Crain's Chicago Business articles from May 2006

Crain's Chicago Business archives from May 2006

When business meets pleasure; Think reorganizing a company is hard? Add marrying your boss.(management, sales and earnings of restaurant industry)
May 1, 2006... Byline: CYNTHIA HANSON When Jim Horan hired Jodi Fyfe as the director of business development for Blue Plate, he expected her to shake up the company. What he didn't expect was to marry her. "We had an identity crisis as a...

The Valentine's Day massacre; 6 million viewers, 1,668 orders and 11 days from hell.(Focus: Women in Business)(Mary Ann Schultz)(Bounce Greetings Inc.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN Having your product featured on the "Today'' show is a dream for most small business owners. But when it happened to Mary Ann Schultz, she was still in bed. Friends had warned her that a national plug for her...

Reform school for bullies; Tired of the B-word? There's help out there.(Focus: Women in Business)(Kathleen Barton )(Searle Pharmaceuticals )
May 1, 2006... Byline: DAVID J. WALLACE Even after three promotions in five years, Kathleen Barton had the feeling her new boss wanted her gone. "I was very successful, but I wasn't very nice,'' she admits. As a research director at the former...

The breadwinner and Mr. Mom; Your husband cooks? Do you miss your kids?(Mary Dillon of McDonald's Corp.)(Interview)
May 1, 2006... Byline: JULIE JARGON When Mary Dillon left her job as president of the Quaker Foods division of PepsiCo Inc. last year to become McDonald's Corp.'s global chief marketing officer, she was put in charge of all of the restaurant chain's...

Conventions.(Calendar/Datebook)
May 1, 2006... THIS WEEK MAY 3-5: American Intellectual Property Law Assn., Hilton Chicago, estimated attendance 700. MAY 3-7: Tops International, Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare, estimated attendance 700. MAY 4-5: RHQ Housing Services, Indian Lakes...

What's the best way to track summertime activities in Chicago?(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Darci Smith Don't waste time typing in or cutting out schedules: Download them. The Cubs, White Sox and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among others, offer on their Web sites downloadable files-and instructions-for Windows Outlook and...

Correction.(Corrections)(Correction notice)
May 1, 2006... The Bureau of Transportation Statistics is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The bureau's affiliation was reported incorrectly in an April 24 story.

$1-bil. gas pain for UAL; Airline hopes fare hikes will soften blow to bottom line.(United Air Lines Inc.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: PAUL MERRION The recent surge in oil prices threatens to add $1 billion or more in fuel costs for United Airlines this year, a blow that could shatter the carrier's dream of posting its first annual operating profit since 2000. ...

How's this guy going to spend $1 billion? As the Merc's cash grows and buyout targets slip away, some ask . . .(Markets)(Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: KATE RYAN Craig Donohue faces a vexing if enviable dilemma: what to do with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange's rapidly accumulating pile of cash. Unless Mr. Donohue can find a profitable way to deploy it, the $1-billion stash...

Changes planned for Field's on State.(Department Stores has planned for the iconic store)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The hallmark green awnings at Marshall Field's State Street will turn black in September when the 154-year-old name is replaced with the moniker Macy's at State Street. The black canopies are just one of a round of changes new owner Federated...

He'll be having the pig's ear...
May 1, 2006... Byline: Darci Smith When the grass turns green and the breeze blows warm, Magritte Hubbard, 8, a Pomeranian/cocker spaniel/chow mix, knows it won't be long before he dons his Cubs bandanna and hits the town for an evening at his favorite...

Datebook.(Calendar/Datebook)(Brief article)(Calendar)
May 1, 2006... THIS WEEK MAY 1: 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. MAY 2: Career...

For the Record.(Chevron new president and Chief executive officers)(sales and earnings of Boeing company)(Chief Executive Officer Thomas Patrick resignations)
May 1, 2006... ADM named a longtime Chevron exec to be its new president and CEO. Patricia Woertz, 53, takes the helm as the ag products giant enjoys record stock prices, in part because of its investment in alternative fuel. The city is ready to slap a...

Making it right: One spot does it; Ballo wins back edge for old-style Italian.(The Business of Life)(Ballo and Tony Rocco's River North)
May 1, 2006... Byline: VIRGINIA GERST Mistakes happen. How a restaurant handles those inevitable slip-ups can mean the difference between a customer who leaves happy and one who doesn't. The proof was in the pasta at two restaurants I visited...

Small time; Not everybody dreams of being a rock star.(Focus: Women in Business)(Kim Stolve and Jill Gordon)(KidSnips LLC)
May 1, 2006... Byline: CYNTHIA HANSON When Kim Stolve and Jill Gordon opened their first children's hair salon in 1997, they dreamed not of making it big-but of making a living. The women, who'd met as graduate students at Northwestern University's...

Hello, my name is . . . Got an event? Read on. There's a lot more to it than just showing up.(Focus: Women in Business)
May 1, 2006... Byline: JEFF FLEISCHER Nancy Sharp likes her Saturday-morning networking meeting so much that she gets up at 7:30 a.m. to grab a cup of coffee and get there by 8:30. "It's really valuable because of the commitment of the members,''...

CBOT wisely acts in interest of shareholders.(Opinion)(CBOT Holdings Inc.)
May 1, 2006... We're encouraged by CBOT Holdings Inc.'s decision to allow full electronic trading of agricultural futures contracts. Last week's move is a hopeful sign that insularity and parochialism are losing their grip on the 158-year-old futures...

Gallagher slips on an oil slick; Energy tax credit sours for insurance brokerage.(News)(Arthur J. Gallagher and Co.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: STEVE DANIELS What does the price of oil have to do with business insurance? Little, unless you're Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. For years, Gallagher, the nation's fourth-largest insurance broker, with total 2005 revenues of $1.5...

Devices shake up Abbott's business mix.(Markets)(Abbott Pharmaceuticals)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Rachel Koning Beals The pick: With its holdings currently at almost 100,000 shares, Old Second has owned Abbott since 1989 but hasn't added to its position since 2004. Mr. Malone says he's considering buying again since shares are...

Aiming to ensure Navigant moves `in the right direction'.(People)(Julie M. Howard)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Shruti Date Singh Job: President and chief operating officer, Navigant Consulting Inc., as of Feb. 27. Vitals: 43 years old; bachelor's degree in finance from University of Wisconsin at Madison. Joined Navigant about eight...

Smurfit-Stone to close plant.(News)(Smurfit-Stone Container Corp)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Crain News Service A total of 139 employees at Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.'s corrugated container facility in Pembroke, Ontario, will lose their jobs when the site closes. Smurfit-Stone says the plant is tentatively scheduled...

Wee healer.(The Business of Life)(Molly Romer-clinical psychologist and director of the Parent Child Workshop)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Kevin Davis Molly Romer Witten, 57, clinical psychologist and director of the Parent Child Workshop, Chicago Duties: Works with babies who exhibit sleeping or eating problems, irritability, crying or lack of responsiveness-all...

Golfers swoon at hilly views; Chalet Hills maximizes its piece of rolling land.(The Business of Life)
May 1, 2006... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Chalet Hills Golf Club, whose towering slopes yield the finest vistas of any golf course around Chicago, puts the lie to Illinois' image as the Prairie State. The hilly topography of McHenry County is the result...

On the Move.(Bell Boyd & Lloyd appointed David P. Glatz)(Aksys Ltd. appointed Larry Birch)(Aon Corp. appointed Kathy Burns)
May 1, 2006... EDUCATION Golden Apple Foundation, Chicago: Dominic Belmonte, 52, to president and CEO, from director of teacher preparation. He replaces Elaine Schuster, 62, who is pursuing a teaching position. FINANCIAL SERVICES Aon Corp.,...

The rearview mirror and the future of women-owned biz.(Opinion)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Hedy M. Ratner What gives an adage longevity is trenchant truthfulness. For example, "The more things change, the more they remain the same.'' A look at where women in business were 20 years ago and where they are today reinforces...

Snackers tout portion control-for a price; 100-calorie trend has us paying more for less.(sales and earnings)
May 1, 2006... Byline: STEPHANIE THOMPSON Crain News Service As the 100-calorie banner becomes de rigueur for snacks, Frito-Lay is joining the fray. Getting consumers to pay more for less is the Holy Grail in the tight-margin food business. And...

Elgin firm's voting machines a success; Performance impresses Sangamon County clerk.
May 1, 2006... Byline: PAUL MERRION The ballots have been counted and Populex Corp. was a winner in the March 21 Illinois primary. "I was very pleased with the performance of the equipment. I got very positive feedback from voters and election...

More unsolicited advice for you; So you want the corner office? Join the club.(Calendar)
May 1, 2006... Byline: MARK HENRICKS Women love telling others what to do and how to do it. (Just ask their husbands.) Here's an earful on making it in the business world. BOOKS "More Than 85 Broads: Women Making Career Choices, Taking Risks...

Caution: Stereotypes ahead; In professions like sales, lobbying and law, women must play like the boys.(Focus: Women in Business)
May 1, 2006... Byline: SARAH A. KLEIN Just how far should an ambitious woman go to fit in with the men at work? Should she learn to play golf, bet on football and drink scotch? The answer: It depends. Elena Butkus, vice-president of finance at...

Dart's aim; SOUTHWEST SIDER MIXES OLD AND NEW POLITICAL STYLES IN BID FOR SHERIFF'S POST.(News)(Tom Dart)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Greg Hinz Anyone who's ever tangled with retiring Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheahan has quickly learned a fact of life: In the best Southwest Side street tradition, Mr. Sheahan will wave a tire iron under your nose to defend his...

CTA, Metra split on hedging; Transit agencies diverge as diesel fuel price rises.(Chicago Transit Authority )
May 1, 2006... Byline: GREG HINZ The Chicago area's two major public transit operators are taking sharply differing approaches to the soaring price of diesel fuel. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has hedged 75% of the 24 million gallons of diesel...

But will it play in River South? Developers eye new name in South Loop.(real estate offices)
May 1, 2006... Byline: ALBY GALLUN Realtors will tell you south Uptown is Buena Park and east Logan Square is actually West Bucktown. Now if some developers succeed, part of the South Loop could become River South. Developers in one of the city's...

This Week: 1st Oak Brook volume jumps on buyout talk.(securities of banking industry)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Steve Daniels Trading First Oak Brook Bancshares surged last week on talk the bank is seeking a buyer, analysts say. Some 151,667 shares changed hands Thursday, 10 times the daily average. Volume on Wednesday was seven times...

At Deadline.(Late News)(sale of houses)(Baker Furniture to open free standing store)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... City up, burbs down in home sales report New-home sales in the Chicago area fell 8.3%, to 8,254 units, in the first quarter from the year-ago period, according to Schaumburg real estate consultancy Tracy Cross & Associates. The suburban...

Check mail with remote; 'Smart' TV device slated for mass market.(News)
May 1, 2006... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON Investors have $5.1 million into a tiny Chicago upstart whose "smart'' remote controls should start hitting the mass market in June. TVcompass Inc. plans to use the money to take its products from prototypes to...

She works hard for the money?(Focus: Women in Business)(Raman Chadha)(Coleman Entrepreneurship Center)(Interview)
May 1, 2006... Byline: SAMANTHA STAINBURN Women own 10.6 million businesses in the U.S., but less than 3% of those companies ring up $1 million or more in annual revenues. Crain's asked Raman Chadha, 37, executive director of the Coleman Entrepreneurship...

10 More Women You Should Know; Many of the women on our list run companies that move stuff, make stuff and recycle - not your traditional female industries. We talked to a few of them to find out why.(Focus: Women in Business)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Meredith Landry Toner time In 1979, Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are'' dominated the radio airwaves and minimum wage was $2.90 an hour. It was also the year that Time Inc. offered Terry Burton $5 an hour and a fancy title....

OfficeMax pushed on paper; Groups want end to buys from endangered forests.(management)
May 1, 2006... Byline: SANDRA JONES OfficeMax Inc. is focusing on cutting costs as part of its turnaround effort. But environmental groups are urging the office products retailer to pursue conservation of another kind. Dogwood Alliance and...

The New, Old Thing: Tech's Back; Bubble boys are back, and investors are lining up.(benefits of employees)
May 1, 2006... Byline: JULIE JOHNSSON Since presiding over one of the most spectacular flameouts of the dot-com era, Robert Bernard has survived a massive heart attack, scores of lawsuits and a public pillorying by some of the 10,000 employees who lost...

Page maker.(The Business of Life)(Linda Johnson Rice)(Johnson Publishing Co.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Dan Weissmann Linda Johnson Rice, 48, is president and CEO of Johnson Publishing Co., the Chicago area's largest minority-owned business and home of Fashion Fair Cosmetics as well as flagship publications Ebony and Jet. In addition...

Private school for pioneers; British education-with a five-figure tuition-plans a Lincoln Park location. Who's buying?(The Business of Life)(British School of Chicago)
May 1, 2006... Byline: MARK SCHEFFLER Private-school status in Lincoln Park has long revolved around two names: Latin School of Chicago and Francis W. Parker School. Both have long legacies, star alumni and huge endowments, not to mention cachet among...

British School Back Story.(British Schools of America)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Mark Scheffler The British Schools of America were founded in 1998, opening first in Washington, D.C.; then in Boston and Houston in 2000; Chicago in 2001, and Charlotte, N.C., in 2004. The company hopes to increase its total to 20...

The new breed of Internet startup doesn't want your money.(News)
May 1, 2006... Byline: SHRUTI DATE SINGH In the last two years, Jason Fried has fielded about 25 calls from venture capitalists itching to invest in his seven-year-old software company, 37Signals LLC. But unlike the technology entrepreneurs of the...

New Format for Markets.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Brett Chase This week in Markets, we debut a new design marked by Scorecard, your source for data-rich analysis on local company financials and trading activity. The data complements another recently added feature, a money...

The new face of Technology; Chicago's tech sector reboots.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Six years after the Internet bubble popped, Chicago technology upstarts are making a comeback. Leading the charge are dot-com veterans-undaunted by the crash and once again raising tens of millions in venture capital-and a new breed of...

Huron investors OK more incentive stock; Watchdog had advised vote against proposal.(sales and earnings)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Shrudate Date Singh Huron Consulting Group Inc. shareholders last week approved a plan to devote more shares to the consultancy's employee stock incentive plan, despite concerns raised recently by a corporate governance watchdog....

Hair in the wrong places? Then you may want to meet the laser. And this Skokie-based doctor.(Focus: Small Business)(Gregg Menaker)(Evanston Northwestern Healthcare)(Interview)
May 8, 2006... Byline: SAMANTHA STAINBURN Unwanted hair painlessly removed, never to grow back? Sounds like science fiction. But it's reality for many patients-and the medical centers and spas that last year raked in $544 million nationally zapping...

Heat is on in race for bank buyouts; Oak Brook acquisition sets price bar high.(contracts)
May 8, 2006... Byline: STEVE DANIELS MB Financial Inc.'s $372-million deal for First Oak Brook Bancshares Inc. raises both the pressure and the ante for others who want to play the buyer in a widely anticipated round of consolidation among mid-sized...

What Gentleman Farmers Fancy.(J. L. Powell opened an accessory store)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Lisa Bertagnoli The Harbor Country crowd now has an outfitter-a la J. Peterman-to provide them with walking boots and jackets to stroll the grounds in style. J. L. Powell opened in Three Oaks, Mich., in March. Carrying brands such...

Bucks for Baar; TOPINKA LOOKS LIKE BLAGOJEVICH IN HELPING CONTRIBUTORS GET STATE BIZ.(Column)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Greg Hinz The last time I heard the name Fred Malek, I had hair. It was the mid-1970s and Mr. Malek, Richard Nixon's then-personnel director, was paddling fast to avoid being swamped by the unfolding Watergate scandal. Mr....

City facing pension pain; CFO issues warning as funding gap grows.(chief financial officer)
May 8, 2006... Byline: GREG HINZ The Daley administration is sounding an unusual public alarm about the declining finances of the city's massive employee pension plans. In a high-profile speech and subsequent interview that were far stronger than...

Aon back near Ground Zero; Former World Trade Center tenant signs lease in Lower Manhattan.(terrorist attacks)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: JULIE SATOW Crain News Service A major World Trade Center tenant that relocated after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks is returning to Lower Manhattan. Chicago-based Aon Corp., which had occupied 400,000 square feet in the south...

Fortune to boost liquor marketing; 7 global brands now; will emphasize Europe, U.K.(acquisitions, sales and earnings)
May 8, 2006... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN Crain News Service Less than a year after a major acquisition doubled its scale, Fortune Brands Inc.'s Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc. is mobilizing an enlarged marketing group and looking overseas to bolster an...

Vacations full of memories; and then, a single moment.(The Business of Life )(Travel narrative)
May 8, 2006... Byline: MICHAEL AUSTIN Everybody has a beach story. We come of age there. We win something or lose something there. At the beach we begin to grasp the power of water, the vastness of nature, the fragility and importance of family. ...

The plastic people; Getting 'work' done, for work and otherwise.(Focus: Small Business)
May 8, 2006... Byline: MEREDITH LANDRY Americans spent more than $9 billion on plastic surgery last year, according to the Arlington Heights-based American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Illinois ranks fifth in the nation behind California, New...

Keeping the Rug.(Focus: Small Business)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Meredith Landry To make sure your hair replacement system stays intact (and fragrant), here are the best maintenance methods, according to David Hansen: * Before securing to your scalp, thoroughly comb or brush your hairpiece....

Need to Know.(Focus: Small Business)
May 8, 2006... 21% Illinois third-graders who were overweight in an '03-'04 study. $5,000 Cost of four weeks at Camp Wellspring, a diet camp for kids. 28 million Annual customers for indoor tanning nationwide. $1.39 billion ...

Corfman to cover commercial real estate for Crain's.(News)(Thomas A. Corfman)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Thomas A. Corfman has joined Crain's as a senior reporter covering commercial real estate. Mr. Corfman will oversee expanded real estate coverage for Crain's in print and online at ChicagoBusiness.com. Along with real estate reporter Alby...

Million-dollar smile; Life after fillings? Solid gold for some dentists.(Focus: Small Business)
May 8, 2006... Byline: MEREDITH LANDRY Minus the high-tech equipment, Mladen Kralj's Loop office could double as an after-hours lounge. The loft's exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, candlelit walkways and downbeat tunes suggest ladies' night over root...

Going, Going, Gone.(Provena Covenant Medical Center's tax-exempt status)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... The Champaign County Board of Review recommended the state revoke Provena Covenant Medical Center's tax-exempt status because: * The hospital rented space to outside, for-profit entities. * Provena property wasn't being used exclusively...

KRAFT'S SWEET LITTLE SECRET; Oreos are now trans fat-free, but the foodmaker isn't bragging about its healthier cookie.(News)
May 8, 2006... Byline: JULIE JARGON Psst-Oreos without trans fat are hitting store shelves. Created in response to public outcry from anti-obesity activists, trans fat-free Oreos began reaching supermarkets in some parts of the country in March....

Budget shirks pension funding but benefits pols.(Opinion)
May 8, 2006... Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his fellow Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly managed to put aside their intramural squabbling long enough to agree on a state budget last week. (The spending plan passed the House and at press time was still...

Toupee or not toupee? Some options for those looking to wig out.(hairdressing methods)
May 8, 2006... Byline: MEREDITH LANDRY Randy James, 66, went bald when he was 30. Fighting nature, he shopped for a remedy. "There weren't many alternatives in the '70s,'' the Chicago lawyer says. "So I bought my first hairpiece but wasn't happy...

Brunswick's heavy load; Company's focus on boating raises question about how bowling, billiards, fitness fit in.(Markets)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Bob Tita Five months into his new job, CEO Dustan E. McCoy wants to jettison a small navigational-gear business to focus on Brunswick Corp.'s main business, boats and engines. The move has analysts wondering if Mr. McCoy would...

Chicago weekenders share favorite haunts; Meals for all occasions: Where the regulars go.(The Business of Life)
May 8, 2006... Byline: VIRGINIA GERST Harbor Country's restaurant scene continues to heat up. Options have increased in recent years, especially on the fine-dining front-good news for home cooks who want to relax during their getaway. For tips on the...

Licking their chops; Counties await ruling before they challenge hospitals' exempt status.(News)
May 8, 2006... Byline: SHRUTI DATE SINGH Donna Mayberry wonders whether McHenry County's three private hospitals are sticking it to the taxpayers. As the county's assessor, she decides who pays how much in taxes. But Ms. Mayberry and the other 101...

Do you have hefty offspring? Read this. A local psychologist finds his business niche.(childhood obesity)
May 8, 2006... Byline: STUART LUMAN Weight-loss expert Dan Kirschenbaum was a fat kid. Dieting wasn't fashionable back in 1967, when he was 16 years old, 5 foot 7 inches and 185 pounds. It wasn't until college, when he went on a low-fat, low-carb...

New trip-up: the Dan Ryan; Roadwork puts crimp into a breezy day trip.(The Business of Life)
May 8, 2006... Byline: VIRGINIA GERST There's a potentially large obstacle coming between Chicagoans and their Michigan getaways, especially during the prime travel times of Friday evenings, Sunday afternoons and early Monday mornings: the two-year,...

Anixter's acquisitions are driving earnings.(Anixter Brothers Inc)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Rachel Koning Beals The pick: Ms. Vorisek began buying the Glenview-based telecom cable and parts seller in 2002 when the stock traded near $30 a share. She sold 18,500 shares in first-quarter 2006. With 58,000 shares...

This Week: Playboy eyes space at ex-Ward's HQ.(Playboy Enterprises moves its corporate headquarters)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Alby Gallun Playboy Enterprises is considering moving its corporate headquarters to the former Montgomery Ward catalog building at 600 W. Chicago, say people familiar with the matter. The Chicago company would lease about 100,000...

Illegals are seeking punishment that fits crime-not amnesty.(Opinion)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Daniel J. Rosenthal As part of the Illinois Restaurant Assn. Task Force on Immigration Reform, I've met many well-intentioned community activists and union organizers who are holding "immigrant justice'' marches and seeking...

How can I get started exploring Harbor Country by bike?(The Business of Life)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Darci Smith Head to the Three Oaks Bicycle Museum and pick up the "Backroad Bikeway'' brochure, says Cari Noga, author of "Road Biking Michigan.'' It lays out 12 self-guided tours of different lengths and landscapes. Each route...

Corrections.
May 8, 2006... An April 24 Business of Life story incorrectly said that Lake Point Tower has the only odd-numbered street address on North Lake Shore Drive. Also, 1000 N. Lake Shore Dr. was incorrectly placed on its map. In the April 24 MBA guide, Lake...

DeVry exec to become its CEO in November.(People)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Kate Ryan Job: Becomes CEO, DeVry Inc., on Nov. 15. Vitals: 42 years old; bachelor's and master's degrees in industrial engineering from University of Michigan; MBA from Harvard. Joined DeVry 31/2 years ago as executive...

Tattoo you. And her. Him, too. The profit potential of a few needles and a lot of ink.(Focus: Small Business)(The Tattoo Factory)
May 8, 2006... Byline: KEVIN MCKEOUGH It's a little past midnight on Easter Sunday and the Tattoo Factory is buzzing. The whir of needles sounds like a beehive, but owner Paul Collurafici loves it. "That's the sound of our cash register,'' he...

It's not easy being pale; Turning brown (skin) into green (cash).(Focus: Small Business)
May 8, 2006... Byline: KEVIN MCKEOUGH William Flexas doesn't like his natural skin color. "I'm olive color, kind of greenish,'' says Mr. Flexas, 40, an operations manager at a Joliet commercial laundry service. So three or four times a week the...

Back story.(ELECTROLYSIS how it work )(Laser hair removal )
May 8, 2006... Byline: Samantha Stainburn Do you have what it takes to remake your Neanderthal back into that of an Olympian? ELECTROLYSIS How it works: A needle is inserted into each hair shaft to zap the follicle with an electrical current....

TAX ZONES FALL SHORT; Sidewalks get cleaned, but few new stores.(News)
May 8, 2006... Byline: SANDRA JONES A special property tax that has gained popularity as a way to clean and beautify city shopping districts isn't all it's cracked up to be, according to an upcoming research report. In a five-year study of four...

Reschke reboots as hotel developer; Planning to spend $125 million to convert LaSalle office space.
May 8, 2006... Byline: ALBY GALLUN After losing his office building empire, developer Michael Reschke is returning to the downtown market with a $125-million plan to convert a vintage LaSalle Street tower into a high-end hotel. Mr. Reschke and...

For The Record.(Reuters Group PLC and Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. said they were launching a 50-50 joint venture)(Motorola Inc plans to lay off 2,800 workers)(Boeing Co announced its biggest acquisition with Aviall Inc.)
May 8, 2006... Illinois lawmakers approved a new state budget that Democrats say will help working families and that Republicans argue will weaken state finances-arguments likely to be repeated on the campaign trail. The state Senate approved the $56-billion...

Sara Lee in talks on European meats.(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Sara Lee and Smithfield Foods said they are in an exclusive negotiation period on a possible sale of Sara Lee's European meats business to Smithfield, the largest U.S. pork producer. Sara Lee also said it expects to record a $125-million...

Houlihan's moving to new look, food; Casual chain opens prototype in Algonquin.(Houlihan's Restaurant Group Inc)
May 8, 2006... Byline: SANDRA JONES Houlihan's restaurants, one of the first casual dining chains to put buffalo wings and stuffed potato skins on the map, has built a prototype in northwest suburban Algonquin aimed at attracting a new generation of...

At Deadline.(Allstate Bank is raising auto insurance rates)(Morton's Restaurant Group plans to open five new sites this year)(Illinois is suing Amtrak, saying it's failing to clean up underground diesel pollution)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Allstate to jack up auto rates by 2% Allstate is raising auto insurance rates for its newer customers in Illinois, effective next month. The Northbrook-based insurance giant has filed for a 2% increase in its liability rates for customers...

Cone setter.(Oink's Dutch Treat)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Kevin Davis Roger Vink, 64, owner, Oink's Dutch Treat, New Buffalo, Mich. Duties: Runs lakeside town's famed ice cream store. Serves 55 flavors made by Sherman Dairy Products Co. in nearby South Haven, Mich. "Most popular are...