WMAQ-TV/Channel)
July 11, 2005... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN ***** Correction: WMAQ-TV/Channel 5's annual revenues rose 3% from 2002 through 2004; a July 4 story incorrectly indicated revenues declined over that period. The station was the top biller in the Chicago market...

Prospective buyers shouldn't count on incentives.(incentives for buyers)
July 18, 2005... Byline: Dan Rafter Incentives are common in the condo conversion business. Real estate development firm American Invsco Corp., for example, offered investment buyers at Plaza 440 a guarantee that they would be paid monthly rent for a...

experienced listener.(Abner Mikva)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Byline: Dan Weissmann In April, the Illinois Gaming Board appointed Abner Mikva, 79, to preside in hearings over the revocation of a controversial Rosemont casino license. A former U.S. representative, Appellate Court judge and White House...

Even the best taste better in summer; Three favorites rarely fail; greatest fish sandwich ever.(North Pond Restaurant)(Cafe Spiaggia)(NoMI (Chicago, Illinois))(Restaurant Review)
July 18, 2005... Byline: ANNE MOORE Need to wow a client or guest? We stopped in for lunch at three spots that always impress. North Pond 2610 N. Cannon Drive (773) 477-5845 This storybook restaurant opens for lunch in summer only; don't...

CHX president oversees new trade model.(Chicago Stock Exchange president Dave Herron)(new president Ellen Neely)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Byline: Alison Granito Job: President of the Chicago Stock Exchange since June 27. Reports to exchange CEO Dave Herron. Vitals: 40 years old; bachelor's degree in government, University of Texas at Austin, 1986; law degree, University...

Class outside.(restaurants of Chicago)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Summer opens Chicago's loveliest dining areas-that happen to be outdoors. At lunch, duck into the Art Institute of Chicago's Garden Restaurant; it extends into a leafy courtyard (111 S. Michigan Ave., 312/553-9675). For dinner, head to Thyme...

City mulls TIF renewal; Adding 12 years to Loop district would generate $1 billion.(Tax increment financing)
July 18, 2005... Byline: GREG HINZ City Hall has begun considering a push to extend the life of Mayor Richard M. Daley's favorite development tool-an action that would provide more than $1 billion for project subsidies downtown but that also could...