Stocks plunge anew as retail sales show steep drop
Despair over the economy sent Wall Street plunging again Wednesday, propelling the Dow Jones industrials down 733 points to their second-largest point loss ever. Stocks fell on a combination of disheartening economic data, including a big drop in retail sales and a Federal Reserve report that said tight credit conditions are hurting businesses across the country.

Pickens: $3 gasoline 'temporary'
Gasoline prices may be falling -- they could drop below $3 a gallon by the holidays -- but T. Boone Pickens merely shrugs. And not just because Pickens is worth $3 billion. Or because he drives a Honda Civic GX that runs on natural gas. "It's temporary, I guarantee that,'' Pickens said of the price drop in Chicago Tuesday. "This time next year [oil] will be back to $150 a barrel."

Slow news day: Stocks fairly calm

Wall Street ended a relatively calm session with a moderate loss Tuesday as investors, while happy with the government's plans to spend $250 billion to buy stock in private banks, decided to cash in profits from Monday's massive advance as they refocused their attention on the economy.

Bush, Paulson take a new approach to crisis

The Bush administration's latest effort to resolve the financial crisis embraces an approach it had resisted just a few weeks ago.

$172M coming to Illinois to restore foreclosed properties

Illinois communities will get a combined $172 million in federal funds for the purchase and redevelopment of foreclosed properties to eliminate blight, control crime and stabilize property values.

River Street Plaza attracts Chinese restaurant
New China Hut has agreed to terms with The Vanstrand Group to bring Chinese cuisine to River Street Plaza. The restaurant is expected to open in late October or early November at the development, on River Street south of Benton Street in downtown Aurora, according to Sherman L. Jenkins, executive director of the city's Economic Development Commission.

Wild session ends with Dow down 126 points
Wall Street capped its worst week ever with a wild session Friday that left stocks with a widely mixed finish.

McDonald's cuts off gay chamber of commerce group

After months of pressure from an anti-gay-marriage group, McDonald's Corp. has given up a director's seat and will stop sponsorship of a national gay business organization.

Experts: Steer clear of stocks if college, retirement are near

With the market continuing to tank, who should have the least invested in stocks or get out of the market entirely?

Thursday: A year after all-time high, Dow in free fall

A runaway train of a sell-off turned the anniversary of the stock market peak into one of the darkest days in Wall Street history Thursday, driving the Dow Jones industrials down a breathtaking 678.91 points -- mostly in the final hour.

Traders: 'We're in the 100-year flood'

The Chicago futures markets, where some traders eat fear for breakfast, has become a place of helpless uncertainty.

Motorists line up for gas at $3.29 a gallon
Rix Auto Service in Aurora has what's probably the cheapest gas in town. The Marathon station was selling regular unleaded gas for $3.29 a gallon Thursday, causing a minor traffic backup heading north on Randall Road at Galena Boulevard as hundreds of customers head into the station.

Librarian with business sense
For years, the Naperville Public Library has offered a wide array of programs and educational materials to serve its patrons. And in the coming months, they also hope to take care of business.

Developers turn to rentals in downturn
David Roeder: Despite the collapse of the condo market, construction of rental housing still has committed backers. Lenders see apartments as being on the right side of demographic and economic trends, and the development firm McCaffery Interests Inc. is capitalizing on their interest.

Dominick's owner sees profit rise

Safeway, owner of Dominick's grocery stores, said Tuesday its sales remain strong as it offers more everyday bargains, cuts advertising spending and benefits from its gift-card business in a tough economy.

Unique Boutique
Fran Nesbitt, owner of Unique Boutique, has two very interesting jobs. "When I get done with this," she said, gesturing around her antique store, "then I go home and do more of this." After store hours, Nesbitt spends many additional hours doing research on her antique and collectible merchandise.

Mortgage relief deal
Sandra Guy: Nearly 11,000 Illinoisans with Countrywide mortgages -- most of them in the Chicago area -- are expected to get help to avoid foreclosure after Countrywide's new owner, Bank of America, agreed to an $8.7 billion settlement with Illinois and 10 other states. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office helped resolve a lawsuit that alleged Countrywide put people into loans, mostly subprime loans, that the would-be homeowners could not afford.

Kraft to slash 400 jobs
Northfield-based foodmaker Kraft Foods Inc. said Monday it is cutting 400 jobs in North America to reduce costs. Kraft spokeswoman Renee Zahery said the layoffs will represent a cut of about 1 percent in the company's North American work force.

Some BP workers heading to city
BP says it's progressing with plans to relocate some employees from its DuPage County facilities to Chicago, but that it plans to maintain a presence in Naperville. BP said in May that it planned to move 1,000 jobs from its area locations to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange complex.

Former World Market goes to auction
Originally, it was a Best Buy. Then it was a Cost Plus World Market. But fairly soon, there's a chance that a high-profile piece of real estate near Westfield Fox Valley mall could become an ethnic supermarket. Or a children's amusement complex. Or possibly a business.

How will we manage?
As the federal government voted whether to spend $700 billion taxpayer dollars to bail out banks on Monday, about 300 people waited in rain for food in Aurora.

Sweet deal: Shareholders agree to Wrigley sale
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. shareholders Thursday agreed to sell the 117-year-old Chicago institution to Mars Inc. In a special morning meeting at Chase Auditorium, they approved the $23 billion deal that makes Wrigley a separate, stand-alone business unit of privately-held Mars, which will become the world’s largest candy company. The transaction, which has regulatory approval and is expected to close by Oct. 6, gives Wrigley stockholders $80 cash per share.

Veteran banker and First Midwest CEO dies
John M. O'Meara dedicated himself to the growth of his bank, his family and his spiritual self. "He was a very spiritual person," said his son, William O'Meara III. O'Meara, 62, died Sept. 13 at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Alcatel-Lucent branches lays off 250
The Alcatel-Lucent communications technology company laid off about 250 employees from its Lisle and Naperville branches on Thursday, according to a company spokesperson.