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Made in the USA back in style for small businesses

When Martin Rawls-Meehan started making adjustable beds in 2004, it was a foregone conclusion that key parts would be made overseas. But this year, his company, Reverie, began making some of its beds entirely in a factory in New York.

 

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Ford to end auto production in Australia in 2016

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Ford Motor Co. said Thursday it will close its two Australian auto plants, ending production in the country in 2016, amid soaring manufacturing costs and plummeting sales.

US equities sell-off goes on; futures slump

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The momentum of a late sell-off on Wall Street is carrying through for a second day, with U.S. futures and global stock markets in retreat.

Joan Suzio, owner of Decorating Den Interiors of Libertyville, received a top award in her company’s international design contest for outstanding design work.

Tesla uses stock, note sale to repay government $451.8 million

DETROIT (AP) — Tesla Motors, which makes a highly acclaimed $70,000 electric car, has paid off a startup loan from the U.S. government nine years early. The Palo Alto, Calif., company said it wired in a $451.8 million payment to the government on Wednesday.

The 10 highest-paid CEOs of 2012

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It pays to be in TV. On the list of 10-best paid CEOs of 2012 — the exclusive club inside an already-exclusive club — half are in the entertainment and media industry, according to executive pay research firm Equilar.

College fossil-fuel divestment movement builds

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Student activists at more than 200 colleges are trying a new tactic in hopes of slowing the pace of climate change: They are asking their schools to stop investing in fossil fuel companies. It is far from certain that the campaign will help change the behavior of fossil fuel companies or public attitudes about climate change.

Fed weighed slowing its pace of bond purchases

Several Federal Reserve policymakers this month favored slowing the Fed’s efforts to maintain record-low long-term interest rates as early as June — if the economy showed strong and sustained growth. But those officials appeared at odds over what evidence would demonstrate such gains.

US home sales tick up to highest in 3 ½ years

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Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes ticked up last month to the highest level in three and a half years, helped by a jump in the number of houses for sale.

Restaurant learns online reviews can make or break

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It was the customer service disaster heard around the Internet. An Arizona restaurateur, fed up after years of negative online reviews and an embarrassing appearance on a reality television show, posted a social media rant laced with salty language and angry, uppercase letters that quickly went viral last week, to the delight of people who love a good Internet meltdown.

Target’s 1Q profit drops 26 pct on weak sales

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Target Corp. reported a 26 percent drop in first-quarter profit as cool temperatures and financial pressures limited customers’ appetite for spending. The company, based in Minneapolis, also cut its annual profit outlook, sending its stock down in premarket trading.

US auto factories cutting back on summer downtime

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The Detroit automakers are largely forgoing the traditional two-week summer break at their factories and speeding up production to meet buyers’ growing demand for new cars and trucks. Ford Motor Co. said Wednesday that 21 of its North American factories, including its Chicago plant, will shut for only one week this summer.

Stocks fall on news Fed weighed cutting stimulus

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Stocks closed lower on news that several Federal Reserve policymakers favored cutting back on stimulus programs as early as June if the economy continues to improve. The release of minutes of the Fed’s April 30-May 1 meeting reversed a surge earlier in the day.

Business Calendar

Wednesday, May 22: Antioch Chamber of Commerce after-hours mixer at 5 p.m. at The Lodge.

Volkswagen to put special fuel caps on diesels

DETROIT (AP) — Volkswagen is replacing the fuel tank covers on more than 200,000 of its diesel vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada to remind owners to fill their tanks with diesel — not gasoline.

Microsoft reveals Xbox One, next-generation gaming

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Microsoft thinks it has the one. The company revealed the Xbox One, its next-generation entertainment console Tuesday. The console was demonstrated using voice control to switch among watching live TV, listening to music and browsing the Internet, as well as simultaneously running apps.