Recently added articles from Crain's Chicago Business:

Boeing earns its wings with strong quarter; A Conversation with Money Manager MICHAEL a. CROWE.(Markets)(Interview)(Brief article)

Apr 28, 2008; Levine, Daniel Rome ... Byline: Daniel Rome Levine Michael A. Crowe, 62, senior managing director, Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Chicago Experience: 35 years Assets under management: $1.45 billion CRAIN'S: Any highlights from the earnings season so far? ...

Hospital fighting for its life; Board of St. Anthony scrambles to stem losses.(News)

Apr 28, 2008; Colias, Mike ... Byline: MIKE COLIAS Another national Catholic health chain is looking to unload a money-losing Chicago-area hospital. Since last year, St. Louis-based Ascension Health has been seeking a buyer for St. Anthony Hospital on the West Side, a person familiar with the ...

SKINNER'S NO DRIVE-THRU CEO.(News)

Apr 28, 2008 ... Byline: DAVID STERRETT When McDonald's Corp. named James Skinner CEO in November 2004, many figured he would merely keep the seat warm until the board settled on a long-term successor. Directors had twice passed over the company veteran, turning to him only after two ...

Cat tests rentals at Home Depot; As construction ebbs, looking to lure pros who will rent vs. buy gear.(News)

Apr 28, 2008; Tita, Bob ... Byline: BOB TITA Caterpillar Inc. aims to fortify its construction equipment rental business with help from retail giant Home Depot Inc. Caterpillar, the world's largest maker of bulldozers, excavators and other earth-moving equipment, has begun offering rentals to ...

Bumps in the Road.(News)(Barack Obama)(Diary entry)(Brief article)

Apr 28, 2008 ... Feb. 5: Mr. Obama wins most delegates in Super Tuesday contests but loses to Ms. Clinton in big states of New York, New Jersey and California. March 15: Mr. Obama meets with Chicago reporters in attempt to quell damage from continuing reports on his ties to indicted fundraiser ...

Back constitutional convention to reclaim state government.(Viewpoint essay)

Apr 28, 2008; Lane, Marc J. ... Byline: Marc J. Lane Marc J. Lane is a Chicago business and tax attorney and a financial adviser. The Democratic presidential candidates are one-upping each other in their promises to bring "change'' to Washington. But the debate shouldn't stop there. Illinois' ...

Obama guru's moment of truth; Axelrod's mantra of change missing mark with key voting bloc.(News)

Apr 28, 2008; Hinz, Greg ... Byline: GREG HINZ AND PAUL MERRION David Axelrod's above-the-fray political strategy turned U.S. Sen. Barack Obama from promising first-termer to presidential front-runner, but his game plan is starting to show its limitations as the struggle with U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton drags ...

Correction.(Corrections)(Correction notice)

Apr 28, 2008 ... A graphic in the April 14 Focus section about the percentage of entrepreneurs who feel optimistic ...

For the Record.(Briefs)

Apr 28, 2008 ... United Airlines raised most domestic airfares by 3% to 5% as it struggles to cope with soaring fuel costs. The fare increase is United's third in just over two weeks and follows the airline's announcement that it will hike the fee it charges to change a ticket by $50, to $150. It also ...

Kimball Hill files for Chapter 11.(Briefs)(Brief article)

Apr 28, 2008 ... After months of negotiations with lenders, homebuilder Kimball Hill filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. With more than $60 million in cash, Rolling Meadows-based Kimball Hill plans to continue operations as it restructures its debt. "We hope to agree on a reorganization plan in the ...

HOME PRICES SAG; After 5% dip in '07, Chicago-area index to slide 8% this year.(News)

Apr 28, 2008 ... Byline: ALBY GALLUN After falling nearly 5% in 2007, Chicago-area home prices are poised for an even steeper drop this year as the housing market hangover persists. An index of Chicago-area single-family home prices will decline 8.1% in 2008 and another 2.2% in 2009, ...

Hospital-board perk: free medical advice.(Business of Life)(Brief article)

Apr 28, 2008; Kapos, Shia ... Byline: Shia Kapos Membership on a hospital or affiliated charity board has its privileges: The difficult-to-come-by seats allow not only elbow-rubbing with top executives, but also informal access to medical specialists. Why make a pesky appointment when you can ...

Pipe show finds a way for smokers to light up.(Business of Life)(Chicagoland Pipe Collectors Club)(Brief article)

Apr 28, 2008; Murphy, H. Lee ... Byline: H. Lee Murphy The Chicagoland Pipe Collectors Club hosts its 13th International Pipe & Tobacciana Show at Pheasant Run Resort in west suburban St. Charles starting Saturday. The event is expected to draw 4,000 pipe enthusiasts from as far as Russia and China. ...

On the Move.(People)(Steve DeGroote joins Mortenson Construction)(Sue Gibbs joins Comcast Corp.)(Jerry Dill joins Devry University)

Apr 28, 2008 ... CONSTRUCTION MORTENSON CONSTRUCTION, Elk Grove Village: Steve DeGroote, 44, to vice-president, from operations director. CONSUMER SERVICES COMCAST Corp., Philadelphia: Sue Gibbs, 45, to region vice-president of finance, in Schaumburg, from comptroller. ...

Rich or poor, hospitals must work together.(Viewpoint essay)

Apr 28, 2008 ... Ailing hospitals pose a health risk to us all. St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island, Michael Reese on the city's Near South Side, and-as Mike Colias reports this week-St. Anthony's on the West Side need financial lifelines to survive. Each is a so-called safety-net hospital with ...

Crain's Picks.(Business of Life)

Apr 28, 2008 ... Byline: Crystal Yednak Opening "Don Giovanni" 205 E. Randolph St. (312) 704-8414 www.chicagooperatheater.org 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Saturday Tickets: $35-$120 A modern and decadent ...

Ampm focus has BP working overtime; New convenience-store brand comes to Chicago.(News)

Apr 28, 2008 ... Byline: JOHN T. SLANIA Britain's BP PLC is rolling out its ampm convenience stores in the Chicago market-and it's using traditional advertising and some unorthodox marketing to promote the new brand. Over the winter, BP began converting the convenience stores at most ...

Commercial builders take it on the chin; Retail, office and hotel starts fall nearly 70%.(News)

Apr 28, 2008; Gallun, Alby ... Byline: ALBY GALLUN The local commercial building industry has gotten off to an especially slow start this year, with all but the health care sector logging steep declines in the first quarter. Chicago-area non-residential construction starts totaled $731 million in ...

Please pass the mayo.(Focus: Private Companies)(Fort Dearborn Co.)(Brief article)

Apr 28, 2008; Stainburn, Samantha ... Byline: Samantha Stainburn The battle for consumers' attention doesn't end when they turn off their televisions. It continues on the store shelves, where companies are packaging products like mayonnaise and mustard in upside-down bottles and decorating detergent and juice with ...

From malls to steel plants.(Focus: Private Companies)(Company overview)

Apr 28, 2008 ... Byline: Samantha Stainburn In the past 10 years, Graycor Inc. has built the Promenade in Bolingbrook, 63 CVS stores across the Midwest and five factories in Mexico for clients like Toyota Motor Corp. That's a long way from the sandblasting and concrete-breaking ...