Crain's Daily News Alert prepared for Top Executives

Viewing on a PDA? Click here.   To view this email in a web browser click here. CHICAGOBUSINESS — POWERED BY CRAIN'S — Daily Business Briefing CRAIN'S LISTS SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MULTIMEDIA WEEKLY JOB CHANGES TOP HEADLINES Thursday, July 2, 2009 · State Farm hiking home insurance 13% · United computers back in action at O'Hare · Exelon increases bid for NRG · Walgreen June sales helped by calendar shift · Dow drops as job losses hit 26-year high · CME's June volume down from last year · Tribune Co. to run Dallas Morning News ad sales · Zizzle auction puts toy firm in play · Oak Park approves deal for downtown hotel · Ventas gets ratings boost, completes property sale · In brief: Opus North | Law firm sublease | Burnham plan republished · 10 things to do this weekend  · Wonks tweeting about Aspen Ideas Festival: Taking Names blog · Deal to cut county sales tax stalls: Greg Hinz blog · Food vendors jump on Twitter bandwagon; Survey says hiring patterns to hold steady in Q3: Enterprise City · Hossa needs to deliver for Hawks: Biz of Sports blog  As of 12:45 pm Chicago time Dow Jones 8,326.99 -177.07 -2.08% NASDAQ 1,802.78 -42.94 -2.33% Crain's Index 69.68 -1.720 -2.409% » View Other Top Headlines ADVERTISEMENT Crain's Blogs. Now You're Talking. Introducing three blogs sure to pique your interest each business day: government and business, after-hours with Chicago's elite, and the business of sports.Click here to read what Greg Hinz, Shia Kapos and Ed Sherman are saying today. And talk back, we'd love to hear from you. OTHER HEADLINES · U.S. job losses rise in June New York Times · Average gas price inches down to $2.84 Chicago Sun-Times · Smaller Sparton seeks second life in Schaumburg Daily Herald Crain's Chicago Business | 360 N. Michigan Ave. | Chicago, IL 60601 ADVERTISEMENT TODAY'S FEATURES Chicago Business Today - July 2 The Ledge opens to the public, offering a chance to float above the city. One payday lender stopped courting the unemployed after Crain's wrote about the practice this week. Exelon raises its bid for rival power producer NRG. Midway Games wins Bankruptcy Court OK to sell assets to Time Warner.Read More · New Crain's golf iPhone app · Enterprise City -- a small-business blog · Check, Please! visits Keefer's for lunch · Video Golf Tip 2009: How to hit better drives SIGN UP FOR CUSTOM ALERTS Industries » Account Settings LISTEN LIVE: Traffic, weather and news from our news partner WBBM-AM.

Pat Quinn vetoes partial Illinois budget, as huge shortfalls loom - STLtoday.com

Pat Quinn vetoes partial Illinois budget, as huge shortfalls loom - STLtoday.com: "Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday carried out his threat to veto a partial state budget sent to him by the Legislature because it doesn't contain a tax increase that he says is crucial to overcoming a massive deficit and keeping the state running for a full year."

Groups sue Ill. over budget impasse - State/Nation/World - Belleville News-Democrat

Groups sue Ill. over budget impasse - State/Nation/World - Belleville News-Democrat: "You can add lawsuits to the list of problems created by the budget impasse in Illinois."

ABC7 eNews

>>> Having trouble viewing this newsletter? View as a webpage. Top Stories Thursday, July 2, 2009 United computers fixed, delays persist | VIDEO United Airlines' computers are back up and running at O'Hare International Airport, easing accumulated lines of passengers headed out for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Landlord fatally stabbed, woman in custody A Chicago landlord has been stabbed to death in the 6400-block of West Touhy. Jackson memorials planned in Gary, LA It now appears that fans will get their chance to remember Michael Jackson at a public memorial service next Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. CPD marks anniversary of officer's death Chicago police officers gathered overnight to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of Officer Richard Francis. Lego skyscrapers on display at MSI Some famous skyscrapers made out of a popular children's toy are on display in Chicago. MORE STORIES Strange New Swiss firefighting tool: TV remote control Hefty restaurant bill shocks tourists in Italy Police: Robbers hit gas station, ran out of gas Real blaze hits house used for fire training Ill. town may allow ice cream trucks again Consumer Inflatable Baby Floats recalled due to drowning hazard Cribs recalled for suffocation risk McDonald's to launch line of Angus burgers Dunkin Donuts pulls some drinks Sony's Walkman celebrates 30 years Healthbeat Walgreens walk-in clinics to test diabetes care Study: Reflux patients may become dependent on meds How much acetaminophen is too much? FDA panel: Eliminate Vicodin, similar drugs | VIDEO Illinois is 27th most obese state MOST POPULAR Sears Tower unveils glass balconies United computers fixed, delays persist 2009 Local Fireworks Displays Students face charges after senior prank Suspect arrested in attack on doctor All Most Popular Advertisement TODAY'S WEATHER OUTLOOK 78°F 59°F Warmer with clouds breaking for some sun Hour-by-Hour | 7 Day Forecast | Radar & Satellite TONIGHT ON ABC 7:00 PM Samantha Who? 7:30 PM Samantha Who? 8:00 PM Grey's Anatomy 9:02 PM Private Practice 10:00 PM ABC 7 News 10:35 PM Nightline Lottery Results Your Daily Horoscope 2009 Local Fireworks Displays Find out when and where the fireworks will be near you. Fireworks Safety Tips 2009 Taste of Chicago Sears Tower unveils glass balconies Visitors to the Sears Tower's new glass balconies all seem to agree: The first step is the hardest. SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS I'd like to receive the following newsletters from abc7chicago.com Daily Weather | Daily News | 190 North Sign up for news alerts

Nat'l Educ. Assn. prepared to endorse 'gay marriage'

Can't see this email? View the online version. Weekend Poll: Priorities for NEA NEA to consider full support of homosexual 'marriage' The co-founder of the National Education Association Conservative Educators Caucus says the NEA will consider adoption of a resolution supporting homosexual "marriage." VOTE IN A RELATED POLL 'Sleaze' undergirds passage of cap and trade The former communications director for the Senate Environment and Public Works minority staff is outraged that the House has passed the cap-and-trade legislation. Perspective: Pitfalls of 'Obamacare' My column on why millions of Americans go without healthcare insurance continues to generate responses that deserve answers. Love is a choice, a matter of faith In one especially soul-baring e-mail to his Argentine mistress, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford quoted from 1 Corinthians 13 about the nature of love. Michael Jackson - the American equivalent of 'Lady Di' A conservative media watchdog organization says it came as no real surprise that the big three television news agencies recently dedicated 95 percent of their evening news coverage to the death of pop icon Michael Jackson. More of today's news Afghanistan off... Detroit shootin... Florida child s... 467K jobs cut in June; jobless rate at 9.5 percent WASHINGTON Employers cut a larger than expected 467,000 jobs in June, driving the unemployment rate up to a 26 year high of 9.5 percent, Obama mulling prolonged terror detentions WASHINGTON President Barack Obama says he's open to the idea of detaining some Guantanamo Bay terror suspects somewhere else for prolonged periods, but it may turn out that he won't be comfortable Major military operation under way in Afghanistan NAWA, Afghanistan Thousands of U.S. Marines poured from helicopters and armored vehicles into Taliban controlled villages in southern Afghanistan on Thursday in the first major operation under Indian court decriminalizes consensual gay sex NEW DELHI A court ruled Thursday to decriminalize homosexuality in the Indian capital, a groundbreaking decision that could bring more freedom to gays in this deeply conservative country. Key Senate Democrats trim cost of health care bill Special Correspondent WASHINGTON Determined to advance President Barack Obama's health care agenda, key Senate Democrats are calling for a government run insurance option to compete with private Tiller, Terror and TV Tilt You may watch the latest American Life League report here. Town Hall Meetings Not Open or Transparent Chip Reid of CBS News and Helen Thomas tookon Robert Gibbs yesterday during the daily press briefingon the "tightly controlled" town meeting President Obama is planning on health care. At least two members of the pressrealize thatthe White Houseis controlling Vanity Fair Hit Piece Sparks GOP Feud Todd S. Purdum wrote a hard hitting piece in the new Vanity Fair magazine which takes a critical look at Sarah Palin. His article has sparked a feud between several high profile Republicans, including William Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard, New York Democrats Refuse To Stand For Pledge of Allegiance Elijah Friedeman| Remember when patriotism used to be in style? Yeah, me too. One more reason to like Sarah Palin Elijah Friedeman| Check out Sarah Palin's interview with Runner's World. The Contradictions of our President While my first passion (and formal training) is in theology and philosophy, I do love following politics. http://www.conversantlife.com/politics/the-contradictions-of-our-president Bible Busâ€"June Update During our Caribbean cruise last week I finished reading through the Bible.http://www.keepbelieving.com/blog/2009-6-16-bible-busn-june-update/ Jamie Mitchell’s Prayer at the Pennsylvania House Last Wednesday Jamie Mitchell, pastor of NewSong Fellowship Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.http://www.keepbelieving.com/blog/2009-6-15-jamie-mitchells-prayer-at-the-pennsylvania-house/ Questions and Answers By Sheri CobbYesterday we visited friends that we hadn't seen in many months. The kids laughed and played and I think my friend and I started 100 different conversations, though I'm not sure we completed one. Par for A Joyful Heart Normal 0 false false false EN US X NONE X NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Style Definitions table.MsoNormalTable mso style name "Table Normal" mso tstyle rowband size 0 mso tstyle colband size 0 mso style noshow yes mso style priority 99 Top Five Reasons Not to Send Your Kids Back to Govt. School This blog was reprinted with the permission of Vodie Baucham Ministries Thursday, June 25, 2009 Anyone who has kept up with my blog knows that I am no fan of government education. I have made it a point to Privacy Policy OneNewsNow.com - P. O. Drawer 2440 - Tupelo, MS 38803 - (662) 821-2007

CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News

CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News

Presidential Politics | Breaking Political News and Analysis - POLITICO.com

Presidential Politics Breaking Political News and Analysis - POLITICO.com

Court 'moving ball' on racial hiring, Obama says - Yahoo! News

Court 'moving ball' on racial hiring, Obama says - Yahoo! News: "President Barack Obama said Thursday the Supreme Court was 'moving the ball' on affirmative action in this week's decision favoring white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., but he added that the court had not ruled out the use of racial preferences in the future."

US Marines launch major offensive in Afghanistan - Yahoo! News

US Marines launch major offensive in Afghanistan - Yahoo! News: "Thousands of U.S. Marines poured from helicopters and armored vehicles into Taliban-controlled villages in southern Afghanistan on Thursday in the first major operation under President Barack Obama's strategy to stabilize the country."

467K jobs cut in June; jobless rate at 9.5 percent - Yahoo! News

467K jobs cut in June; jobless rate at 9.5 percent - Yahoo! News: "Employers cut a larger-than-expected 467,000 jobs in June, driving the unemployment rate up to a 26-year high of 9.5 percent, suggesting that the economy's road to recovery will be bumpy."

Michael Jackson News - Yahoo! Music

Michael Jackson News - Yahoo! Music: "Jermaine Jackson said he would be 'hurt' if toxicology reports show that Michael Jackson abused prescription drugs, but that he did not know about any drug use by his younger brother."

Media Matters Daily Summary

Here are today's news items from Media Matters for America, click on the title or 'read more' to read the entirety of each story. Hill advances claim that Obama is "siding" with Chavez and Cuba The Hill's Michael O'Brien reported Newt Gingrich's accusation that President Obama is siding with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Cuban leaders on the ousting of the Honduran president, without noting that the European Union and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon have also condemned the ouster. Read More Fox hosts on Franken victory: "in denial"; Franken and nation crazy; Coleman originally won Several Fox News hosts have expressed bewilderment, disappointment, and denial about Al Franken's victory in the Minnesota Senate race. Read More Fox News runs with global temperature decline falsehood Several Fox News figures have used a purportedly "suppressed" EPA document to advance the falsehood that, in Steve Doocy's words, "for the last 11 years, temperatures had been dropping." Read More Distorting article, Fox Nation claims "Pelosi Requires All Homes to Meet Eco-Standards Before ... Sold" The Fox Nation linked to a CNSNews.com article under the headline, "Pelosi Requires All Homes to Meet Eco-Standards Before They Can Be Sold" -- a claim not supported by the CNS article. Read More Fox & Friends baselessly suggested Walpin, Carlin, and Weiderhold all "Watchdogs Silenced by Administration" Fox & Friends baselessly linked three purported "whistleblowers" as on-screen text claimed they were "silenced" by the Obama administration. Read More The right's super-secret plan to end all plans Pssst. Hey, conservatives ... I want to let you in on a devious little plan being hatched by your leaders in the media. Read More You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.

Spokesman: Jackson memorial won't be at Neverland - Yahoo! News

Spokesman: Jackson memorial won't be at Neverland - Yahoo! News: "A public memorial for Michael Jackson is in the works but won't be held at the late pop star's Neverland Ranch, a Jackson family spokesman said Wednesday. No further details were provided in the statement issued Wednesday by family spokesman Ken Sunshine. An announcement on the plans was expected soon."

Crain's Daily News Alert prepared for Top Executives

CHICAGOBUSINESS — POWERED BY CRAIN'S — Daily Business Briefing CRAIN'S LISTS SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MULTIMEDIA WEEKLY JOB CHANGES TOP HEADLINES Wednesday, July 1, 2009 · McD's boxed out of NBA sponsorship · In-N-Out Burger sues over S. Side shop's logo, name · Restaurateur Kleiner plans bar in South Loop multiplex · Reinsdorf's NHL bid backed by league · Probation for U of C hospital's brain surgery training program · Boeing may buy 787 parts plant: report · Metropolitan Bank getting $78M in TARP money · Bid to block BP expansion rejected by judge · Judson Green joining Hewitt board · Exelon working toward green goal · Bidding for Sheldon Good & Co. to start at $1.2 million · Sears Tower glass Ledge debuts — video  · Train wreck: state finances, city schools off the rails: Greg Hinz blog · Empty-nesters find D.C. success; Findables a recession victim; reality star Rancic buys foreclosed condo: Taking Names blog · Guv says check's not in the mail; PE firms sit out storm, but interest in small biz rises; survey says IT, sales pros to be in demand post-recovery, and more: Enterprise City · Cubs not getting what they paid for: Biz of Sports blog  Final Markets Dow Jones 8,504.06 +57.06 +0.68% NASDAQ 1,845.72 +10.68 +0.58% Crain's Index 71.39 +0.610 +0.862% » View Other Top Headlines ADVERTISEMENT Crain's Blogs. Now You're Talking. Introducing three blogs sure to pique your interest each business day: government and business, after-hours with Chicago's elite, and the business of sports.Click here to read what Greg Hinz, Shia Kapos and Ed Sherman are saying today. And talk back, we'd love to hear from you. OTHER HEADLINES · Chicago-native actor Karl Malden dead at 97 Chicago Sun-Times · Crabtree & Evelyn Ltd. files Chapter 11 Crain's New York Business · Walgreen ties growth to health clinics Daily Herald Crain's Chicago Business | 360 N. Michigan Ave. | Chicago, IL 60601 ADVERTISEMENT TODAY'S FEATURES Chicago Business Today - July 1 Ferrara Pan wages chocolate-bar battle with former partner Kraft. Bankruptcy court judge orders bidding for Sheldon Good & Co. start at $1.2M. High-speed rail advocates push for even faster Chicago-St. Louis trains. And creator of Carnivale plans lounge inside new South Loop movie theater.Read More · New Crain's golf iPhone app · Enterprise City -- a small-business blog · Inside the Leather: Birdies & Bogeys · Check, Please! visits Keefer's for lunch SIGN UP FOR CUSTOM ALERTS Industries » Account Settings LISTEN LIVE: Traffic, weather and news from our news partner WBBM-AM.

Student Loan Repayment Plan

Trouble viewing this email? Click to open in a browser Please add courseadvisor@emails.courseadvisor.com to your address book to ensure our emails are delivered Income-based Loan Repayment Plan By CourseAdvisor If you're trying to manage student loan payments on a tight budget, you'll be glad to hear about a new federal program, the Income-based Repayment Plan, that goes into effect on July 1. Just like it sounds, the Income-based Repayment Plan (the "IBR" plan) will determine an affordable monthly student loan payment based on your income and family size. Calculated on a sliding scale linked to the federal poverty line, the IBR rate caps all eligible student loan repayments at 15% of monthly income, although for many students, loan payments may drop to less than 10% of monthly income, or nothing. An IBR calculator can help you determine if you qualify for the program.   Featured Programs Nursing, Healthcare, & Medical Education & Teaching Business & Management   Featured Schools Westwood College Online Strayer University Ashford University Online Sponsored Advertisement Send this to a friend|Read our privacy policy| Profile Center CourseAdvisor Inc. 100 Quannapowitt Parkway, Suite 102, Wakefield, MA, 01880 | | www.courseadvisor.com © 2009 Course Advisor Inc., a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company

Far too many Blacks still living in 'food deserts' (Chicago Defender)

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here _____________________________________________________________________     Far too many Blacks still living in 'food deserts'   By Cheryle R. Jackson   Growing up, I don't recall ever being concerned about the quality of the food we ate at home. Memphis is metropolitan but located along the Farm Belt. Even non-farm families were more likely to grow some of their own vegetables and spices. Access to fresh food wasn't a problem. But living on the South Side of Chicago is a different story. After moving here, it wasn't long before I had joined the chorus of residents frustrated by the lack of reputable grocery stores in the area. Why should I have to start up my car and take my dollars outside my community to get a decent piece of fruit? In 2006, a groundbreaking study, Examining the Impact of Food Deserts on Public Health in Chicago, identified numerous Chicago neighborhoods as "food deserts," areas lacking access to quality grocery stores and, therefore, quality food. And, not surprisingly, I was living in one of them. The study was recently updated by the original authors at the Mari Gallagher Research and Consulting Group and found that the food desert has shrunk by 1.4 square miles, benefiting 24,000 people. But we're not out of the woods by a long shot. Areas such as Chatham actually got worse after that community lost two grocery stores, according to the Chicago 2009 Food Desert Progress Report, which covers a period up to September 2008. More than 600,000 people still live in food deserts, most of them African American and about a third of them children. The research goes right to the heart of what residents are experiencing everyday. But more importantly, it shows statistically the impact of the loss of even one grocery store on a community. In that way, it has become a road map for city planners and grocers who are using the data to identify grocery development sites. Areas most in need are Austin, Fuller Park, Grand Boulevard, Englewood, Greater Grand Crossing and Roseland, according to the study. "The industry as a whole has rallied to come up with solutions," said Mari Gallagher, creator and head researcher of the food desert studies. "They want to address market level concerns against human need. We are starting to see evidence of that."Here is where the rubber meets the road. Walgreens recently announced that it would expand its food lines in areas identified as food deserts, starting with locations along Madison Street on the West Side . That's good news in the interim, because when grocery stores move out of Black communities, another grocer is less likely to move in. "That has a direct impact on the quality of life and length of life," Gallagher said. The updated study provides a new measurement called Years of Potential Life Gained that really captures what's at stake. For instance, the study found, if a grocer moved into Roseland, 24,000 people would benefit. But the community as a whole would gain 15 years of life back from diabetes, 58 years of life back from diet-related cancers, 112 years of life back from cardiovascular diseases and 13 years of life back from liver disease. The findings sure do put into perspective why the African American community suffers in greater numbers from food-related illnesses and obesity. It also helps to explain "commercial deserts," areas generally lacking high-impact retailers. "A grocery store is an anchor that can attract other kinds of retail. But unfortunately, grocers go where grocers are already. It takes effort to overcome that," Gallagher said. While lawmakers in Washington grapple with how to solve America 's health care crisis, we, in the Black community, need to start paying close attention to the factors contributing to the illnesses that have been sickening our relatives for decades. The food desert study provides some eye-opening statistics that speak to the urgency of the problem in Chicago and around the country. Think it's not your problem? The study also sought to dispel perceptions that all residents living in food deserts are poor. Food deserts can affect people of all income and education levels. Of the 24,000 residents who benefited from Chicago 's food desert shrinking, about 1,300 earn more than $75,000 a year and 590 earn more than $100,000, the study found. It's also essential that when our community's do gain reputable grocery stores that we support them. The Chicago Urban League featured one, Farmers Best Market, at 1424 W. 47th St ., on our first season of nextTV: Change You Can See. If you haven't stopped by, check it out. _____________________________________________________________________  Cheryle R. Jackson is the president of the Chicago Urban League.  Her column appears weekly in the Chicago Defender.  She can be reached at president@thechicagourbanleague.org. Follow Cheryle on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CheryleJackson. Also visit www.DriveChangeNow.org to learn how you can become involved in the Urban League's movement for change.   Chicago Urban League | 4510 Michigan Avenue | Chicago | IL | 60653

America's Best and Worst Cities for Families - Yahoo! Real Estate

America's Best and Worst Cities for Families - Yahoo! Real Estate: "Metros where folks have enough money for everyday expenses, and spots where daily budgets eat up a sizable chunk of incomes."

States work to stave off government shutdowns - Yahoo! News

States work to stave off government shutdowns - Yahoo! News: "Legislators in more than a half-dozen states, their revenues evaporating in the recession, frantically worked to stave off government shutdowns and devastating service cuts. California failed to meet a midnight deadline and now may need to issue IOUs instead of paying bills."

Iraq Shiite cleric hopeful about US pullback - Yahoo! News

Iraq Shiite cleric hopeful about US pullback - Yahoo! News: "A Shiite cleric whose followers have been blamed in some of Iraq's worst violence gave a cautious welcome Wednesday to the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from cities."

Jackson's will to be filed in court Wednesday - Yahoo! News

Jackson's will to be filed in court Wednesday - Yahoo! News: "Heavy construction equipment and workers passed through the wrought-iron gates of Neverland Ranch, fueling speculation that it could soon be hosting a funeral or a permanent memorial to Michael Jackson. The activity occurred Tuesday, the day before Jackson's will was expected to be filed in court."

Budget up to Quinn as lawmakers leave - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Budget up to Quinn as lawmakers leave - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star: "Illinois lawmakers left Springfield on Tuesday without voting to raise taxes and left the governor with a budget that he’s strongly indicated he finds unacceptable and will veto."

As new fiscal year begins, Illinois remains without budget - STLtoday.com

As new fiscal year begins, Illinois remains without budget - STLtoday.com: "The clock ran out on Illinois' fiscal year Tuesday without a new state budget in place, raising the specter of mass state service cuts in the coming weeks or days."

Northwest Herald | State budget expires as Legislators fail to reach deal

Northwest Herald State budget expires as Legislators fail to reach deal: "The sputtering drive to come up with a state budget broke down completely Tuesday, leaving Illinois to begin a new fiscal year without any plan for paying its employees or delivering government services.

Government won’t shut down without a budget in place, but the situation creates uncertainty for anyone who depends on state money: government workers, road crews, community agencies caring for the sick and needy, and more."