(WisBusiness) WED News Summary — 21 Jan. 2009

Hospital work cutback leads to 160 layoffs: The decision last week to slow down construction of Columbia St. Mary’s new east side hospital has left about 160 tradespeople without work, according to the general contractor. The number of construction workers at the site peaked at 500 about three months ago, but was reduced to about 375 tradespeople as the project advanced, said Pete Richards, the project administrator for general contractor CG Schmidt/Barton Malow JV.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily18.html

U.S. seal used in inauguration made in Wisconsin: Among the inauguration day stops for President Barack Obama Tuesday was Washington, D.C.’s Capital Hilton, where Obama gave his inaugural address. The 44th president of the U.S. gave the address in front of a giant United States seal, which was made in Milwaukee by the Laser Cutting Inc. firm. The gold seal is 7 feet 4 inches in diameter.
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/433821

Report: Charter hires advisers for possible bankruptcy filing: Charter Communications Inc. has hired law firm Kirkland & Ellis and investment bank Lazard Ltd. to advise on a possible bankruptcy, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Kirkland’s Rick Cieri is providing counsel, Bloomberg said. If the St. Louis-based cable company decides in favor of bankruptcy, it may file as soon as next week, said one of the people, who declined to be identified because the discussions are private, Bloomberg reported.
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/433723

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– GREGG HOFFMANN: Contributor, WisBusiness.com

– TOM BURZINSKI: IT executive and consultant
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TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– Business Beat: Internet gives jobless a place to vent
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/433794

– Smart moves with video streaming
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/smallb1.html?b=1232341200^1763149

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Companies with Madison roots close shop
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/433793

– State’s bankers not looking for quick economic recovery, survey finds
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/433796

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Miller High Life will have 1-second Super Bowl ad
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily17.html

LABOR (back to top)
– Clear Channel makes job cuts, but Fox Valley stations OK
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090121/APC03/901210493/1028

– Clear Channel cuts 1,850 jobs
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily25.html

SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Emerging 200 program identifies small businesses with greatest potential
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37944339.html

INVESTING (back to top)
– Lee reports decline in revenue, earnings
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/433806

– Johnson Controls shareholders to vote on curbing death benefit
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37879299.html

– Johnson Controls results may outpace industry, Baird analyst says
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37880399.html

– MGIC reports more delinquencies, $272M loss
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily15.html

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Outagamie County UW-Extension sessions to focus on downtown upgrades
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090121/APC03/901210482/1028

– Yahara co-op seeks donations to qualify for loan
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/433752

– M&I seeks foreclosure on 52 Franklin condo units
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/37841439.html

– Marcus Corp. sues contractor over writing that bled through wall
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37944349.html

– Marcus to slow Hilton, Grand Geneva projects
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/story6.html?b=1232341200^1763030

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– ’08 growing season challenged farmers
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090121/GPG03/901210578/1247

– Farm Progress Hay Expo Returns to Wisconsin in ’09
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=84&yr=2009

RETAIL (back to top)
– Madison Pick’n Save will convert to Copps name
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/433538

– Grebe’s reprises Obama cookies
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily16.html

TOURISM (back to top)
– Initial North Star casino expansion opens
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090120/GPG03/901200624/1247

– Potawatomi closing Wild Earth on Jan. 31
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily26.html

Media Partners
—Channel3000
—Small Business Times
—Madison Magazine
—BusinessWeek

National Business Roundups ( back to top)
–YAHOO FINANCE: http://finance.yahoo.com/
–CNBC BUSINESS NEWS: http://www.cnbc.com
–ABC BUSINESS NEWS: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/
–GOOGLE NEWS: http://news.google.com/news/en/us/business.html

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