Downs, 33, of Aurora, was convicted by a Kane County jury last year of firing the shots that killed Nico Contreras, 6, while he was sleeping at his grandmother’s house on the near East Side of Aurora in 1996.

Downs was indicted in the boy’s murder in 2007, more than a decade after Nico was killed.

He was scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 2, 2009. He faces up to 100 years in prison.

Prior to his sentencing, however, Downs made claims that his public defender, David Kliment, failed to properly question witnesses and denied Downs’ request to switch to a bench trial shortly after his jury trial began.

On Thursday, Downs appeared before Judge Timothy Sheldon.

His attorneys asked the judge to deny a request to have Downs held in Kane County until his next court date so he could receive medical treatment for his back in a Joliet prison.

Sheldon agreed to Down’s request. He will return to Joliet to await a Feb. 24 court date.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Sentencing of convicted killer Mark Downs delayed again | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The crash killed Rachel Gilliam, 25, who worked full-time as a bartender and server at Bowman’s Bar & Grill at 4356 N. Leavitt in the North Center neighborhood.

She was struck around 3:40 a.m. on Oct. 31, 2009, near 4314 N. Lincoln, just north of a stop sign neighbors say drivers frequently roll through.

Police said witnesses told them the driver of the Lexus did not stop after striking Gilliam, continuing south on Lincoln.

Police on Thursday announced they have identified the suspect as 23-year-old Carlos Castillo, of the 2600 block of North Jarlath Street.

Castillo is a 5-foot-7, Hispanic man and is about 200 pounds.

Police were able to identify Castillo as the suspect after acting on a tip. The car believed to be involved in the crash was impounded on Dec. 1.

Police believe Castillo may have fled to Mexico.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Suspect identified in Halloween hit-and-run on Northwest Side | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Sales of $6.2 billion were down 9 percent versus 2008.  Net earnings of $430 million decreased 9 percent versus $475 million in 2008.  Earnings per share of $5.62 decreased 6 percent versus $5.97** in 2008.

“I am very proud of our employees and how they have successfully navigated this company through one of the most difficult economic times in our history,” said Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Ryan.

“The actions we took in 2009 to keep service levels and customer relationships strong are paying off.   I am excited about the opportunity we have going forward to gain additional market share and create value for our shareholders by serving as the indispensable MRO partner to businesses and institutions.”

*The GAAP financial statements are the source for all amounts used in the Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) calculation.  ROIC is calculated using annualized operating earnings based on year-to-date operating earnings divided by a 13 point average for net working assets.

Net working assets are working assets minus working liabilities defined as follows:  working assets equal total assets less cash equivalents (non operating cash), deferred taxes, and investments in unconsolidated entities, plus the LIFO reserve.

Working liabilities are the sum of trade payables, accrued compensation and benefits, accrued contributions to employees’ profit sharing plans, and accrued expenses.

** Reported 2008 EPS were $6.04, which was restated after adopting FSP 03-6-1 on January 1, 2009, resulting in a 7 cent reduction in EPS in 2008 and 6 cents in 2009.  (See page K-41 of the company’s 2008 10-K for additional information).

Ryan added, “We are seeing some initial signs of improvement in the overall economy, although job growth is expected to lag the recovery.  Stronger sales growth in December and January give us greater confidence to raise our 2010 sales growth guidance to a range of 6 to 10 percent and our earnings per share guidance to the new range of $5.40 to $5.90.

We remain cautiously optimistic about the economy and are executing on the things we can control like our customer service and high product availability.  As a result, we are well positioned for continued share gain, particularly as many competitors have been forced to reduce inventories.”

The company had previously issued 2010 guidance of 4 to 9 percent sales growth and earnings per share of $5.30 to $5.80.

For the 2009 fourth quarter, sales of $1.6 billion increased 3 percent versus the fourth quarter of 2008. There were 64 sales days in both the 2009 and 2008 fourth quarters.  Daily sales decreased 3 percent in October, increased 2 percent in November and increased 11 percent in December.

The 3 percent increase for the quarter included a 4 percentage point contribution from acquisitions, a 2 percentage point benefit from foreign exchange and a 2 percentage point lift from price increases, partially offset by a 5 percentage point decline in volume.

Net earnings of $97 million decreased 10 percent versus $108 million in 2008.  Earnings per share of $1.27 decreased 7 percent versus $1.37 in 2008. The effect of adopting FSP 03-6-1 was a 1 cent per share reduction in the fourth quarter of 2009 and 2 cents in the 2008 quarter.

During the quarter, the company continued to lower its cost structure by closing branches and reducing headcount.  In total, 12 branches, including 6 Will Call Express locations, were closed.  These closures, along with other asset write-downs, resulted in asset impairment charges of $9 million or 7 cents per share.

In addition, the company reduced headcount by another 200 positions in the 2009 fourth quarter, incurring $7.5 million or 5 cents per share in severance cost.  For the full year 2009, the company eliminated approximately 600 positions and incurred $18 million in severance or 11 cents per share.

Effective with the first quarter of 2009, the company has two reportable business segments, the United States and Canada, which represent approximately 98 percent of full year company sales.  This reporting structure reflects the integration of Lab Safety Supply with Grainger’s U.S. branch-based business.

The remaining operating units (Japan, Mexico, India, Puerto Rico, China and Panama) are included in other businesses and are not considered a segment.  The company acquired Asia Pacific Brands India Private Limited in June 2009 resulting in the inclusion of the India operations in other businesses in the third quarter.

The company also acquired a majority ownership of MonotaRO in September 2009, consolidated this Japanese entity in its balance sheet as of the end of the third quarter and began consolidating its income statement in the fourth quarter.

United States

Sales for the United States segment decreased 2 percent in the 2009 fourth quarter, with daily sales down 7 percent in October, down 3 percent in November and up 5 percent in December.  Acquisitions and the timing of the Christmas holiday accounted for 3 percentage points of the sales growth in December.

Grainger serves a diverse set of customer end-markets in the United States.  During the quarter, sales to government and commercial customers increased versus the 2008 fourth quarter, while sales to resellers, contractors, manufacturing and retail customers declined.

Throughout 2009, Grainger added products to its already broad offering that will result in having approximately 307,000 in-stock products in the 2010 catalog.  Product line expansion contributed $260 million in sales for the fourth quarter versus $185 million in the 2008 fourth quarter.  Products added over the last four years resulted in $934 million in sales in 2009.

Also contributing to segment performance in the quarter was ongoing work to integrate Lab Safety Supply with Grainger Industrial Supply.  The company still expects this combination to deliver $70-$100 million in incremental revenue and $20-$30 million in cost savings by mid-2010.  Through the end of 2009, the integration has generated $44 million of the additional revenue and $22 million of the cost savings.

Operating earnings for the quarter were down 6 percent in the United States, the result of operating expenses declining at a slower rate than sales.

The decline in operating expenses was primarily the result of lower payroll-related expenses, reduced commissions and no bonus accruals, partially offset by higher severance and asset impairment charges particularly related to the branch closings. Gross profit margins for the quarter were flat with the prior year.

Canada

Sales for the Acklands-Grainger business in the quarter were up 11 percent versus the 2008 fourth quarter in U.S. dollars.  In local currency, sales were down 3 percent for the quarter and on a daily basis were down 7 percent in October, down 8 percent in November and up 7 percent in December.  Sales performance in December benefited from some large customer orders and the incremental sales from an acquisition.

From a customer sector standpoint, the 3 percent sales decline for the quarter was attributable to continued weakness among heavy manufacturing, contractor and forestry, partially offset by growth among utilities, government and agriculture and mining.

Operating earnings in Canada increased 59 percent in the 2009 fourth quarter and were up 38 percent in local currency.  This improvement resulted from the sales increase, a 0.9 percentage point improvement in gross profit margins, and operating expenses which increased at a slower rate than sales.

The improvement in gross margins was driven by a year-end inventory pick up primarily attributable to lower than forecasted transportation and product costs.  Product costs were lower than expected due in part to favorable foreign exchange.

The 2008 fourth quarter included a charge for the bankruptcy of a provider of freight payment services.  Excluding these items, operating earnings were up 6 percent in U.S. dollars, and down 7 percent in local currency, versus 2008.

Other Businesses

Sales for the other businesses, which now include Japan, Mexico, India, Puerto Rico, China, and Panama, were up 214 percent for the 2009 fourth quarter versus prior year.  The sales increase was due primarily to the acquisition of the businesses in India and Japan, along with contributions from Mexico and China.

Operating losses for other businesses were $3 million in both the 2009 and 2008 quarters.

Taxes

The fourth quarter 2009 tax rate of 40.6 percent includes the effect of a one-time tax expense resulting from tax law changes in Mexico.  Excluding the effect of this one-time expense, the effective tax rate for the fourth quarter was 39.1 percent.

The effective tax rate for the year 2009 was also 39.1 percent, excluding the effects of the Mexican tax expense recognized in the fourth quarter and a tax benefit recorded in the 2009 third quarter.

Cash Flow

Operating cash flow was $223 million versus $195 million in the 2008 fourth quarter.  For the full year, the company generated $732 million in operating cash flow versus $530 million in 2008. The company used cash from operations to fund capital expenditures of $53 million in the quarter versus $54 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Capital expenditures for the year were $142 million versus $195 million in 2008. The company paid $35 million in dividends to shareholders and repurchased 2.5 million shares of stock in the quarter.  For the full year, Grainger returned $507 million in cash to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases.

After buying back 4.5 million shares of stock in 2009, approximately 3.1 million shares remain under the current repurchase authorization at the end of the year.

W.W. Grainger, Inc. with 2009 sales of $6.2 billion is the leading broad line supplier of facilities maintenance products serving businesses and institutions in the United States and Canada, with an expanding presence in Japan, Mexico, India, China and Panama.

Through a highly integrated network including branches, distribution centers and Web sites, Grainger’s employees help customers get the job done.

Visit grainger.com/investor to view information about the company, including a history of daily sales by segment and a podcast regarding fourth quarter 2009 results.

Grainger reports sales of $6.2 billion and earnings per share of $5.62 for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The DCLA is presented annually by FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III to a recipient in each of the FBI’s 56 domestic field offices.

Established in 1990, the DCLA is designed to publicly recognize an individual or organization that has helped with crime prevention and educational programs within their community and which have furthered the efforts of law enforcement.

In selecting Mr. Kurtis as the 2009 recipient of this prestigious award, Director Mueller noted his many contributions over the years in both educating the public and assisting law enforcement.

Said Director Mueller, “Shows produced by Kurtis Productions, such as American Greed and American Justice, have documented to the public many successful investigative efforts of law enforcement while Cold Case Files enlists the public’s help in resolving unsolved cases and locating wanted fugitives.”

In announcing this award, Mr. Grant noted the dedication and personal involvement exhibited by Mr. Kurtis to the Chicago FBI during the past several years.

Mr. Grant added “Our office was honored to have Mr. Kurtis as the keynote speaker at both our inaugural Law Enforcement Memorial Service in May of 2007 and at our 100th Anniversary celebration in July of 2008. His eloquent remarks left attendees at both events with a greater appreciation of the sacrifice made daily by the men and women of law enforcement.”

In addition, Mr. Kurtis’ most recent series, Cold Case Minute, which airs locally on CBS 2 and profiles unsolved cases from the Chicago area, demonstrates his ongoing dedication to assisting law enforcement.

Mr. Kurtis follows Larry Wert, President, Central and Western Region, NBC Local Media, who was the 2008 DCLA recipient.

An awards luncheon honoring Mr. Kurtis is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. today at Harry Caray’s Restaurant, 33 West Kinzie in Chicago.

Mr. Kurtis is also invited to attend an awards ceremony, to be held in Washington, D.C. in March, at which time DCLA recipients from across the nation will be honored by Director Mueller.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Special Agent Ross Rice, 312-829-1199
FBI Chicago

Chicago journalist and documentarian honored by FBI | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Most categories of stocks rose, and growth stocks, in particular, were an easy bet as investors began to anticipate an economic recovery and bought technology, retailing and energy companies.

But now, after riding growth stocks, companies that have the fastest-growing earnings and revenue, investors have hesitated.

The strong rally ahead of the current earnings-reporting season “has investors wondering if fourth-quarter-earnings expectations have gotten too lofty, and if companies will be able to beat by enough to keep the rally going,” said David Bianco, chief U.S. equity strategist for Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

In 2009, growth stocks in the Russell 3000 index, which makes up nearly all U.S. stocks, were a clear standout, providing a 34.6 percent advance compared with 16.4 in the Russell 3000 value index. Among the large stocks in the Russell 1000, growth also outperformed.

But investors have seemed less sure of growth stocks lately as they have digested still-high unemployment figures and attempts by China’s government to slow growth somewhat.

The Russell 3000 growth stock index is up 2.8 percent this year, compared with the value index’s 3.9 percent advance.

And as they move from one type of stock to another during the recent uncertainty, market watchers are struggling to find a trend that investors can latch onto with conviction.

“The only clear trend is the lack of leadership,” the Leuthold Group said in a recent report to clients.

With the churn from one sector to another, Tuesday’s beneficiaries were health care stocks, which are growth stocks that have lagged recently.

They rose about 2 percent as a group, as investors grasped at relatively cheap stocks that they speculated could be beneficiaries if a U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts prevents Democrats from enacting a health care overhaul.

Other recent winners have been tobacco stocks, which are more insulated from frugal consumer behavior than companies that sell discretionary products. Technology stocks that were hot late last year lost some steam last week.

Read the original article from Tribune News Services.

Investors hesitate on growth stocks | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Boeing Capital Corp. results will also be released at that time.

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jim McNerney and Corporate President and Chief Financial Officer James Bell will discuss the results and company outlook during a conference that day at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

That call will be broadcast live at boeing.com.

A Boeing news release will also be available on Chicago Press Release Services.

Individuals should check the website prior to the session to ensure their computers can access the audio stream and slide presentation.

Instructions for obtaining the required free downloadable software will be posted on the site.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Boeing Communications, 312-544-2002

Boeing to Release Fourth-Quarter, Year-End 2009 Results on Jan. 27 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The release will be available on CAT.com/earnings at about 6:30 a.m. Central Time.

The news release will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) via a Current Report on Form 8-K (Form 8-K) on the date of the release or within four business days after the release, in compliance with applicable SEC rules.

Teleconference and webcast access:

A real-time, listen-only teleconference of the quarterly and year-end results call that Caterpillar conducts with security analysts and institutional investors will begin at 10 a.m. Central Time on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010.

The one-hour conference call can be accessed by telephone from both domestic and international locations, with a listen-only entry code provided below:

To access a telephone replay of this call shortly after the live event, please dial 800-332-6854 (for domestic callers) and 973-528-0005 (for international callers) and enter “5621″ as the conference ID.

This telephone replay will be available for 90 days. The call can also be accessed through CAT.com/IRwebcast.

Listeners should go to the Web site at least 15 minutes before the live event to download and install any necessary audio software.

The transcript from the conference call will be filed no later than Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, on a Form 8-K with the SEC and available through: CAT.com/SEC_Filings.

For those unable to participate in the live broadcast, the replay will be available through CAT.com/IRwebcast shortly after the live event.

There is no charge to access the webcast.  Those without access to the Internet may request a fax of Caterpillar’s transcript by calling 800-228-7717 (U.S. and Canada) or 858-244-2080 (for all other regions).

About Caterpillar

For more than 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent.

With 2008 sales and revenues of $51.324 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines.

The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services.

More information is available at cat.com.

Caterpillar Inc. to Announce Fourth-Quarter and Year-End 2009 Financial Results Jan. 27 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

During the quarter, the Company generated approximately $182 million of gross proceeds through a combination of asset sales and secured financings, as well as net proceeds of approximately $68 million from the sales of common equity.

The Company used a portion of available proceeds to retire during the quarter approximately $113 million of unsecured senior debt. The Company also received payment of approximately $40 million related to its previously disclosed tax refund application.

Asset Sales

In the fourth quarter, the Company:

• Completed the sale of four industrial properties on balance sheet totaling approximately 598,000 square feet of gross leaseable area (GLA), including one vacant building, for total aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $43 million.

Capital Market Activities

In the fourth quarter, the Company:

• Closed six secured financing transactions with multiple lenders generating gross borrowing proceeds of approximately $139 million secured by 49 properties totaling approximately 4.6 million square feet of GLA at a weighted average interest rate of 7.27% with ultimate maturities ranging from 5 to 10 years.
• Completed a public offering of 13.6 million shares of common stock in October for net proceeds of approximately $68 million.
• Repurchased a total of approximately $113 million of senior unsecured debt at an average purchase price of 86.8% of par, consisting of approximately:
  • $13 million of its 7.375% March 2011 senior notes
  • $52 million of its 4.625% September 2011 exchangeable notes; and
  • $48 million of senior notes with maturities beyond 2012.

As a result of these transactions, the Company expects to record a gain of approximately $12 million in the fourth quarter. The Company may from time to time repurchase or redeem additional amounts of its outstanding debt securities.

Any repurchases or redemptions would depend upon prevailing market conditions, the Company’s liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors the Company considers important.

Future repurchases or redemptions may materially impact the Company’s liquidity, future tax liability and results of operations.

Receipt of Tax Refund

During the third quarter, as previously disclosed, the Company significantly restructured the operations of a taxable REIT subsidiary after receiving a favorable private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

As a result of the restructuring, the subsidiary recognized tax losses on a substantial number of properties and investments in certain of its joint ventures whose tax basis was greater than fair market value.

Under federal income tax rules, the Company believes that the subsidiary is able to carry back these tax losses to offset taxable income it had previously recognized. Consequently, the Company applied for a federal income tax refund of approximately $40 million in the fourth quarter, and received those funds on Dec. 21, 2009.

Notwithstanding the Company’s receipt of a favorable private letter ruling and receipt of the refund amount, the tax refund could be challenged by the IRS, which may result in a future diminution of the tax refund and an obligation to return all or a part of the refund.

Financial Covenants

In addition, the Company cautioned that, as previously disclosed, it continues to operate with little cushion in certain of its financial covenants under its line of credit agreement and unsecured debt indenture.

The Company’s ability to continue to meet its financial covenants is dependent on various factors, including, in part, its ability to continue to sell sufficient assets on favorable terms.

With respect to the debt service covenant under the Company’s line of credit agreement, if the Company were otherwise unable to meet that covenant, the Company believes it could meet that covenant by choosing to suspend dividends on its outstanding preferred stock for one or more quarters.

About First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: FR) provides industrial real estate solutions for every stage of a customer’s supply chain, no matter how large or complex.

Across major markets in North America, our local market experts manage, lease, buy, (re)develop, and sell industrial properties, including all of the major facility types – bulk and regional distribution centers, light industrial, manufacturing, and R&D/flex.

We have a track record of industry leading customer service, and in total, we own, manage and have under development 93 million square feet of industrial space.

For more information, please visit us at firstindustrial.com.

We post or otherwise make available on this website from time to time information that may be of interest to investors.

First Industrial Realty Trust Provides Fourth Quarter 2009 Business Update | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The Commercial Airplanes backlog remains strong at 3,375 airplanes.

Boeing registered 263 gross and 142 net commercial orders for the year as air travel and freight declined and carriers worldwide experienced severe economic challenges.

The Next-Generation 737 continued its reign as the industry workhorse with 372 deliveries. The airplane also topped Boeing’s order book with 197 gross orders as carriers chose the 737′s efficiency and versatility for future fleet needs.

The 777 led Boeing’s twin-aisle programs as operators chose the most reliable and efficient twin-aisle jet flying today.

The global recession presided as an oppressive market reality in 2009, driving many carriers to re-evaluate their near- and medium-term fleet requirements.

Program orders, deliveries and backlog at the end of 2009 were as follows:

             Gross Orders     Net Orders     Deliveries     Backlog Units
    737           197             178            372            2,076
    777            30              19             88              281
    747             5               2              8              108
    767             7               2             13               59
    787            24             -59            N/A              851

First flight of the 787 Dreamliner took place Dec. 15, with first delivery scheduled for fourth-quarter 2010. The 747-8 Freighter is slated for first flight early this year with first delivery planned for fourth-quarter 2010.

Delivery of the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger airplane is planned for fourth-quarter 2011.

“2009 was not without its challenges but it also was a year of exciting achievements for our company and our industry,” said Jim Albaugh, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive officer.

“With signs of economic recovery emerging in 2010, we look forward to better days ahead.”

Boeing expects to provide 2010 commercial airplane delivery guidance when the company releases year-end earnings Jan. 27.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes highlights in 2009 included:

• First flight of the 787 Dreamliner.
• 3,000th delivery of the Next-Generation 737.
• The first 777 Freighter delivered to launch customer Air France.
• Delivery of the 1,400th 747 as the program celebrated its 40th anniversary.
• Boeing and the U.S. Navy formally unveiled the P-8A Poseidon – a derivative of the Next-Generation 737 – for the service’s newest maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.
• Significant progress among Boeing and its partners in studying sustainable biofuels.
• Boeing Training & Flight Services (formerly Alteon) introduced its new name and branding to highlight its expanded capabilities.
• Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services expanded its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations with the opening of a new hangar at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport.
• The 737-700C (Convertible) became the first member of the Next-Generation 737 family to be offered in both an all-passenger and all-cargo layout.

A detailed report of Boeing Commercial Airplanes orders and deliveries is available on the Orders and Deliveries Web site.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Media Relations, +1 206-766-2910
Boeing Commercial Airplanes

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Achieves 2009 Delivery Target, Maintains Strong Backlog | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The Food Channel®

Some of the top food trends of the decade announced include top flavors, food influencers, food people, news topics impacting food, restaurants and recipes.

According to foodchannel.com editors, the biggest trends of the last decade (2000-2009) include:

TOP TEN TRENDS OVERALL

• Sushi
• Bacon
• Cupcakes
• Sliders
• Gourmet Burgers made with Kobe or Angus Beef
• Superfruits such as Acai, Pomegranate and Blueberry
• Oils, such as olive oils and truffle oils
• Whole grains, such as Kashi, polenta, risotto
• Artisan foods, particularly in breads, cheeses and dark chocolates
• Coffees, teas

DECADE’S TOP FLAVORS

• Pomegranate
• Wasabi
• Cranberry
• Ginger
• Blueberry
• Hibiscus
• Bacon
• Green tea
• Dark Chocolate
• Mint

TOP TEN FOOD INFLUENCERS OF THE DECADE

• Organic foods, along with Locavore and Community Supported Agriculture
• International Cuisines
• Food TV and Internet
• Food Safety
• The Economy and subsequent shift to home cooking
• Fast casual restaurant concepts
• Fair trade and Artisan concepts in bread, chocolates, cheeses
• Mobility/Social Media/Twitter notifications/Underground dining
• Mixology
• Culinary education

TOP FOOD PEOPLE OF THE DECADE

• Food bloggers
• The local farmer
• Celebrity Chefs in general: Rick Bayless, Rachael Ray, Paula Deen, Bobby Flay, Guy Fieri, Emeril Lagasse, Gordon Ramsey, Giada De Laurentiis, Mario Batali, Alton Brown, Tyler Florence, Jaime Oliver, Ina Garten
• Julia Child/Julie Powell
• The home cook
• Grant Achatz
• Alice Waters
• Thomas Keller
• Martha Stewart
• The local restaurant chef

TOP TEN GENERAL NEWS TOPICS OF THE DECADE IMPACTING FOOD

• Food Safety (tomatoes, green onions, H1N1)
• Food Prices
• Slow Food
• Sustainability
• Consumer generated advertising (Dorito’s Super Bowl ad)
• The demise of traditional publishing (Gourmet Magazine)
• Organic
• Private branding
• Carl’s, Jr.’s edgy advertising
• McDonald’s innovation

DECADE’S TOP RECIPES

• Macaroni and Cheese
• Bread Pudding
• Risotto
• Biscotti
• Ceviche
• Deep Fried Turkey
• Creme Brulee
• Bruschetta
• Tilapia
• Guacamole

TOP RESTAURANT TRENDS OF THE DECADE

• Fast casual concept
• Tapas and shareables
• Gastropub
• Molecular Gastronomy
• Taco Trucks
• Underground dining
• Fusion
• DIY
• Catering
• Upscaling of Bar food

About The Food Channel®

The Food Channel (foodchannel.com) immerses visitors in a vibrant online community–comprised of food enthusiasts, culinary students and professionals–joined together by a passion for all things food.

The site includes original features, chef-tested recipes for all occasions, chef profiles, 4-star food photography, book reviews and food-event coverage. Visitors will also find a variety of videos on cooking techniques, recipe preparation and interviews on topics of current interest.

Weekly and monthly trend and recipe newsletters are available by signing up on the site.

For additional food news, trends, recipes, professional tips and reviews, visit foodchannel.com.

Follow The Food Channel on Twitter at twitter.com/foodchannel or Facebook at facebook.com/FoodChannel.

MEDIA CONTACT:

John Scroggins, 800-545-4087, ext. 5118
john.scroggins@noble.net

Foodchannel.com Announces Top Food Trends of the Decade | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The company has scheduled an investor conference call that day at 7:30 a.m. Central time.

A live audio Webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the company’s Web site, cmegroup.com.

Following the conference call, an archived recording will be available at the same site.

Those wishing to listen to the live conference via telephone should dial (888) 791-4322 if calling from within the United States or (913) 227-1353 if calling from outside the United States, at least 10 minutes before the call begins.

As the world’s largest and most diverse derivatives marketplace, CME Group (cmegroup.com) is where the world comes to manage risk.

CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes, including futures and options based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, weather and real estate.

CME Group brings buyers and sellers together through its CME Globex® electronic trading platform and its trading facilities in New York and Chicago.

CME Group also operates CME Clearing, one of the largest central counterparty clearing services in the world, which provides clearing and settlement services for exchange-traded contracts, as well as for over-the-counter derivatives transactions through CME ClearPort®.

These products and services ensure that businesses everywhere can substantially mitigate counterparty credit risk in both listed and over-the-counter derivatives markets.

The Globe logo, CME, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, CME Group, Globex, E-mini and CME ClearPort are trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.

CBOT and Chicago Board of Trade are trademarks of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago. NYMEX and New York Mercantile Exchange are trademarks of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. COMEX is a trademark of Commodity Exchange, Inc.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Further information about CME Group (Nasdaq: CME) and its products can be found at cmegroup.com.

CME Group Inc. Announces Date of Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2009 Earnings Release | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The announcement will be followed by a live webcast of the earnings conference call at 8 a.m. Central time (9 a.m. Eastern), and will be accessible through Abbott’s Investor Relations Web site at abbottinvestor.com.

An archived edition of the call will be available after 11 a.m. Central time.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics.

The company employs more than 72,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott’s news releases and other information are available on the company’s Web site at abbott.com.

Abbott Hosts Conference Call for Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2009 Earnings | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

PickupTucks.com

The trucks that made the list introduced cutting edge technologies and pushed the segment into new territory.

“Despite the economic challenges of the past two years, it’s hard not to look back at the last ten years without calling it the decade of the pickup truck,” said PickupTrucks.com editor Mike Levine.

“Sales of full-size pickups hit 2.56 million units in 2004 and Ford’s F-Series trucks remain the nation’s best-selling vehicles, 33 years in a row.”

Though there are many trucks that had a significant impact in the last decade, it’s clear that the 2009 Ford F-150 earned the title of “Most Significant.”

“On balance, we thought the 2009 Ford F-150 was the most significant pickup of the last decade,” said Jim Hossack, vice president of consulting for AutoPacific.

“It sells in high volume, owners like it and its body, chassis and powertrain are all first rate. Features abound, and there are more models, series and options than can be counted. It’s a good looking truck and suitable for the widest possible range of tasks and uses.”

Below is the complete ranking of most significant trucks of the decade:

2000 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab

Why It’s Significant: First pickup truck to offer four full-sized doors and a configuration that prioritized passenger space over cargo capacity.

Crew cab pickups were popular in overseas markets long before they finally arrived in the U.S. Nissan was the first to offer its buyers another choice beyond a regular or extended cab.

Buyers loved the idea because entire families could now travel comfortably in pickup trucks on long trips or around town. The idea quickly gained traction with every manufacturer and soon crew cabs made up almost 50 percent of the mix of all trucks sold.

2001 Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra Heavy Duty with 6.6-Liter Duramax Diesel

Why It’s Significant: Made GM a serious player in heavy duty pickups and raised the bar for diesel engines.

In 2000, GM held less than 10 percent market share in the three-quarter-ton and one-ton truck segments. Its 6.2-liter and 6.5-liter diesel engines weren’t competitive with the mills in Ford’s and Dodge’s trucks.

But GM’s joint venture engineering and manufacturing agreement with Isuzu Motors of Japan changed all of that. With Isuzu’s help, the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks debuted with the all-new 6.6-liter V-8 turbodiesel.

It broke new ground in horsepower, torque and fuel economy and helped GM jump to more than 30 percent market share by 2002.

2002 Chevrolet Avalanche

Why It’s Significant: Combined the best attributes of a full-size SUV and pickup truck in a single vehicle.

The wild looking Chevrolet Avalanche debuted as a lightly disguised concept at the 2000 NAIAS. GM intended to build it to fill the gap between the Suburban and Silverado full-size trucks.

Its convert-a-cab system made it versatile for carrying passengers or cargo by offering pass-through access between the cabin and bed and a removable rear window.

Unibody exterior styling was unique, as well as its use of a multi-link rear suspension and composite bed — traits that would be reused later in the decade by the Honda Ridgeline.

2004 Nissan Titan

Why It’s Significant: The first true full-size half-ton pickup truck from a Japanese automaker

Japanese car companies had successfully entered almost every segment of the U.S. car and truck markets except the unique domain of the North American full-size pickup truck when Nissan unveiled the 2004 Titan.

Sure, Toyota marginally stuck its toes in the segment with its T100 pickup in 1993 but the T100 was too small and underpowered to ever be a serious contender.

The Titan met about 80 percent of half-ton buyers’ needs with its 300-hp, 5.6-liter V-8, an advanced five-speed automatic transmission and a choice of extended cab or crew cab configurations.

It quickly gained a loyal following, but later years’ sales were hampered by reliability issues with early trucks.

2005 Toyota Tacoma

Why It’s Significant: The best-selling small truck in the U.S.

Small truck sales have dwindled throughout the decade but Toyota has managed to keep sales of the Tacoma relatively strong and take market share in this neglected segment. Just before the turn of the century, the Ford Ranger outsold Tacoma by more than 2-to-1, today it’s the exact opposite. The Tacoma offers a broad lineup of cab, body, wheelbase and engine choices with strong capabilities and excellent performance and refinement. What more could a small truck buyer want if they’re not going to buy a full-size pickup?

2006 Honda Ridgeline

Why It’s Significant: Created a class of one with its unique unibody construction and a trunk in the bed.

Love it or hate it (there’s no in-between), the Honda Ridgeline did what Japanese pickups have consistently done over the years: Break new ground in terms of form and functionality.

The Ridgeline came to market in 2005 with controversial slab-sided lunar-lander looks and all-wheel drive. It did away with conventional leaf springs in favor of an independent rear suspension that gave it great ride comfort and enough room for an in-bed lockable trunk – the first in a pickup.

The Ridgeline also featured a dual-action tailgate that folded down or off to the side, like a door, to allow unimpeded access to the cargo box.

2007 Toyota Tundra

Why It’s Significant: Toyota’s no-holds-barred attempt to gain ground in full-size trucks.

When the 2007 Toyota Tundra debuted it was notable for being two things: big and powerful. But just being big and powerful doesn’t automatically sell trucks.

Several mechanical issues that garnered high visibility online with truck buyers and a lack of a large loyal buyer base contributed to a huge falloff in Tundra sales after it almost met its first year sales goal of 200,000 units.

Today, the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Ram 1500 all offer more powerful V-8 engines than the Tundra and Ford is about to join that group, pushing the Tundra to fourth place for bragging rights. Tundra sales have shrunk to well under 100,000 units per year. It’s proof that the domestics still know how to build a superior vehicle.

2009 Dodge Ram 1500

Why It’s Significant: Ditched conventional leaf springs for a coil spring rear axle and added side saddle storage to the cargo box.

The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 could have impressed many simply for its more powerful Hemi V-8, handsome exterior and totally revised interior but Chrysler carried its half-ton pickup much farther by featuring a coil spring rear axle — resurrecting an idea that GM had tried from 1967 to 1972 in its C10 and C20 pickups — that gave the Ram 1500 unparalleled ride comfort and quality for a half-ton pickup.

Towing was limited to only 9,100 pounds but after a year of additional testing and real world results, Dodge re-rated the Ram 1500 to tow up to 10,450 pounds.

2009 Ford F-150: MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THE DECADE

Why It’s Significant: Remains the gold standard against which other half-ton pickup trucks are compared.

Ford gave its F-150 half-ton pickup a major revision for 2009 and gave buyers an astonishing seven different models to choose from before they even considered engine choice or cab type.

Two more models have been added for 2010! It’s not the most powerful truck but the F-150 features an excellent six-speed transmission and innovative features like Ford Work Solutions that make doing jobs with a truck easier.

From contractor to urban cowboy, Ford has an F-150 to meet almost anyone’s needs.

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Why It’s Significant: Ford had the guts to build a go-fast pre-runner-style factory pickup for under $40K

There’s nothing else like the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and there likely may never be. It features a unique Fox Racing long-travel suspension that has a full 11-inches of travel in the front dampers to absorb the impact from jumps – jumps! – made in the desert at speeds of up to 100 mph.

It’s six-speed transmission is specially tuned with an off-road mode and there’s a rear locking differential that works in two-wheel or four-wheel drive at speeds up to 66 mph. When other truck manufacturers mumble to themselves about the truck they wish they had in their lineup, Raptor is usually the first word that falls from their lips.

About PickupTrucks.com

PickupTrucks.com is a Web site dedicated to the distinct needs of pickup truck buyers and owners.

In addition to thousands of new- and used-truck listings, PickupTrucks.com offers relevant information and powerful tools so that truck buyers can make the right decision on what to buy, where to buy, how much to pay and how to outfit their vehicles.

The site features expert truck reviews, the latest truck news, a pickup truck configurator, pricing calculators, user generated ratings and more.

PickupTrucks.com is a member of the Cars.com(TM) family of sites. Other Cars.com properties include MotherProof.com(TM) and NewCars.com. Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC(TM).

About AutoPacific

AutoPacific is a future-oriented automotive marketing research and product-consulting firm. Every year AutoPacific publishes a wide variety of syndicated studies on the automotive industry.

The firm, founded in 1986, also conducts extensive proprietary research and consulting for auto manufacturers, distributors, marketers and suppliers worldwide.

Company headquarters and its state-of-the-art automotive research facility are in Tustin, California, with an affiliate office in the Detroit area.

Additional information can be found on AutoPacific’s websites: autopacific.com and news.vehiclevoice.com.

PickupTrucks.com and AutoPacific Announce the Most Significant Trucks of the Decade | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The past year has been marked by a series of moral transgressions by powerful figures in political, business and celebrity circles. New research from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University explores why powerful people – many of whom take a moral high ground – don’t practice what they preach.

In “Power Increases Hypocrisy: Moralizing in Reasoning, Immunity and Behavior,” researchers sought to determine whether power inspires hypocrisy, the tendency to hold high standards for others while performing morally suspect behaviors oneself.

The research finds that power makes people stricter in moral judgment of others – while being less strict of their own behavior.

The research was conducted by Joris Lammers and Diederik A. Stapel of Tilburg University in the Netherlands, and by Adam Galinsky of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

The article will appear in a forthcoming issue of Psychological Science.

“This research is especially relevant to the biggest scandals of 2009, as we look back on how private behavior often contradicted the public stance of particular individuals in power,” said Galinsky, the Morris and Alice Kaplan Professor of Ethics and Decision in Management at the Kellogg School.

“For instance, we saw some politicians use public funds for private benefits while calling for smaller government, or have extramarital affairs while advocating family values. Similarly, we witnessed CEOs of major financial institutions accepting executive bonuses while simultaneously asking for government bailout money on behalf of their companies.”

“According to our research, power and influence can cause a severe disconnect between public judgment and private behavior, and as a result, the powerful are stricter in their judgment of others while being more lenient toward their own actions,” he continued.

To simulate an experience of power, the researchers assigned roles of high-power and low-power positions to a group of study participants. Some were assigned the role of prime minister and others civil servant.

The participants were then presented with moral dilemmas related to breaking traffic rules, declaring taxes, and returning a stolen bike.

Through a series of five experiments, the researchers examined the impact of power on moral hypocrisy. For example, in one experiment the “powerful” participants condemned the cheating of others while cheating more themselves.

High-power participants also tended to condemn over-reporting of travel expenses.

But, when given a chance to cheat on a dice game to win lottery tickets (played alone in the privacy of a cubicle), the powerful people reported winning a higher amount of lottery tickets than did low-power participants.

Three additional experiments further examined the degree to which powerful people accept their own moral transgressions versus those committed by others.

In all cases, those assigned to high-power roles showed significant moral hypocrisy by more strictly judging others for speeding, dodging taxes and keeping a stolen bike, while finding it more acceptable to engage in these behaviors themselves.

Galinsky noted that moral hypocrisy has its greatest impact among people who are legitimately powerful.

In contrast, a fifth experiment demonstrated that people who don’t feel personally entitled to their power are actually harder on themselves than they are on others, which is a phenomenon the researchers dubbed “hypercrisy.”

The tendency to be harder on the self than on others also characterized the powerless in multiple studies.

“Ultimately, patterns of hypocrisy and hypercrisy perpetuate social inequality. The powerful impose rules and restraints on others while disregarding these restraints for themselves, whereas the powerless collaborate in reproducing social inequality because they don’t feel the same entitlement,” Galinsky concluded.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Meg Washburn, 847-491-5446
Kellogg School of Management
mwashburn@kellogg.northwestern.edu

New Kellogg School Research Explores ‘Moral Hypocrisy’ in Powerful People | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Harris Regional President Jack Lloyd recently was named the 2009 Business Leader of the Year by the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce.

Lloyd will be honored at the Chamber’s “Key to Success” Awards & Installation Dinner on Jan. 21, 2010.

“Jack is an active participant in the Palatine community and encourages his staff to do the same,” said Mindy Phillips, director of the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce.

“He supports local business and philanthropic efforts, serving on a number of local boards and volunteering his time and energy. All these qualities and more make him deserving of our Business Leader of the Year award for 2009.”

Lloyd, born and raised in the northwest suburbs, currently serves on the board of numerous local organizations, including the Harper College Educational Foundation, Northwest Community Healthcare Foundation, Northwest Cultural Council, Palatine Opportunity Center, and the Shelter, Inc. Advisory Council.

“All of us at Harris are very proud of Jack and the contributions he has made to earn this award,” said Daniela O’Leary-Gill, north district executive, Harris.

“He truly is an asset to our team and to the communities he serves.”

This award caps off a banner year for Lloyd – in 2009, he received the Business Leader of the Year award from the Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce, and the Community Service Award from the Arlington Heights Park District.

About Harris

Harris is an integrated financial service organization providing more than 1.2 million personal, business and corporate clients with banking, lending, investing and wealth management solutions.

The organization is a member of the BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), which also provides corporate and investment banking services in the U.S. under the BMO Capital Markets name.

Harris® is a trade name used by various financial service subsidiaries of Harris Financial Corp. Banking products and services are provided by Harris N.A., The Harris Bank, N.A. and their bank affiliates, Members FDIC. Brokerage products are offered through Harris Investor Services, Inc. (HIS), a registered broker/dealer, member FINRA/SIPC, and SEC-registered investment adviser.

Insurance and annuities are offered through Harris Bancorp Insurance Services, Inc. (HBIS). Investment banking services are provided by BMO Capital Markets Corp. (BMOCM), a registered broker dealer and member NYSE, FINRA and SIPC.

HIS, HBIS and BMOCM are affiliated companies and are wholly owned subsidiaries of Harris Financial Corp.

Products offered by HIS, HBIS and BMOCM are Not Insured by the FDIC or any Federal Government Agency, Not a Deposit of or Guaranteed by Any Bank or Bank Affiliate, May Lose Value. The purchase of insurance or an annuity is not a condition to any bank loan or service.

Financial planning and investment advisory services are provided by Sullivan, Bruyette, Speros & Blayney, Inc., an SEC registered investment adviser. Family Office Services are provided by Harris myCFO, Inc.

Investment advisory services are offered by Harris myCFO Investment Advisory Services LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Harris myCFO, Inc. Investment advisory services to institutional clients are provided by Harris Investment Management (HIM), a SEC-registered investment adviser.

Not all products and services are offered in every state and/or location.

Harris Regional President Jack Lloyd Named 2009 Palatine Business Leader of the Year | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Redbox, the fully-automated DVD rental provider located at the nation’s leading grocery, mass, drug and convenience stores, announces the top DVD rentals of 2009.

The country’s leading DVD rental kiosk operator, redbox, rented more than 350 million DVDs this year.

“Paul Blart: Mall Cop” topped the list of the most-rented movies logging more than 4.5 million redbox rentals.

Here is a look at 2009′s most popular redbox DVD rentals by category, including most-rented: Chick Flick, Bromance, Tearjerker, Adrenaline Rush and Family Fun films:*

TOP MOVIES of 2009

1. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
2. The Proposal
3. Taken
4. Gran Torino
5. Knowing

TOP BROMANCES of 2009

1. I Love You, Man
2. Year One
3. My Best Friend’s Girl
4. Pineapple Express
5. Role Models

TOP ADRENALINE RUSH of 2009

1. Taken
2. Knowing
3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
4. Obsessed
5. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

TOP CHICK FLICKS of 2009

1. The Proposal
2. Bride Wars
3. He’s Just Not That Into You
4. 17 Again
5. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

TOP TEARJERKERS of 2009

1. Gran Torino
2. Marley & Me
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4. Seven Pounds
5. The Soloist

TOP FAMILY FUN of 2009

1. Bedtime Stories
2. Bolt
3. Beverly Hills Chihuahua
4. Up
5. Hotel for Dogs

Redbox makes DVD renting easy, affordable and fun. Located at select McDonald’s restaurants, leading grocery and convenience stores, and Walmart and Walgreens locations in select markets, each fully automated redbox kiosk holds 630 DVDs, representing up to 200 of the newest releases.

Consumers simply use a touch screen to select their favorite movies, swipe a valid credit or debit card and go. Customers can keep the DVD for as long as they’d like for one low nightly rate, and return it to any one of redbox’s more than 19,000 locations nationwide.

For added convenience, customers can reserve a DVD online at redbox.com or via an iPhone and pick it up at the redbox location of their choice.

About Redbox

Redbox Automated Retail, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coinstar, Inc., offers new release DVD rentals through its network of conveniently located, self-service kiosks.

Redbox has rented more than 500 million DVDs and is available at more than 19,000 locations nationwide, including select McDonald’s restaurants, leading grocery and convenience stores, and Walmart and Walgreens locations in select markets.

For more information, visit redbox.com.

*Editor’s Note: Top movies determined by total number of rentals.

Redbox Announces Top DVD Rentals of 2009 Including Most-Rented Bromance, Chick Flick and Family Films | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Access to the call will be available via a link called “Fourth Quarter 2009 Earnings Call” on the investor relations page of PrivateBancorp, Inc.’s Internet site at www.theprivatebank.com.

The Company plans to release its fourth quarter 2009 earnings prior to the opening of trading on January 25, 2010. The earnings release also will be posted on the Company’s website.

The webcast and call will feature a brief discussion of the earnings release, followed by questions from professional investors invited to participate in the interactive portion of the discussion. Parties accessing the Webcast will be in a “listen-only” mode.

Following the live webcast, an archived replay of the call will be available on the PrivateBancorp, Inc. Web site beginning approximately two hours after the call ends.

The replay will remain available until the first quarter 2010 earnings release is available.

About PrivateBancorp, Inc.

PrivateBancorp, Inc. is a growing diversified financial services company with 34 offices in 10 states and $12.1 billion in assets as of September 30, 2009.

Through its subsidiaries, PrivateBancorp delivers customized business and personal financial services to middle-market commercial and commercial real estate companies, as well as business owners, executives, entrepreneurs and wealthy families.

Additional information can be found in the Investor Relations section of PrivateBancorp, Inc.’s Web site at theprivatebank.com.

Webcast of PrivateBancorp, Inc.’s Fourth Quarter 2009 Earnings Conference Call | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The Tri-County Economic Development Alliance (TCEDA) is encouraging supporters to attend the official state hearing on the proposed sale of the Thomson Correctional Center to the federal government.

The event, scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. in Centennial Auditorium at Sterling High School, is expected to draw national attention and protests from several groups.

“I know there are a lot of reports out there saying this proposal is a ‘done deal,’ but we’ve heard that about the Thomson prison too many times before,” said TCEDA Interim Director Russ Simpson.

“We are encouraged by recent events, but TCEDA will not rest until we see good jobs filled by hard-working folks from our region. It’s incredibly important that our supporters make a strong showing at the hearing so there is no doubt in the minds of officials in Springfield and Washington that the people of northwest Illinois want this to happen.”

TCEDA asks supporters who plan to attend the hearing to call the agency at 815-273-1153, or email info@tcedaonline.com so it can coordinate logistics and ensure a strong turnout.

“We know that vocal opponents of this proposal – many of whom live outside of the area – plan to descend on Sterling on Tuesday,” Simpson said.

“While these individuals use fear to divide and conquer, the people of our region have set aside partisan differences to unite and transform the economy of northwest Illinois. I hope our friends and neighbors will join TCEDA in Sterling for a positive, powerful and peaceful show of support for this tremendous project.”

Security at the hearing is expected to be tight, including a strong law enforcement presence and metal detectors at the auditorium entrances.

Meeting organizers say doors will open one hour before the hearing, and seating in the auditorium will be on a first come, first served basis.

TCEDA has posted more information about the Thomson prison plan, including a flyer, the White House report on the economic impact of the project, and links to promote the event via Facebook, on its Web site, tcedaonline.com.

About the Tri-County Economic Development Alliance

Headquartered in Savanna, Ill., the Tri-County Economic Development Alliance is a private, not-for-profit 501c6 corporation formed to develop regional public/private partnerships that promote, encourage and support industrial and economic development in Jo Daviess, Carroll and Whiteside Counties.

For more information, visit tcedaonline.com.

    For more information, contact:
    ------------------------------
    Russ Simpson, 815-858-4295 (cell) or rsimpson@jocarroll.com, or
    Michelle Miller, 815-273-1153 (office) or info@tcedaonline.com

TCEDA Urges Strong Showing at Dec. 22 Thomson Prison Hearing | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The company will release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2009 results earlier that morning, before the U.S. stock market open and the conference call.

A live Webcast of the conference call will be available on Hospira’s Web site at hospirainvestor.com.

Listeners should log on approximately 10 minutes in advance to ensure proper computer setup to receive the Webcast. A replay will be available on the Hospira Web site for 30 days following the call.

About Hospira

Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company dedicated to Advancing Wellness((TM)).

As the world leader in specialty generic injectable pharmaceuticals, Hospira offers one of the broadest portfolios of generic acute-care and oncology injectables, as well as integrated infusion therapy and medication management solutions. Through its products, Hospira helps improve the safety, cost and productivity of patient care.

The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., and has more than 14,000 employees.

Learn more at hospira.com.

Hospira to Host Conference Call for Fourth-Quarter 2009 Results and 2010 Projections | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Global Capacity, Inc. (parent: Capital Growth Systems, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CGSY)), the world’s leading telecommunications information and logistics company, today announced that its “Strategic Sourcing” line of business delivered strong 2009 results, positioning the company for continued growth in 2010.

Global Capacity leverages its Knowledge Engine, a proprietary telecom industry information and automation tool across 195 countries and 6 continents, to enable its clients to make intelligent buying decisions.

The Strategic Sourcing products, “One Marketplace” and “Network Novation Services,” allow customers to design, price, build, optimize and manage both standard and customized worldwide data movement.

The annual growth rate for One Marketplace in 2009 through November is a robust 163%.

The aggregated network purchasing solution has been embraced by customers who have experienced immediate cost reductions for data connectivity. Sales growth in Network Novation Services in the same time period was an impressive 46%.

The novation approach combines Global Capacity’s network engineering expertise with the Knowledge Engine to build new network configurations that improve costs through circuit alteration and carrier selection.

These strong growth rates were driven by exceptional client positioning and consultation to optimize value for both Enterprise customers and the many leading global telecommunications suppliers served by Global Capacity.

“Clients come to Global Capacity because they value the knowledge and expertise we provide them to optimize their data networks and provide first rate service and reliability,” says Tina Schwab, Vice President of Sales.

“We are extremely well positioned to expand on our success in 2010.”

“The Strategic Sourcing products are core to our business in 2010,” states Patrick Shutt, Global Capacity CEO.

“These products represent the strategic value we provide our growing customer base.

The continued high demand we have seen in 2009, given current worldwide economic challenges, is evidence of Global Capacity’s value in the global marketplace. We are optimistic that these product lines will continue to drive growth in the coming year as we capitalize on our 2009 successes.”

For more information on Global Capacity, please visit globalcapacity.com, and to learn more about the GCPrice platform, please visit gcprice.com.

About Global Capacity

Global Capacity (parent: Capital Growth Systems, Inc.) is a telecom information and logistics company that increases efficiency and reduces data movement costs for our clients.

Global Capacity streamlines and accelerates the process of designing, pricing, building, optimizing, and managing both standard and customized data movement networks.

Global Capacity delivers services to enterprises, systems integrators, governments and carrier customers worldwide.

Global Capacity’s knowledge engine is powered by information, knowledge, analysis, and algorithms covering 195 countries on 6 continents.

For more information, please visit globalcapacity.com or contact the company at + 1 312-673-2400.

Global Capacity Announces Strong 2009 Gains in ‘Strategic Sourcing’ Business | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.