The Courier News :: Business ::

West Dundee artist puts paintbrush to work

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

While suburban subdivisions tend to blend together with their bland shades of vinyl siding, David Cook of West Dundee gives the interiors of area homes a fresh coat of individuality with his business. Cook operates D'Franco Decorative Finishes (www.dfrancofinishes.com).

More Americans expected to travel for Thanksgiving

ASSOCIATED PRESS — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

The number of Americans traveling away from home for Thanksgiving will be up only slightly this year from 2008, according to a report from the AAA auto club.

No blue Christmas for some workers

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

There's some good news for job seekers: Retail and a few other industries are hiring more workers this season compared to last year. The U.S. Department of Labor reported an increase of 17 percent in the number of job openings in the Midwest between August and September 2009.

Sun-Times Media making changes

Sun-Times Media — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

Robert Wall has been named publisher of Sun-Times Media, west region, a group that includes The Herald-News. Wall will continue his role of Sun-Times Media vice president of advertising, west region.

Online help for holiday shopping

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Shoppers face a dizzying array of offers of help in the form of new Web sites, services and mobile phone applications as they set out for their holiday shopping this year. To make the most of new services, experts advise employing them often and early, even before the season kicks off with Black Friday.

Ill. launches online hospital report cards

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Illinois has launched an online tool consumers can use to find information on hospitals and surgical centers.

Rain may put pumpkin pie in peril, Nestle says

The Associated Press — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

The holidays may not be so sweet this year. Nestle � which sells nearly all the canned pumpkin in the U.S. � says poor weather hurt its harvest, creating a potential shortage of its Libby's pumpkin pie products through the holidays.

A better turkey meal deal

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Cooks can truly be frugal gourmets this Thanksgiving, as consumers enjoy lower food prices, at least for now. The Thanksgiving meal with turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the trimmings will cost an average of $42.91, a decrease of $1.70, or 3.8 percent, from last year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

State of Hampshire: The good, the bad & the ugly

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

When the Hampshire Area Chamber of Commerce was presented the annual state-of-the-village report Wednesday, Village President Jeff Magnussen warned they would be talking about "the good, the bad and the ugly."

Best day to buy a car? Black Friday

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Thinking only of hitting the malls the day after Thanksgiving? It's also a good day to shop for a car, according to TrueCar, which tracks new-vehicle auto sales and compares price data.