Chicago Public Radio - Business

Sun-Times Frees Itself From Hollinger

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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The Chicago Sun-Times will soon be free of ties to the now-diminished Hollinger Inc. Hollinger was run by disgraced CEO Conrad Black and was at one time the world's third largest media company.

Tribune Company Looks to its Future—and That of Newspapers

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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Chicago Tribune Company chief Sam Zell says the whole newspaper industry needs a new business model. He bought the ailing Tribune conglomerate in an $8 billion deal late last year. He says papers have to be nimble—use multiple media platforms—and most important, draw a larger, younger audience.

Tribune Company Sells Newsday

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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Chicago-based Tribune Company announced it's selling its Long-Island based-paper Newsday to Cablevision Systems Corporation. With a circulation of close to 400,000, Newsday is one of the country's largest regional newspapers, serving mainly Long Island and parts of New York City.

Bank of America: Last Day for LaSalle Signs

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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Today Bank of America formally marks its acquisition of LaSalle Bank—replacing LaSalle's green and yellow signs with Bank of America's red ones all over Illinois and Michigan. The change is not just cosmetic.

Stimulus Payments Garner Mixed Reactions

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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The IRS has started cutting checks to try to jump start the sputtering economy. Many people are happy to get the money, but some have reservations about the government's plan. Chicago Public Radio talked to people outside the Thompson center in downtown Chicago.

Foreclosures Leave City Governments Strapped

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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New numbers released today show foreclosures in Cook County jumped 47 percent in the first quarter compared with last year. One bright sign is that they were down somewhat from the fourth quarter. People are looking for any shred of hope in the foreclosure crisis, which has claimed many casualties—homeowners, banks, investors—and now cities. In varying degrees, city governments across the Chicago region are struggling with vacant homes and lost property tax revenue. Ashley Gross visited the south suburban village of Hazel Crest to find out how they’re coping.

Wrigley's Legacy: Chewing is For All

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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The Wrigley Company will soon be part of Mars.The world's largest chocolate-seller acquired the 117-year old Chicago confectioner this week for $23 billion. But Mars is buying more than gum recipes—it's buying a revolutionary brand.

United Reports Losses, Raises Fares

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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Chicago-based United Airlines says passengers will feel the pinch of higher fuel costs in the form of higher fares.

Kimball Hill Files for Bankruptcy

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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One of the largest homebuilders in the Chicago area has filed for bankruptcy. Kimball Hill is the latest casualty of the deepening housing slump.

Motorola Sees First Quarter Drop in Earnings

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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Cell phone maker Motorola reported a drop in earnings for the first quarter today. The Schaumburg based company says that's due to falling sales of mobile devices.