Comcast Corp. plans to soon roll out a feature allowing its customers to watch real-time television shows, whether a crime drama or newscast, on tablet computers such as Apple Inc.’s iPad. Get the full story »
Report on health care overhaul in Illinois delayed
A panel that will make recommendations on how Illinois implements the national health care law is delaying its report to Gov. Pat Quinn by one month. Spokesman Mike Claffey says the Health Care Reform Implementation Council now plans to submit a report to Quinn on Jan. 31. The original target was Dec. 31. Get the full story »
Jan. 5 at 1:57 p.m.
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Filed under: Chicago executives, Commercial real estate, Personnel moves, Real estate New General Growth CEO shuffling executives
General Growth Properties Inc.’s incoming chief executive is beginning to shuffle the mall owner’s executive ranks in advance of his arrival.
Sandeep Mathrani, the Vornado Realty Trust veteran who officially will join General Growth as CEO on Jan. 17, disclosed in an email sent to General Growth employees late Tuesday that long-time executives Robert Michaels and Ron Gern will leave the mall owner. Get the full story »
LG Display reports flat-screen deal with Sony
South Korea’s LG Display, the world’s No. 2 LCD flat-screen maker, said Wednesday that it has an LCD supply deal with Japan’s Sony Corp.
“We’ve just started panel supply to Sony,” LG Display Chief Executive Kwon Young-soo told reporters at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Get the full story »
Ford pulls even with Toyota in perception survey
Toyota Motor Corp., faltering from recalls, has fallen into a statistical tie with Ford Motor Co. for tops in U.S. consumer brand perception, influential magazine Consumer Reports said Wednesday.
Toyota retained the top spot by a slim margin over Ford in the Consumer Reports 2011 survey that was conducted last month. Honda Motor Co. placed third and Chevrolet fourth. Get the full story »
Blue Cross retreats on preapproval for therapy
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has dropped a plan to require health plan subscribers to get prior approval before getting access to a broad range of outpatient mental health services, amid intense criticism.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois upset mental health providers and their patients throughout the state in recent weeks with a requirement that preferred provider organization, PPO, health plan subscribers first call the insurer to get prior approval before being able to get most outpatient mental health counseling, psychotherapy or other outpatient medical health services. Get the full story »
Morningstar names top fund managers for 2010
Three fresh faces took top mutual fund industry honors when research firm Morningstar Inc. Wednesday named stock pickers at Ruane, Cunniff and Goldfarb and Janus Capital Group as its top stock managers of 2010.
Robert Goldfarb and David Poppe, who run the $3.4 billion Sequoia Fund, were crowned as the year’s best domestic stock pickers for their long-term success in picking top companies, like Berkshire Hathaway, at reasonable prices. Get the full story »
Sears considering bid for J. Crew
Sears Holdings Corp. and Urban Outfitters Inc. are examining the financial books of J. Crew Group Inc. in consideration of possible bids for the clothing retailer, a source familiar with the situation said Wednesday.
J. Crew, which also operates a website and catalog, has already agreed to be acquired by TPG Capital LP and Leonard Green & Partners LP for $2.86 billion. It can solicit other bids until Jan. 15.
Neither Sears nor Urban Outfitters has indicated whether it would submit a bid to compete with TPG and Leonard Green’s $43.50 per share offer, the source said. Get the full story »
Starbucks gives logo a new look
Starbucks new logo design. (AP)
Starbucks Corp. is giving its siren a facelift. The world’s largest coffee company is unveiling a new logo Wednesday that drops the words encircling its iconic sea nymph and gives her a few subtle updates.
Starbucks says the changes amount to more than nips and tucks to its favorite lady. The fresh look goes with a new direction for the company as it makes its way back from its toughest times in its 40-year history. Get the full story »
Navy Pier to get own board
A southwest view from of Navy Pier from the Ferris Wheel, Nov. 9, 2010. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune)
Navy Pier, the lakefront entertainment complex that has been joined at the hip with McCormick Place, will be leased to a newly formed not-for-profit corporation that will govern and manage the tourist attraction, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority announced this morning.
Sara Nava Garvey will serve as transitional chair of the new board. She also serves on the board of the authority, the state-city agency known as McPier that now owns and operates the pier and the convention center. Get the full story »
Private sector adds 297,000 jobs in December
U.S. private sector jobs surged in December at a rate three times stronger than forecast, a hiring report showed, the most bullish signal in months that a recovery in the world’s biggest economy is stepping up a gear.
The ADP Employer Services private sector jobs report on Wednesday comes two days ahead of the U.S. government’s closely watched payrolls report. Many economists raised their forecasts for a wider reading of jobs growth on Friday. Get the full story »
Motorola launches Atrix 4G smartphone on AT&T
From Engadget | At the Consumer Electronics Show’s AT&T Developer Summit today, AT&T and Motorola introduced a smartphone that Motorola claims is currently the world’s most powerful. The phone features the first dual-core processor on AT&T’s network.
Non-manufacturing sector grows in December
The U.S. non-manufacturing sector grew in December at it fastest pace in more than 4 years, according to an industry report released on Wednesday. Get the full story »
American seeks deal with Orbitz, Expedia
(Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images)
AMR Corp.’s American Airlines said Wednesday it is still in talks with online travel agencies Orbitz Worldwide and Expedia to reach a deal that would put AMR fares back on those travel websites.
The airline, which is leading a charge among U.S. carriers to lower its distribution costs, last month stopped selling flights on Orbitz and Orbitz for Business. The move came after an Illinois court denied a request for an injunction filed by Travelport LP, which owns a 48 percent share in Orbitz, seeking to prevent American from pulling its flights.
AMR shares were up 4.4 percent at $8.46 in midmorning. Get the full story »
GM to expand OnStar outside of its own models
The OnStar safety system is escaping from the boundaries of General Motors and will be available in the spring to people who own cars and trucks made by other auto companies.
To get the service, though, people have to buy a special OnStar rearview mirror for $299 and then pay a monthly fee that starts at $18.95. Get the full story »
