The United States faces a major threat in the future from cyber technologies that will require civil-military coordination to shield networks from attack, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday. Get the full story »
Black Friday forecast: Cool, clear … and green
Macy's CEO Terry J. Lundgren, in the Holiday Lane section of Macy's department store in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Cooler weather and clear skies should help boost U.S. sales on Black Friday, the post-Thanksgiving kickoff to the holiday shopping season, a consulting firm said Tuesday.
An expected cold snap will spur consumers to buy more sweaters, scarves and boots, according to Planalytics Inc., a consulting firm that provides research for companies such as Kohls Corp. and Rite Aid Corp. Get the full story »
Exelon plans to invest $5B in clean energy by 2015
Exelon Corp. said it plans to invest nearly $5 billion in clean-energy products by 2015, part of a broader plan to cut its carbon footprint.
The biggest owner of nuclear plants in the U.S. by number of reactors said it plans to begin investments this year in projects such as energy-efficiency programs, renewable-energy investments and increased output at its nuclear plants. Get the full story »
Senator: Four Loko, Joose will be banned soon
Four Loko, Joose and other caffeinated alcoholic drinks will effectively be banned soon by federal regulators due to rising concerns that they are dangerous, U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer announced Tuesday. Get the full story »
Tax cuts, unemployment could be extended in deal
A deal on a temporary extension of the Bush-era tax rates could emerge that would also renew unemployment benefits for 2 million Americans about to lose them, top lawmakers said Tuesday. Get the full story »
Wealthy open to wooing from rival banks
Just because people are affluent doesn’t mean they’re impressed with their financial institution.
In its seventh annual survey of affluent investors who do business with various banks and financial firms, PNC found that most wealthy investors are receptive to pitches from other service providers. Get the full story »
Harry Caray’s Tavern in Lakeview to close Monday
Fans line up to get into the then-new Harry Carey's Tavern on Sheffield in 2008. (Charles Osgood/Tribune)
Harry Caray’s Tavern in Lakeview will close by Monday, the operator said. Harry Carry Restaurant Group CEO Grant DePorter made the surprise announcement during a press conference at Wrigley Field.
He said the relationship between the restaurant and the owner of the building on Sheffield Avenue has been like a “bad marriage.” Get the full story »
Yahoo to aggregate online deals, including Groupon
Yahoo! is jumping into the online deals space with a new program called Local Offers that aggregates deals from a number of companies, including Chicago-based Groupon.
The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company said it wants to be “the largest and most comprehensive repositories of local offers on the Internet.” With the explosion of daily deal sites following Groupon’s success, a number of deal aggregator start-ups have also emerged. Yahoo! is aiming for an even broader scope by signing up companies specializing in direct mail marketing, such as Valpak. Get the full story »
Boeing: Still no timetable for more 787 flights
Boeing's long-delayed 787 Dreamliner takes to the sky at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, in this December 15, 2009 file photo. (Paul Joseph Brown/AFP/Getty Images)
Boeing Co. said Tuesday that it is still investigating last week’s electrical fire that forced an emergency landing of one of its 787 Dreamliner test planes and it has not yet decided when flight tests will resume.
The aviation industry is awaiting word on whether the fire will trigger another delay for first delivery of the light-weight, carbon-composite Dreamliner, which is still in development and nearly three years behind schedule.
Boeing has not updated its target for first delivery to Japan’s All Nippon Airways Co Ltd , which is planned for the middle of the first quarter of 2011. Get the full story »
Fox wins delay on rentals at Blockbuster kiosks
NCR Corp., which operates Blockbuster Express DVD rental kiosks, has agreed to delay rentals of 20th Century Fox DVDs until 28 days after their release, in its second such deal with a studio.
NCR’s competitors, Coinstar Inc-owned kiosk company Redbox, and Netflix, have also agreed to 28-day delays from several studios.
But NCR said its agreement with News Corp.’s movie studio also allows the kiosk operator to test premium-pricing in select markets for renting out Fox DVDs the same day those titles hit stores. Get the full story »
Starbucks starts holiday push with free postcards
With Thanksgiving just a week away, it’s starting to look like a lot like Christmas. The Cook County Building turned on red and green lights in its lobby, and Starbucks has broken out red cups, peppermint mochas and gingerbread lattes.
Customers in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles are getting a little something extra today — a hand with holiday cards. Starbucks is sponsoring photo booths until 5 p.m. today where customers can line up for a free personalized holiday postcard, with a buy-one-get-one-free offer for friends and family.
Starbucks’ holiday pushes are particularly significant for the coffee chain’s business, as it identifies its sales more closely with retail, rather than the fast food industry. Many of the chain’s stores are also located at or near malls, and holiday traffic has often been a boon for the chain. Get the full story »
Simon CEO says company has ‘firepower’ for deals
From Bloomberg | Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group Inc., the U.S. shopping-mall owner that paid $2.3 billion this year for an outlet-center business, has plenty of capital for more purchases, CEO David Simon said.
State Farm may cut jobs after assessment
From Pantagraph.com | State Farm Insurance acknowledged the possibility of upcoming job losses after completing an internal assessment of five departments.
BofA in ‘hand-to-hand combat’ over mortgages
A quick settlement of the 50-state probe of the U.S. mortgage foreclosure crisis would be the best solution for all involved, the chief executive of Bank of America said on Tuesday.
The call for a settlement by Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan was followed by comments from Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, who told a Senate hearing that a settlement with lenders was still months off.
“We’re thinking in terms of months rather than a year or longer but it depends really on how far we get,” said Miller, who is heading up a probe by all 50 state attorneys general. Get the full story »
Stocks sink below 11,000 on China worries
Stocks retreated Tuesday following new worries about rising inflation in Asia and the possibility Ireland might need a bailout.
