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Some facing foreclosure may be able to rent their homes

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Can't pay the mortgage? You still might be able to stay in your home. Government-controlled mortgage company Fannie Mae is going to give borrowers on the verge of foreclosure the option of renting their homes for a year.

New Nov 07, 2009 | 1:30 pm | Loading…

Huge lobbying effort extends business, homebuyer tax breaks

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Emergency help for the jobless will be a huge windfall for Realtors, homebuilders, mortgage bankers and others, and that's no accident.

Nov 07, 2009 | 10:30 am | Loading…

Jobless rate tops 10 pct. for first time since '83

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983 - and is likely to go higher.

Nov 06, 2009 | 10:00 am | Loading…

Deja vu: Wal-Mart, Amazon, Target in DVD price war

NEW YORK -- First it was books. Now it's DVDs.

New Nov 06, 2009 | 12:45 pm | Loading…

Businesses urged to adopt schools, mentor kids

NORMAL -- Alarming high school dropout rates threaten to cripple the U.S. recovery from the worst recession since the Great Depression, and a leading children's advocate urged local business leaders Thursday to take actions now -- for their own good.

Nov 05, 2009 | 7:35 pm | Loading…

Economy causing more to lose Illinois business licenses

SPRINGFIELD -- In yet another sign of tough economic times, more Illinoisans are losing their business licenses for defaulting on their student loans.

Nov 05, 2009 | 2:45 pm | Loading…

Meijer enters toy-pricing fray with Wal-Mart, Target

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- There are sales and then there are price cuts. Meijer says it is offering more of each this holiday season.

Nov 05, 2009 | 10:15 am | Loading…

New Google service gives better view of personal data

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Google is offering a new privacy control that will make it easier for people to see some of the information being collected about them.

Nov 05, 2009 | 9:00 am | Loading…

Congress votes for more aid to jobless, homebuyers

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congress took further steps to right the staggering economy by expanding a popular tax credit for homebuyers and extending unemployment checks for the growing legions of people running out of benefits with few job prospects.

Nov 05, 2009 | 6:35 am | Loading…

Aquaponics heads for downtown Farmer City

FARMER CITY - The DeWitt County Board approved a special use permit that will pave the way for McLean County Aquaponics to move to downtown Farmer City.

Nov 04, 2009 | 5:25 pm | Loading…

Fed again pledges to hold rates at record-lows

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve pledged Wednesday to keep a key interest rate at a record low for an "extended period," signaling that the weak economy remains dependent on government help to grow.

Nov 04, 2009 | 4:25 pm | Loading…

Downtown's Gigi inspired by chic campus boutiques

BLOOMINGTON - Attention young women: A new store selling contemporary but affordable clothing is now open, but you won't find it at the mall.

Nov 03, 2009 | 11:45 pm | Loading…

Buffett's big bet: $34B on 2nd-largest railroad

NEW YORK -- The biggest name in investing is making what he calls an "all-in wager" on the U.S. economy - $34 billion to own a railroad that hauls everything from corn to cars across the country.

Nov 03, 2009 | 5:20 pm | Loading…

General Motors sales rise 4.7 percent in October

DETROIT -- General Motors Co. says its October sales rose 4.7 percent over the same month last year, a sign that the U.S. auto market was starting a slow recovery from its yearlong slump.

Nov 03, 2009 | 1:30 pm | Loading…

Pontiac Caterpillar plant brings back 26 employees

PONTIAC - Things are looking up at Caterpillar's Pontiac plant. The plant recently called 26 laid-off employees back to work, said John Bogucki, president of United Auto Workers Local 2096.

Nov 02, 2009 | 11:45 pm | Loading…

Ford surprises with $1B profit; sees profit in 2011

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford, the only Detroit automaker to dodge direct government aid and bankruptcy court, surprised investors with net income of nearly $1 billion in the third quarter and forecast a "solidly profitable" 2011.

Nov 02, 2009 | 9:15 am | Loading…

A downscaled party can still boost worker morale

NEW YORK -- It doesn't have to be a downer when the weak economy forces small businesses to scale back their holiday parties from the big catered or restaurant affairs they held in the past. These events can still be opportunities to build teamwork and boost morale.

Nov 01, 2009 | 1:30 pm | Loading…

Big brewers battle it out in calorie-cutting

MILWAUKEE -- How low can beer makers go? Having conquered the beer-belly set, some of the nation's biggest brewers are trying to win over the six-pack-ab crowd with ultra-low-calorie suds.

Nov 01, 2009 | 10:30 am | Loading…

Dealers anxious as Chrysler stays mum on car plan

DETROIT -- Chrysler has been sending its dealers back to class, reminding them about the importance of courtesy and communication: Always return phone calls. Limit wait times. Open doors for customers.

New Oct 31, 2009 | 1:30 pm | Loading…

When giving gift cards, understand the pitfalls

NEW YORK -- You buy your sister a $100 general purpose gift card. It's for her birthday, but it might be the bank that has reason to celebrate.

Oct 31, 2009 | 10:30 am | Loading…

Logan County, Lincoln team up to grow economy

LINCOLN - More than two dozen Lincoln and Logan County officials met this week to kick off a business incubator program designed to bring new jobs to the county.

Oct 30, 2009 | 7:15 pm | Loading…

Great Escape closes doors

BLOOMINGTON - After three years in Bloomington, the Great Escape has closed.

Oct 30, 2009 | 7:15 pm | Loading…

Country survey: Financial outlooks brighten

BLOOMINGTON - Americans' confidence in their financial security spiked this month after more than a year of increasing worries about the recession, according to a new Country Financial survey.

Oct 30, 2009 | 7:15 pm | Loading…

GE announces plan to close Bloomington plant

BLOOMINGTON -- A casualty of a slowing, shifting economy, officials at GE Consumer & Industrial announced plans Friday to shutter the Bloomington plant by the end of 2010.

Oct 30, 2009 | 1:30 pm | Loading…

MMNA hits production milestone

NORMAL - Nearly a quarter-century after plans for a Normal automotive manufacturing plant were first announced, Mitsubishi Motors North America celebrated production of its 3 millionth car Thursday.

Oct 29, 2009 | 11:45 pm | Loading…

New-homeowner tax credit wins praise, but should it be extended?

BLOOMINGTON -- Brock Westbrook was about ready to give up on finding his first home last fall, frustrated after not finding the perfect fit and not too eager about being financially strapped afterward.

Oct 29, 2009 | 2:30 pm | Loading…

Lawmakers move to roll back obscure business tax increase

SPRINGFIELD -- Lawmakers moved Thursday to roll back an income tax increase on some companies that was largely unknown when approved earlier this year.

Oct 29, 2009 | 12:45 pm | Loading…

Local members of Congress support extending credit

Congress is considering an extension or expansion of the first-time homebuyer tax credit, which expires Nov. 30. No plan has been approved yet. Here are highlights of one of those proposals, as agreed to by senators this week:

Oct 29, 2009 | 12:00 pm | Loading…

Oprah on the road? Chrysler offers live TV service

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chrysler Group LLC says it will begin offering customers a television service in their vehicles featuring up to 20 channels of live TV.

New Oct 29, 2009 | 11:30 am | Loading…

Economy grows in third quarter, signals end of recession

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The economy grew at a 3.5 percent pace in the third quarter, the best showing in two years, fueled by government-supported spending on cars and homes.

Oct 29, 2009 | 9:25 am | Loading…

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