Crain's Chicago Business articles from July 2006

Crain's Chicago Business archives from July 2006

REHEATING KRAFT; Like Sara Lee and Motorola, food maker reaches outside for CEO with marketing chops.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: KATE RYAN If Irene Rosenfeld, tapped last week to jump-start Kraft Foods Inc., is looking for advice on turning around a lumbering Chicago company, she might want to schedule lunch with Edward Zander or Brenda Barnes-or both. ...

LKQ finds gold in salvage-yard car parts.(Markets)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Daniel Rome Levine James A. Goble, 59, vice-president and portfolio manager, Fortaleza Asset Management Inc., Chicago Experience: 36 years Assets under management: $100 million The pick: Fortaleza Asset Management owns...

Global warming solutions that work for Midwest's economy.(Opinion)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Howard A. Learner With Al Gore's recent documentary "An Inconvenient Truth,'' businesses stepping up and political leaders speaking out, America is reaching a tipping point toward taking action to solve our global warming problems....

Bus fumes; SPEAKER MADIGAN'S PENSION FUNDING DEMAND WOULD SMOTHER CTA FINANCES. WHAT'S HIS REAL AIM?(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Greg Hinz Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan truly rocked the Chicago Transit Authority a few weeks ago when he wrote an unusual, harshly worded letter to agency President Frank Kruesi and Chairman Carole Brown. Quoting...

Todd Stroger inherits a crisis; Fiscal woes, infighting await heir apparent.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: GREG HINZ The budget is tens of millions of dollars out of whack, with critical funding drying up. A host of growing scandals likely has caught the eye of federal agents. Key allies are squabbling. That's the picture...

At Deadline.(Chicago Harbor Lock funding)(Securities and Exchange Commission sues Efoora Inc.)(Frontenac Managing Director James E. Crawford III quits)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Lake locks funding doesn't get support Federal funding to replace the aging Chicago Harbor Lock was left out of a bill by the Senate Appropriations Committee last week, probably killing the project until next year. Illinois and Chicago were...

Street fight: neighbors vs. festivals; Fairs targeted as residents push back over noise, year-round bad behavior.(The Business of Life)
July 3, 2006... Byline: ANNE MOORE Street festivals are a summer staple in Chicago. They bring neighbors and friends together after a long winter. They introduce a neighborhood to suburbanites and out-of-towners and bring business to shops and...

Foreclosures rising in city; Adjustable-rate loans blamed for big jumps in middle-class areas.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: STEVE DANIELS Home foreclosures rose last year in middle-class and gentrifying Chicago neighborhoods, as the combination of rising interest rates and adjustable-rate loans drove a citywide increase in problem mortgages. The...

Investors leave Cosi behind; After a big run-up in 2005, the sandwich chain's stock price falls back to earth.(Markets)
July 3, 2006... Byline: SHRUTI DATE SINGH Investors are losing their taste for Cosi Inc. Last year, they warmed to CEO Kevin Armstrong's plan to cut costs, recruit franchisees and roll out a new restaurant design. The stock surged 37% even though the...

This Week: Daley offers United $4.4-mil. incentive.(United Airlines)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Thomas A. Corfman, Greg Hinz, Julie Johnsson The Daley administration last week offered to give United Airlines at least $4.4 million in TIF money if the airline moves its headquarters downtown and maintains at least 350 workers...

Corrections.
July 3, 2006... A June 26 Late News item about United Airlines' new $543-million government contract misidentified the U.S. General Services Administration.

Village Links: Busy, for good reason; Varied crowd populates recently redone course.(The Business of Life)
July 3, 2006... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY On any busy day at the Village Links of Glen Ellyn-practically the only kind of day at the popular facility-a demographic kaleidoscope is on display. Teenage boys, stylish thirtysomething women and stiff-jointed...

Tribune buyback comes up short.(Briefs)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Shareholders tendered 45 million shares of Tribune stock as part of the company's massive $2-billion buyback plan-8 million fewer than the company had sought. Tribune said it will acquire those shares at $32.50 apiece, the ceiling price it...

For the Record.(John Stroger resigns from Cook County Board)(Blagojevich administration under hiring fraud investigation)(Smithfield Foods buys Sara Lee's European meats business)
July 3, 2006... John Stroger said he will resign as Cook County Board president and as county commissioner for the 4th District at the end of July. Mr. Stroger, 77, who suffered a stroke in March, also formally stepped aside as Democratic nominee for the board...

Datebook.(Calendar)(Brief article)(Calendar)
July 3, 2006... THIS WEEK JULY 5-6: Women's Business Development Center presents Business Plan: How to Write a Successful One. July 5: 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. or July 6: 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Women's Business Development Center, 8 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 400. Fee:...

Calamos fights 'head winds'; Shuffles investment mix to mitigate downturn.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY With the stock market slumping, Calamos Asset Management Inc. shares have been in free-fall as management searches for more investing diversification. Calamos shares closed at $28.04 Thursday, down 36% from their...

Floats to Fruits: Chefs turn frosty eye to desserts.(The Business of Life)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Laura Bianchi Coco Pazzo executive pastry chef Erika Masuda likes to experiment. Appearing in her frozen desserts: herbs and vegetables including white asparagus, beets and peas with sorrel. "What's the point of getting the...

Cash Coach.(The Business of Life)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Christina Le Beau Susan Beacham, 48, teaches kids nationwide to be money smart-her company publishes curricula and trains teachers-so her perspective is all about balance. Here's how Ms. Beacham, CEO of Money Savvy Generation LLC...

Your citywide fest = my front yard.(The Business of Life)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Anne Moore What happens when the city's festival grounds become surrounded by residents? Grant Park is party central during the summer. Taste of Chicago, Gospel Fest, Blues Fest, Jazz Fest. There's even a festival to celebrate...

Chicagoans are fat, rude, rich, selfish and drunk. Hey, the numbers don't lie. After months of compiling this year's Market Facts, here are just a few things we learned about who were are, where we work and how we live.(Focus: Market Facts)(City overview)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Matthew Carmichael Chicago is the fattest city in the nation, according to Men's Fitness magazine's 2006 ranking. We are also the city most likely to signal in traffic with just one finger (the middle one). Off the road, we...

Boeing's EU turbulence; Air-emission proposal could reduce air travel, slow orders for planes.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: PAUL MERRION Europe is weighing tough new air travel curbs to combat global warming, moves that could chill the long-term growth of Boeing Co. and rival Airbus SAS. The European Parliament is expected to vote this week on a...

Annoyance finds a home; Comedy company to reopen in Uptown.(Annoyance Theatre)
July 3, 2006... Byline: STEVE HENDERSHOT Annoyance Theatre, a scurrilous Chicago comedy company that hasn't had a permanent venue since 2000, is set to reopen July 20 in Uptown. The new theater, at 4840 N. Broadway, seats 110 and features an...

Cigna president aims to boost membership.(Cigna HealthCare)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Lorene Yue Job: President and general manager for Cigna HealthCare in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin since June 7. Vitals: 48 years old; bachelor's degree, 1980, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Regional...

Boat boss.(The Business of Life)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Laura Bianchi Karen Rodriguez, 33, harbor master, Burnham Harbor. Duties: Oversees 1,200 boat slips in Chicago's largest harbor. "It's like managing a hotel on water.'' Forecast: "I'm afraid we are going to have a lot of...

Conventions.(Calendar)
July 3, 2006... THIS WEEK JULY 4-8: United Covenant Churches of Christ, Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, estimated attendance 3,000. JULY 5-9: Assn. of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America, Hyatt Regency Chicago, estimated attendance...

Royal treatment in Cook prez race, and subjects suffer.(Opinion)
July 3, 2006... Only the incense and incantation were missing as the mantle of power passed from father to son last week in the manner of a feudal dynasty. We're referring, of course, to the all-but-official designation of Chicago Alderman Todd Stroger...

On the Move.(People)
July 3, 2006... FINANCIAL SERVICES Ariel Capital Management LLC, Chicago: Matthew F. Sauer, 44, to senior vice-president of the investment group, from executive vice-president and senior portfolio manager at Oak Value Capital Management. William...

Harris Bankcorp stalls in local market; Next CEO should be Chicagoan, analyst says.(Harris Bankcorp Inc.)
July 3, 2006... Byline: STEVE DANIELS When Frank Techar arrived in Chicago less than four years ago to be Harris Bankcorp Inc.'s new CEO, his goal was to vault Chicago's longtime No. 3 bank into the top position in town. Now he's on his way out, and...

Tough spots hinder steakhouse success; Missteps in meals lead to strikes against both.(The Business of Life )
July 3, 2006... Byline: LAURA BIANCHI I anticipated dazzling meals at two American restaurants within walking distance of each other, both in North Michigan Avenue-area hotels. The results were more like a late-night TV monologue: moments of brilliance...

Car sellers tout new test track; Naperville dealers hope attraction will boost sales.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY In Naperville, a dozen auto dealers have banded together to create a test track for car shoppers. In what is believed to be the first facility of its kind in the country, a half-mile asphalt track is being built...

LOCAL FACTORIES RETREAT AFTER CHINA'S ASSAULT; Small area manufacturers are not investing to compete with low-cost rivals.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: BOB TITA Mid-West Wire Specialties Inc. has an interesting response to its battle with low-cost Chinese manufacturers: Wave the white flag. The Northwest Side company has been bending wire into magazine racks, light-fixture...

West Side draws Sundance Kid; Redford eyes Fannie May site for theaters.(News)
July 3, 2006... Byline: THOMAS A. CORFMAN Robert Redford's start-up movie theater chain is in talks to anchor a retail complex planned for the former Fannie May factory site on the Near West Side, a deal that would add celebrity glitz to a once-gritty...

What do you say to a co-worker who asks about an after-work shindig you didn't invite them to?(The Business of Life)
July 3, 2006... Byline: Darci Smith Offer an apology and explanation, such as a limited budget or space, says Leah Ingram, author of "The Everything Etiquette Book.'' Next time, keep planning on the down-low by mailing invites to home snail or e-mail...

Online.(growth of unemployment)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Just in case we haven't inundated you with enough data in this section, visit ChicagoBusiness.com/marketfacts for an interactive look at Chicago's demographics and economics. In addition to all the maps that appear in this section, you'll find...

Real Estate: Residential.(facilities of residential development)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... A half-million dollars isn't what it used to be. We scoured Craigslist.com to see just how much location matters. You won't find a barn and several acres in Chicago for that price, but you will get more than 585 square feet. Belle plaine...

Outside of the Chicago area.(facilities of residential buildings)
July 3, 2006... Dunwoody, GA. (Atlanta) Square feet: 3,400-plus Bed/baths: 4/31/2 Amenities: Granite countertops, cooktop island, breakfast room, rear stairs, finished basement and large backyard. Butte, Mont. Square feet: 4,400 ...

VESPARATE TIMES; Chicago scooter market in disarray after city's only Vespa dealer goes under.(News)(Piaggio e Compagnia S.p.A.)
July 10, 2006... Byline: STUART LUMAN A modish image and $3-a-gallon gas are pushing sales of Vespa motor scooters to record heights in U.S. cities-but not in Chicago. With the area's only Vespa dealer in bankruptcy, the Italian manufacturer has...

Daley's dupes; UNDERLINGS AND JOB SEEKERS PAY PRICE FOR MAYOR'S DOUBLE TALK ON HIRING REFORM.(News)(Mayor Richard M. Daley)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Greg Hinz I've always admired Mayor Richard M. Daley as a man with a common touch. In his first major act after winning office in 1989, he appointed a multi-colored cabinet that, while surely symbolic, set a tone that...

This Week: A green light for LaSalle St. TIF?(tax increment financing)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Greg Hinz The city has decided to move ahead with the long-rumored creation of a large tax-increment financing district along LaSalle Street downtown, south of the river (Crain's, May 29). A spokeswoman said final details on the...

The payoffs of payroll.
July 10, 2006... Byline: MEREDITH LANDRY Payroll is the largest expense for most small businesses, but it's not always given the respect it deserves. Here's how to stay on track. Problem #1: You don't submit your payroll taxes on time. Miss these...

At Deadline.(Man Financial Inc. sues Cargill Investor Services Inc.)(price inflations of Abbott Laboratories)(Leo Burnett Company Inc. faces layoffs)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Man Financial sues Refco client Cargill Fallout from the Refco bankruptcy continues, as Man Financial sued Cargill on June 30. Man, which purchased Refco's futures business in Bankruptcy Court, alleges Cargill has refused to do business...

Illinois judges have different experience with legal system.(Opinion)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Lester Munson Lester Munson is a locally based writer and commentator. For insurance companies, boxing promoters and tavern keepers, it's Lawsuits `R' Us. They sue. They are sued. Litigation is a part of each day's agenda. ...

Midday winner: lunch at Crofton on Wells; Business-meal favorite reopens; a quiet start.(The Business of Life)(Crofton on Wells)(Restaurant review)
July 10, 2006... Byline: ANNE MOORE Colleagues and friends who work west of Wells Street or entertain clients in that River North area say they have few fine dining choices at midday. Allen's (217 W. Huron St.), Coco Pazzo (300 W. Hubbard St.) and Kiki's...

Zander's Motorola, part one; How a brash new CEO tore down walls-and much of Moto's musty culture.(News)
July 10, 2006... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON At the end of his first day as CEO of Motorola Inc., Edward Zander sat alone in his office atop the company's Schaumburg headquarters, feeling apprehension descend along with the early winter dusk. Just in from...

You earned it. Now go out and get it.(Focus: Small Business)
July 10, 2006... Byline: SAMANTHA STAINBURN You made a sale. You delivered the product. You're done, right? Wrong. Now it's time to collect-the part of the process that many mess up. Problem #1: You spend more time making new sales than collecting. ...

Guilty verdicts in patronage trial.(cases)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... It took jurors 31/2 days to decide Mayor Daley's former patronage chief was guilty of defying a court order against putting campaign workers on the city payroll. Robert Sorich, right, was convicted of fraud in federal court Thursday, along with...

Kid camp: Rocker or Techie version.(The Business of Life)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Kevin Davis So much for lame camp songs and handwritten letters home. Aspiring computer geeks and wannabe rock stars hit non-traditional summer camps in the Chicago area to help nurture their dreams. DayJams Rock Music Camp,...

Paper firm's push: diversify; United Stationers touts furniture, janitorial goods.(News)
July 10, 2006... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY In its latest communications with investors, United Stationers Inc. doesn't use the word "stationery.'' The company instead emphasizes furniture and janitorial supplies and even plastic cups. With chains such as...

For the Record.(Walgreen stores sales.)(Motorola to purchase NextNet Wireless.)(O'Hare the "world's busiest airport''.)
July 10, 2006... O'Hare may regain the distinction of being the "world's busiest airport'' this year. From January to June, 477,001 flights came through the airfield-4,570 more than Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta. Meanwhile, on-time performance at Chicago airports...

Conventions.(Calendar)(Calendar)
July 10, 2006... THIS WEEK JULY 10-12: State Assns. of Addiction Services Annual National Conference, Westin Michigan Avenue, estimated attendance 415. JULY 10-13: Walgreen Co. Dialogue Seminar, Hyatt Regency O'Hare, estimated attendance 920. JULY...

Little playtime for CEOs; Most take short breaks, or trips close to home; 'I can be back in 3 hours'.(The Business of Life)
July 10, 2006... Byline: LISA BERTAGNOLI Cube-dwellers might resent CEOs for their generous salaries, bonuses and stock options. But rank-and-file employees seize one perk that many top execs don't: vacation. Busy seasons, pending deals, new projects...

Shut up and listen.(methods of sales management)
July 10, 2006... Byline: MEREDITH LANDRY Let's face it, not everyone's a born salesman. But there are some rules you can follow to get better. It starts with introspection. Problem #1: You don't define your target audience. Eager to get business,...

Will to get giant mall; 'Power town' concept planned for Illinois' fastest-growing county.(Will County)
July 10, 2006... Byline: ALBY GALLUN A Cleveland-based developer plans to build a massive shopping center in fast-growing Will County that would rival the nation's largest malls in size. Forest City Enterprises Inc. has signed contracts to buy about...

Need to Know.(Focus: Small Business)
July 10, 2006... 37 Percent of Illinois small business owners who say the state's business environment is supportive. 25th Illinois' national ranking in startup growth.

Major mood swing at Seven Bridges; After pleasant first nine, a drastic change of scene.(The Business of Life)
July 10, 2006... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY First-time visitors to Seven Bridges Golf Club in Woodridge often figure they've made a wrong turn when they step up to the 10th tee. After a delightful front nine filled with towering old oak trees and a...

Wheel Mover.(interview)(Interview)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Kevin Davis James Guler, 49, car salesman, Elmhurst Ford. Duties: Selling cars and trucks for the past 23 years. "The consumer is definitely a lot more educated with the Internet. They come to me armed with a lot more...

Exchange boards targeted; New rules would force change at CBOT, CME.(News)(Chicago Board of Trade)(Chicago Mercantile Exchange)
July 10, 2006... Byline: KATE RYAN Futures industry regulators are mulling a new rule that would shake up the boardrooms at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has proposed new...

Abbott faces stent squeeze; Deal buys battle for share of crowded market.(News)
July 10, 2006... Byline: MIKE COLIAS Nagging safety concerns and softening prices are dogging makers of drug-coated stents, the tiny, artery-opening coils that lie at the heart of Abbott Laboratories' strategy to expand into medical devices. Just two...

Peoples suitor: high-energy, with a taste for risk; But bid for Chicago utility holds new perils for WPS.(News)(WPS Resources Corp.)(Peoples Energy Corp.)
July 10, 2006... Byline: STEVE DANIELS Larry Weyers, CEO of the Wisconsin-based suitor for Peoples Energy Corp., is a Nebraska farm boy with a Harvard MBA and a business model so complicated, not even Wall Street utility analysts understand it. He's...

On the Move.(appointments)
July 10, 2006... CONSUMER SERVICES Smith Senior Living, Chicago: Michael A. Flynn, 45, to CEO, from chief financial officer. FINANCIAL SERVICES Baird Capital Partners, Milwaukee: Steven Warner, 36, to vice-president of the business services team...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
July 10, 2006... A July 3 story about Sundance Cinema LLC's efforts to open a theater on the Near West Side misspelled the name of developer Gary Pachucki. Cyprus and Greece were omitted from a map of the European Union that accompanied a July 3 news...

It's summertime, CEOs: Make yourselves scarce.(Opinion)(Chief executive officers)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Memo to the CEO: Get out of town. Summer is here. Kids are out of school, the sun is shining and temperatures are high. For most people, that means it's vacation time. Offices are emptying out as workers take off on trips planned...

Medicaid setback bodes ill for Blues; Rival's lead in Part D race raises strategic issues.(News)(Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois)(UnitedHealth Group Inc)
July 10, 2006... Byline: MIKE COLIAS In the race to sign up seniors for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois has been outgunned on its own turf by a deep-pocketed rival. Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group...

Real estate firm targets the Far East.(Markets)(Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. )(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Daniel Rome Levine The pick: Mr. Hart bought his firm's 30,000 shares of Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. in May and June at an average cost of $81.35 a share. The stock trades at 18 times estimated 2007 earnings per share. It may trade...

Potbelly aims to expand, but retain character.(People)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Gregory Meyer Job: Executive vice-president of corporate strategy and chief development officer, Potbelly Sandwich Works Inc., since April. Vitals: 52 years old; bachelor's degree, University of Colorado at Boulder, 1976;...

A shrinking piece; With Sara Lee getting smaller, investors brace for a reduced dividend.(Markets)
July 10, 2006... Byline: JULIE JARGON Sara Lee Corp. investors who've counted on generous dividends for 60 years are going to find the cheesecake maker isn't so sweet anymore. As the company becomes smaller with the upcoming spinoff of its Hanes...

Active tracker.(The Business of Life)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Dan Weissmann Judith C. Rice, 48, has been city treasurer since 2000 and is honorary co-chairwoman of the Gay Games VII, which begin Saturday at Soldier Field. To keep score, she tracks: "Fox News in the Morning'' while on the...

Born or made? CRAIN'S DEPARTMENT OF GENETIC ENGINEERING.(Focus: Small Business)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Thomas Mucha Can any zygote become Bill Gates? While a tad creepy, it's an important question: Are successful entrepreneurs born, or made? As just about any member of this rare breed will tell you, running a business takes the...

Yeah, you're the boss. But don't be bossy.(Focus: Small Business)
July 10, 2006... Byline: CYNTHIA HANSON If you're like most entrepreneurs, you're used to logging long hours to make sure everything's done right. But failing to delegate can undermine your company's success-and wear you out. Problem #1: You insist on...

Tell me about it.(Focus: Small Business)
July 10, 2006... Byline: CYNTHIA HANSON Marketing a new product or service is one of the hardest parts of running a small business. Just ask any entrepreneur who's blown a ton of money on an advertising campaign that flopped. But you won't, if you read on....

How to geek out.
July 10, 2006... Byline: MEREDITH LANDRY Every day, technology gets better-and more complicated. To survive in today's global marketplace, you need to keep up. Or do you? Well, sort of. Problem #1: You cheap out on upgrades. Faced with the need to...

Datebook.(Calendar)
July 10, 2006... THIS WEEK JULY 10: Career Resource Center Inc. presents Resume Preparation and Presentation. 10:15 a.m. Career Resource Center, Grove Cultural Campus, 40 E. Old Mill Road, Suite 105, Lake Forest. Fee: $40. (847) 295-5626. JULY 11:...

Is it ever okay for men to wear sandals to the office?(The Business of Life)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Byline: Darci Smith Guys in marketing, advertising and other fashion-forward industries can match business-casual apparel with a leather, closed-toe sandal that provides a polished look, like those by Cole Haan, says Anna Wildermuth, owner...

Stick 'em up, Chicago; Bank robberies are on the rise. They're much more violent, too.(Focus: Finance)
July 17, 2006... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN For years, Chicago was to bank robbers what the Midwest was to East Coast snobs: flyover country. It wasn't geographic bias. Compared with banks elsewhere, local institutions were undesirable to robbers. An...

News Mixer.(The Business of Life)(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... Byline: Dan Weissmann Michael Binstein, 49, is CEO of Gold Standard Enterprises, which operates the Binny's liquor store chain. Before his father, the founder, died in 1995, Mr. Binstein was a Washington, D.C.-based journalist, and he...

The mind of a bank robber.(Focus: Finance)(Interview)
July 17, 2006... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN Troy Evans served 71/2 years in federal prison for robbing five banks in Arizona, Colorado and Nebraska. When he was convicted in 1992 at age 28, he had made off with thousands of dollars, which he used to finance...

At Deadline.(Corrections)(Correction notice)
July 17, 2006... * The headline on a July 10 story on Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois incorrectly identified the Medicare government health program. * Target Corp. and Lowe's Cos. opened stores in New Lenox last fall. A story in the July 10 issue...

Need to Know.(stories of bank robberies)(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... Byline: Christina Galoozis Law enforcement has nicknamed a number of repeat offenders in the area. Here are their stories. Night Stalker Bandit Dwight Lewis, 30, turned out to be this robber, nicknamed for hitting area banks after...

Ronald McDonald goes bar-hopping; McD's starts courting youth in clubs, pubs.(News)
July 17, 2006... Byline: JULIE JARGON McDonald's Corp., known for its kids' Playlands, is venturing into the playlands of young adults: bars, sports events and concerts. McDonald's has outfitted several Chicago bars with coasters sporting a toll-free...

New D.C. heat for Boeing; Senate to review $615M settlement with Justice Dept.(News)
July 17, 2006... Byline: PAUL MERRION WASHINGTON-Senators critical of Boeing Co.'s $615-million settlement of defense contract scandals are planning a full-scale review of the Chicago aerospace giant's deal with the Justice Department. In a sign that...

Peoples buyer wants rate hike; WPS deal won't pay if gas charge doesn't rise.(News)
July 17, 2006... Byline: STEVE DANIELS WPS Resources Corp. CEO Larry L. Weyers might be unsure if his company will seek to raise rates for Peoples Gas customers next year, but another exec at the Wisconsin utility holding company has no doubt. "I don't...

With new Circle Line, does CTA have riders' best interests in mind?(Chicago Transit Authority)
July 17, 2006... Byline: Adam Burck Adam Burck is executive director of the Edgewater Development Corp. I'm glad to see the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is looking at enhancing the "spoke system'' for elevated train lines. This will improve...

CTA train goes off the rails.(Chicago Transit Authority)(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... When a CTA Blue Line train derailed during last Tuesday's evening rush hour, 1,000 passengers had to navigate the smoky, dark subway tunnel up to the street. Officials defended the motorman's decision not to use the train's PA system to address...

The Architecture of Crime.(Focus: Finance)(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... Did you want coffee with that robbery? Current bank design emphasizes convenience over security and often eases the work of bank robbers. Cameras and alarms are everywhere. The latter can be triggered by a remote button on an employee's...