Saab's future unclear as sale to Swedish firm fails

DETROIT -- A Swedish automaker has backed out of a deal to buy Saab from General Motors Co., casting serious doubt on the future of the troubled brand.

Nov 24, 2009 | 11:50 am | Loading…

Quiznos agrees to pay up to $95 million to franchisees

DENVER -- Quiznos has agreed to pay up to $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by franchisees.

New Nov 24, 2009 | 11:25 am | Loading…

A safe-shopper's guide to recently recalled products

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is releasing her third "safe shopping guide" to help parents steer clear of children's' products that have been recalled.

Nov 24, 2009 | 9:00 am | Loading…

• Related: PDF: Attorney general's 2009 shopping guide

CPSC chief pledges swift action after crib recall

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission promised swift action to get dangerous products off the market, after acknowledging Tuesday that it didn't move quickly enough on a record recall of more than 2 million cribs linked to four deaths.

Nov 24, 2009 | 7:05 am | Loading…

• Related: CPSC Web site: More info on crib recall

New nail salon opens in north Normal

NORMAL -- A new nail salon recently opened in the Constitution Trail Centre in north Normal.

Nov 24, 2009 | 6:35 am | Loading…

B-N contractor hits 1,000th home milestone

BLOOMINGTON -- A Bloomington builder completed its 1,000th home in Central Illinois this month.

New Nov 24, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Gas prices fall to begin busy travel week

Retail gasoline prices headed downward in most places to begin one of the country's busiest travel weeks, with more than 33 million people expected to hit the road for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Nov 24, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Another lawsuit filed against insurance company stripped of license

PONTIAC -- Another lawsuit has been filed against a local insurance agency whose license was revoked in September.

Nov 23, 2009 | 1:05 pm | Loading…

• Related: Troubled Pontiac insurance firm faces another lawsuit
• Related: State revokes the license of Pontiac insurance agent
• Related: Pontiac bank suing insurance agency

Feds find association between drywall, corrosion

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The federal government said Monday that it has found a "strong association" between problematic imported Chinese drywall and corrosion of pipes and wires, a conclusion that supports complaints by thousands of homeowners over the last year.

Nov 23, 2009 | 11:50 am | Loading…

October home sales surge 10.1 percent

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Home sales far exceeded expectations last month, surging to the highest level in 2½ years as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of an expiring tax credit.

Nov 23, 2009 | 9:35 am | Loading…

• Related: Rebound in B-N housing market continues in October stats

TV retailer QVC joins Black Friday frenzy

NEW YORK -- Television retailer QVC has made aggressive plans to keep shoppers watching -- instead of mall-hopping -- on Black Friday, an event it has traditionally ignored.

Nov 23, 2009 | 9:00 am | Loading…

Economic survey: Job losses to bottom out in early 2010

Economists expect the joblessness that has weighed down the nation's economic recovery will start to slowly abate in 2010, but they predict consumers will continue to keep a tight rein on spending, according to a new survey.

New Nov 23, 2009 | 6:55 am | Loading…

Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go

NEW YORK -- You might call him the Mickey Mouse of video games. He's reminiscent of a doughnut, round and sweet and comforting. He's also a vessel, devoid of a real personality so you can live vicariously through him.

New Nov 22, 2009 | 3:00 pm | Loading…

2009's holiday windows, from 'SNL' to child's play

NEW YORK -- It's not quite the warm and fuzzy crowd one imagines around most Christmas trees, but Barneys New York is celebrating the holidays with a motley crew that includes Roseanne Roseannadanna, the Church Lady, Father Guido Sarducci and Wayne and Garth.

New Nov 22, 2009 | 12:00 pm | Loading…

Upscale McDonald's brings European style to America

NEW YORK -- Danish Modern furniture. Flat-screen TVs. Free wi-fi.

Nov 21, 2009 | 12:00 pm | Loading…

Be a generous holiday tipper, without overspending

NEW YORK -- This holiday season, a leaner budget might clarify which people truly make a difference in your life. The challenge will be figuring out how much to tip them.

New Nov 21, 2009 | 9:00 am | Loading…

• Related: FYI: What other people tip around the holidays

FYI: What other people tip around the holidays

Here's a look at what holiday tips people gave last year, when the economic downturn was already in full swing. Consumer Reports, which conducted the study, expects giving to hold steady or decline this year.

Nov 21, 2009 | 8:55 am | Loading…

New boutique store in Bloomington features unique line of merchandise

BLOOMINGTON -- A new Bloomington women's boutique offers designers that can be difficult to find in Central Illinois.

Nov 20, 2009 | 4:55 pm | Loading…

Black Friday bout: Anxious consumers vs. nifty deals

BLOOMINGTON -- With money a bit tight last year after the purchase of a home, Amy Mullady of Chenoa decided to join the full-contact sport of Black Friday shopping, hoping to save a few bucks on gifts for her large extended family.

Nov 20, 2009 | 2:10 pm | Loading…

• Related: Wal-Mart confirms some Black Friday deals

Goldman Sachs to take out the garbage at Thanksgiving

NEW YORK -- The Salvation Army plans to serve 10,000 free dinners across the city this Thanksgiving -- meals planned by a star chef, cooked by one of New York's ritziest caterers and cleaned up by employees of one of Wall Street's most vilified financial firms.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 11:55 am | Loading…

Sony hopes new online service will build brand loyalty

TOKYO -- Sony's new online service connecting the whole range of its gadgets to downloadable content like movies and games should help build brand loyalty, a top executive said Friday.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 9:30 am | Loading…

Rain may put pumpkin pie in peril, Nestle says

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The holidays may not be so sweet this year.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 7:20 am | Loading…

Wal-Mart confirms some Black Friday deals

NEW YORK -- The official kickoff for the holiday shopping season is more than a week away. But the nation's retailers, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., are already starting to let shoppers know about their fat discounts in hopes of attracting big crowds.

Nov 20, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

One-of-a-kind creations come from Ellsworth alpaca farm

ELLSWORTH — You don’t have to be royalty to buy one of der Bauernhof Farms’ alpaca scarves, but the fiber, once reserved for Incan rulers, might make you feel that way.

Nov 19, 2009 | 5:40 pm | Loading…

Statewide unemployment rate hits 11 percent

CHICAGO -- Illinois' unemployment rate has hit its highest level since August 1983.

New Nov 19, 2009 | 12:45 pm | Loading…

• Related: Interactive: U.S. unemployment map

Many parents inaccurately claim college tax credit

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- More than 314,000 taxpayers made inaccurate claims for a popular tax credit that helps pay college expenses, getting $532 million they weren't entitled to receive, a government report said Thursday.

Nov 19, 2009 | 12:10 pm | Loading…

• Related: Millions will have to repay part of stimulus tax credit
• Related: IRS looking for Central Illinois taxpayers missing their refund

Judge rejects AT&T's bid to pull Verizon map ads

ATLANTA, Ga. -- A federal judge on Wednesday denied a request by AT&T Inc. to force competitor Verizon Wireless to pull its "There's a Map for That" commercials.

New Nov 19, 2009 | 11:50 am | Loading…

Mortgage delinquencies hit record-high in third quarter

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- More than 14 percent of American homeowners with a mortgage were either behind on their payments or in foreclosure at the end of September, a record-high for the ninth straight quarter and a problem that could threaten the economic recovery.

New Nov 19, 2009 | 9:15 am | Loading…

Details emerge on company considering Gibson City plant

GIBSON CITY — Gibson City is one of two sites in the running for a proposed plant that would convert waste into building materials and a synthetic alternative to natural gas.

Nov 19, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

• Related: MyPantagraph: Ford County Neighborhood
• Related: Energy plant might locate in Gibson City