AP source: United, Continental in alliance talks Stocks turn higher as investors sift through data Public library helps family cut expenses Housing crunch causing USG production to dry up Bernanke: Banks need to bolster risk management Ford recalling more than 655,000 trucks Corona, Chesney go together U of C to honor Milton Friedman with institute People drinking cheap beer to save money House panel approves pay raise for troops Obama thongs soar to No. 1 in sales OK likely today for high-rise Toyota's global sales of gas-electric Prius hybrid top 1M CBS 2 auctions studio treasures Super-small PC redefines portability Scout's cookie sales crumble record Business briefs

Barr's double trouble Car accident doesn't sideline NBC 5 sportscaster Couple cut food budget by $100 United, Continental reportedly in alliance talks Macy's reports loss on weak sales, restructuring Stocks head for lower open Inflation pressures ease, despite food price jump Curious timing for JetBlue MySpace wins $230 million anti-spam judgment U. of C. goes shopping Fewer fliers for summer, but packed planes persist Bush administration rules limit consumer lawsuits Zell rejects state-Wrigley deal; Thompson still trying Business briefs The new regulations since 2005 Tiniest U.S. car is tops in crash safety

How Beth cuts her family's grocery bill in half Donahue returns to WGN Stocks drop after retail sales report, oil's jump BofA customers feel 'significant economic pressure' U of Chicago buys Harper Court for new retail center Retail sales dip for second time in 2 months Bernanke: Financial turmoil in markets easing Wal-Mart profit rises 6.9 percent GM says auto industry in recession Abbott Xience stent bests rival Taxus Beer bash outgrows itself Zell no to bid for Wrigley Quiznos spot adds insult to injury JPMorgan Chase CEO Dimon: recession is just beginning WiMAX revs up wireless competition Business briefs

Beware of ‘personal bankers’ Virgin America wants to fly out of O'Hare Cablevision buys Newsday from Tribune for $650 million Retailers likely to post grim 1st-quarter results Commuters turn to bikes as gas prices keep rising Stocks modestly higher as oil falls, dollar gains SEC charges 3 Florida doctors with insider trading All in the (Melman) family Are Cubs fans like entrepreneurs? BlackBerry reveals new model meant for work and play

The whee! factor Oakmark invites new investors Stay-at-home mom worth $117,000 News Corp. withdraws bid to buy Newsday Does the Millennium bridge rival Bean? Rebate excludes many taxpayers with foreign spouses Halsted, 79th, Chicago, Jeffery picked in plan for bus-only lanes Company to buy Aurora manufacturer for $6M Stock spotlight

Maurice Lenell buyer to open cookie stores Gas jumps above $3.67 Restaurants: Grease rules could force closings Chicago area homes sales fall 30% 3 arrested in mortgage scheme Man accused of scamming seniors charged Credit, oil beat the street March trade deficit drops Free task-manager Sandy is easygoing, helpful Web site Stock spotlight Cubs chairman raises taxes to pay $400M tab Social Sec. worries women more Monday stamp hike softened by ol’ blue eyes Best Buy will open downtown Chicago store at Hancock Center Business briefs

St. Francis buyer lends life support to failing hospital Ad recipe targets young Bikes save a wad of cash Stocks dive on oil's rise, AIG's cash woes Icahn prepared to buy Circuit City Housing aid bill faces veto by President Bush March trade deficit drops by bigger-than-expected amount Kerkorian starts offer to boost Ford stake Thousands descend on Six Flags for physics class GM buys its Detroit headquarters for $626M Illinois Tool Works nets British firm for $2 billion 24/7 news Sun-Times, Trib see ad revenue drop Business briefs

St. Francis Hospital to stay open, get new name Couple finds ways to save on prescription meds Will Tribune loosen up under new COO? Unions ready to shoot down United merger plan Enodis backs $2B buyout offer from Illinois Tool Works Retailers report mixed results in April Stocks rise on April retail sales United, Delta, American airlines raise fuel charge $10 Maurice Lenell receives highest bid from Consolidated Biscuit 'Grand Theft Auto IV' tops $500M in first week's sales Icahn increases stake in Motorola Papa John's surpasses $1 billion in online pizza sales Oil jumps over $123 on drop in diesel, heating oil supplies Critics: Too many holes poked in plastic bag law Hartmarx brands to be sold in India Rules inspired by E2 stampede approved STMG expects New York Stock Exchange to suspend, delist stock Committee acts to avoid repeat of Duff slap on wrist Suburb offers buyers $5,000 for purchasing home Area firms, group unite to help minority businesses Joint Sprint, Clearwire network could boost consumer power Business briefs

Purple Hotel sold Ex-Fox station manager turns publisher Stocks retreat as oil prices creep higher Got Milk? targets moms with 'CSI' star Fillups now a thing of the past Chicago United launches effort to build minority-owned businesses Hospira posts $65.4M profit in first quarter Congress weighs housing rescue package Clearwire, Sprint Nextel to form $14.55B wireless company Icahn increases his Motorola ownership Orbitz posts first-quarter loss Chrysler tries luring buyers with gas deal as sales drop Hollywood producers suspend talks with Screen Actors Guild More than $11.5M awarded to residents in citrus case Gates: Microsoft going 'independent' way after retreat from Yahoo bid Vallejo to become largest Calif. city to file for bankruptcy An inside look at Microsoft's raised Yahoo bid Denied Wal-Mart, developer sells site Food prices make politicians rethink ethanol Young & Rubicam taps Erke Business briefs

Museum's contractor sues for millions in unpaid bills LaSalle Bank gives way to Bank of America Wall Street stocks down in early trading Walking away could turn out best for Yahoo, Microsoft BP to move 1,000 jobs from suburbs to Merc complex Sara Lee 3Q profit rises on price increases, weaker dollar Price check on walk down aisle Motorola shareholders blast board, execs' pay Softer slide at Sears Late cold snap puts a chill on Calif. vineyards Morningstar's shining success Owner of Tropicana casinos files for bankruptcy protection Gov to unveil $150 million anti-violence plan today Business briefs

Lampert to shareholders: times are tough You're (not) fired...how do you avoid getting canned? Yahoo shares fall after Microsoft fallout 2 firms bid for Maurice Lenell Cooky Co. Wave of surprise Atkins leaving SEC after term end Cadets in step with mom, dad Construction begins on coke plant in Granite City Group seeks halt to 'land grab' in Bronzeville Stocks open low after Microsoft pulls Yahoo bid Wal-Mart expands low-priced drug program Chatham woman rings up almost $300 in savings Hewitt profit triples, revenue grows Bush says no quick fix to rising gas prices Online ads turn desperate: 'Please buy anything you can to help out' Tapping into a winning model Despite debt, college still worth cost -- to a degree Treasurer: Beware of stimulus check scams Try to iron out differences with the boss New Zealand pays $519 million for rail, ferry systems Stocks head for lower open

Black inventors get a boost Assessing the 'fertilizer bubble' Food, gas costs force lifestyle changes Stores fight for piece of rebates Entrepreneur changes homeless man's life Microsoft ends Yahoo affair Buffett tells investors: 'There will be no gap after my death' Is it Geek Squad or Peep Squad? Agents accused of copying photos Oil companies enjoy high prices Stock spotlight S&P, Dow cross old lines

Ritz condos to start construction soon Linens folds, files bankruptcy Fed OKs plan to rein in deceptive credit cards OSHA fines United over workplace safety Victory Gardens sells Greenhouse venue to developers Stock spotlight Gas prices slip, oil soars Dow, S&P show relief Business briefs

Kraft reinvents icons in massive product launch CBS Radio's president brings show to Chicago Car sharing avoids agony at the pump Linens 'n Things files for bankruptcy, to close Mag Mile store High food prices not going away soon: feds What's hurting you the most? How are you cutting back? Cubs know Thompson's Wrigley secret OSHA cites United Airlines for safety violations at O'Hare Employers cut fewer jobs in April Microsoft-Yahoo deal may go hostile Friday Man tries to cash $360 billion check Kerkorian aide says Ford should sell Volvo, Mercury Stock poised to rally after payroll report, Fed action Hey Cub fans, need a drink? Business briefs

Dow closes above 13,000 after 190-point gain Esmark accepts $669M buyout from India firm Umbrella spot has it covered CBS stations join forces Red Bull wins big against Wet bar: $680,000 Manufacturing report shows continuing contraction in April Sweet deal for FTD Exxon Mobil 1Q profit grows 17 percent CTA to cut 100 office jobs, offer free rides to military Rules on securing vacant buildings delayed Fed's quarter-percentage-point cut puts interest rates at 4-yr. low Will fans own Wrigley seats? Business briefs

Fed cuts interest rate quarter-point Will the rebates work? 26th Street to get taste of Beverly Hills Stocks rise ahead of Fed rate decision FTD sold for $456 million plus Kraft Foods profit falls 13 percent in first quarter GM reports 1Q loss of $3.3 billion News squawk Firms sweat Wrigley sale Time Warner Cable 1Q profit falls on higher expenses 2 beef processors cited for humane violations Looks like electric bills going up too Consumers losing confidence New takes on tofu, wine at food show All aboard foreclosure bus tour ADM 3Q profit jumps 42% on grain markets

William Wrigley Jr. will stay as chairman-- for now United Airlines CEO faces a tough choice Stocks mixed with investors wary of consumer data, Fed Consumer confidence drops in April on inflation, job worries Archer Daniels 3Q profit jumps 42 percent Millionaires see economy as weak, but expect rebound More airfare hikes 'It's a little sad,' but sale won't hurt Chicago Hospira stops manufacturing at Calif. plant What Wrigley and Mars might accomplish together Snow days warm up WGN ratings Business briefs Buffett helps unite storied family firms Wrigley timeline

Sweet deal: Mars buys Wrigley Co. for $23B Mounting losses raises questions about CHX Continental backs off from United merger Smart money on teen's bid for Stanford Vacant homes for sale hit record high Alberto-Culver profit jumps, but sales growth slows Kerkorian seeks to boost Ford stake Stocks mostly flat in early Monday trading Demand for used SUVs driven down Is this heaven? It's not Iowa Stocks head for higher open amid M&A talk People's decisions to cut back add up to weaker economy Does sex sell pasta in new Barilla ad? What's cooking? State gets $3.5M to dole out for college scholarships

Three execs honored on 'Blacks in Technology' list Negative rhetoric seen beyond campaign trail Protection weighed for bird in West's energy areas All-business-class niche airline Eos folds Strike in Scotland shuts down oil pipeline

UBid to expand its business, offer tent sales The rebate checks are on the way Negotiators reach tentative farm bill deal Microsoft faces dilemma as Yahoo bid deadline looms News organizations sue Texas-based Web sites FDA rejects application for allergy drug Your wallet Stock spotlight Business briefs

United raises fares 3 to 5 percent, citing fuel KFC keeps a secret -- too well No lotto, just great service at 'Becker's' Obama applauds unions at convention Oil prices drop below $115 a barrel Six Flags Great America prepares for Dark Knight Stocks open narrowly mixed ahead of consumer confidence data Microsoft 2009 outlook rosy Stocks mostly up as investors overcome economic worries Nintendo: No price cuts for Wii Rebates going out Monday should help economy: Bush Readers react to CBS 2 shakeup Committee OKs corporate sponsors for seminars FDA takes closer look at Lasik complaints Business briefs Natural-gas vehicles hot in Utah

Farmers need dry weather or food costs may soar Dilbert.com revamp done the right way Dow gains 86 on drop in jobless claims Status quo Urban League joins with churches Arby's owner buying Wendy's for $2.34 billion ComEd parent Exelon reports 1Q profit loss New home sales plunge to lowest level in 16 years Durable goods orders fall for third straight month Motorola 1Q loss widens as phone sales fall Lifestyle store sales help Safeway 1Q results Kimball Hill files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy China's ties U.S. for most Internet users Just do it? Most taglines don't Stock spotlight Sam's Club, Costco limit rice purchases Business briefs

United takes dive Tribune Co. ready to 'relaunch' WGN Dow up 43 after bumpy session Rush ready to win on, off field Boeing profit jumps 38 percent in 1Q Matchmaker finds her perfect match -- her client Tribune shrinks Midwest distribution area Boeing donates $5 million for black history museum Attorney general asked to look into developer Growers argue lack of oversight driving food prices Airlines' woes will cause 'rough summer' for travelers Business briefs

United's parent company loses $542M, cuts 1,100 jobs Get 'balance' for retirement at free financial seminars McDonald's 1Q profit rises on strong international sales Homes, retail planned at former Fannie May site Stocks open lower as Street examines quarterly reports Argonne revs up world's 2nd fastest computer Oil heading toward $120 a barrel Existing home sales decline CME 1Q profit soars on CBOT combination, volume growth CLTV, see ya Tellabs shares fall on sales forecast USG swings to loss; sees positive signs Three local companies land in top 50 of Fortune 500 Engineering firm charged with bilking $1M out of IDOT Ace reports slight increase in sales Business briefs

Need financial help? The science of a startup City Auto in a long-running battle over consumer fraud Oil prices spike to record $117.40 a barrel Chat personal finance live with Terry Savage National City raises $7B in capital, but posts 1Q loss Wall Street opens lower after Bank of America report U.S. hybrid sales up 38 percent in 2007 The spin on Chinese laundries Oil company cuts production after attacks in Nigeria

Options site sees Net gain Caterpillar rewards the faithful Health care job eludes Iraq vet

Top law firms lack diversity Early-morning temblor centered Downstate felt nationwide Beware of home improvement scams Spindle headed for scrapyard? Tid bytes Business briefs

A Zell-off hits Tribune Citigroup posts $5.1 billion loss during 1st quarter Larry Wert's promotion triggers management changes at NBC 5 Wall Street opens higher as investors weigh Citi earnings Element 79 eyeing DDB merger? AT&T to cut about 4,600 jobs Bush to name new housing chief A fool and his money -- make sure it's not you Tribal members protest in S.D. over planned hog farm Firm here strikes globalization gold Chicagoans accused of threatening famous 'Hollywood' sign Executives see credit and housing as big threats Airlines' cozy ties to FAA in spotlight Business briefs

Element 79 takes big hit Chicago station exec poised for promotion at NBC Hartmarx gets hip to luxary, global strategy Bright Start ads shine light on college plans Sara Lee to cut about 300 jobs as costs rise Stocks open lower following mixed corporate reports Sears cuts 100 more jobs at Hoffman Estates HQ Gorillapod gives flexibility Global sales drive Abbott profit surge The Sims passes 100 million in sales, chasing Mario Business briefs Chicago investors' sale puts famous Hollywood sign in jeopardy, residents say

Invention convention Collins named to Hall of Fame True Value tries new tack to sell hardware for her Wall Street surges higher after upbeat earnings reports Six Flags plans to develop content, characters like Disney United hikes roundtrip surcharge to $20 Consumer prices up despite drop in clothing costs JPMorgan Chase's profit drops 50 percent Coca-Cola profit climbs 19 percent 100 stories, no gripes? Business briefs