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Somers wins Athena Award
CHAMPAIGN — The latest winner of the Athena Award got her career rolling by scheduling a log rolling.
But Cindy Somers' career didn't turn out to be the one she expected.
Somers, the owner of the Spherion Staffing franchises in Champaign and Decatur, got her undergraduate degree from Indiana University in recreation programming, planning and management.
Skepticism greets report of 'nearly destroyed' C-U economy
CHAMPAIGN — Champaign-Urbana was one of five metropolitan areas "nearly destroyed by the recession," according to a story from 24/7 Wall St., a company that produces content for the Web.
But several local officials and economists, while acknowledging recent job losses, say the writers engaged in hyperbole.
Genpact to send some work from Danville to India
DANVILLE — Genpact officials are planning to transfer some of the Danville facility's existing work to lower-cost locations, including India, according to company officials, who maintain that the global company does not intend to reduce its workforce in Danville.
National cuts to affect 'fewer than 10' at Supervalu in C-U
URBANA — "Fewer than 10" jobs will be eliminated at Supervalu's facilities in Champaign-Urbana as a result of plans to cut 800 positions nationally, company spokesman Mike Siemienas said.
The Supervalu distribution center in Urbana and the W. Newell & Co. produce center in Champaign together employ about 500, Siemienas said.
Spending cuts, competition, changes in taste affect fine-dining restaurants
URBANA — Fine-dining restaurants are finding it more difficult to succeed as competition increases, tastes change and clients cut back on spending, observers of the local restaurant scene say.
Jobless rates up in all area counties except Champaign
CHAMPAIGN — Champaign County was the only East Central Illinois county where the unemployment rate didn't rise in December, according to the state Department of Employment Security.
Champaign County's rate was 7.8 percent, unchanged from November, while Vermilion County's rate increased to 10.3 percent, up from 9.9 percent in November.
Rutherford: Legislators must address pension obligations
CHAMPAIGN — Calling it "the big alligator," State Treasurer Dan Rutherford said the state's ballooning pension system obligations must be addressed by lawmakers this spring.
Even if pension costs are tackled, Rutherford said other spending also will have to be limited.
Caution: Construction ahead in Vermilion County
DANVILLE — Vermilion County residents will see all sorts of construction projects going on in 2012 — from wind turbines, to bike paths, to road reconstruction, to bridge replacements and the long-awaited construction of an overpass to replace the crumbling Fairchild Street subway in Danville.
Index at highest point in 3 years
URBANA — The University of Illinois flash index in December reached its highest point in three years, reflecting continued growth of the Illinois economy.
But the professor who compiles the index warns that economic growth in 2012 will be relatively slow and unemployment won't go down quickly.
Demand fuels Rantoul pork plant's plans for growth
RANTOUL — Rantoul Foods pork processing plant will build five more loading docks, a shipping office and another finished-product cooling unit to handle the large number of hogs being processed.
The plant, located at 205 Turner Drive in the village's industrial park, slaughters and processes between 3,700 and 4,000 hogs a day.
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