Graybeards dominate barber shop business

Five barbers: All picked at random. Average age: 67. State of barbering: Endangered.

Numbers tell the story. In 1971, Illinois had about 19,000 barbers. Today, the state has about 5,300. Barbers are older, and many are nearing retirement – or working past retirement – and there don't seem to be young ones taking their places.

Also on this date

• Carle Hospital eyes massive building expansion project
• Clinton residents, company at odds on chemical waste
• Urbana plans year of events for milestone birthday
• Parkland police sergeant likes challenge in her own 'small town'
• Urbana schools have glitches in the (computer) system
• Towns seek remedies to abandoned buildings
• School bus hits van; 2 adults injured
• UI Employees Credit Union headed in new directions
• It's your business: Maurices moving from mall to plaza
• Obituaries

» More