Chicago business news and updates: Chicago Sun-Times

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Aaron Swartz’s colleagues call his death tragic injustice

Colleagues at Chicago-based consultancy ThoughtWorks described computer genius and Highland Park native Aaron Swartz as a thoughtful, kind young man who could explain complex ideas to anyone and who wanted open access to knowledge.

What secret will Facebook reveal at Tuesday ‘press event’?

SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook’s mystery “press event” on Tuesday could reveal a more robust search feature that would intensify the competition between the social networking giant and its rival Google Inc. Facebook is holding the event at noon Chicago time at its Menlo Park, Calif., …Read More
New data show Chicago tech-job growth

The co-founders of CheekyChicago.com, a women’s webzine, events organizer and loyalty program sponsor, will hire the largest number of employees in the company’s four-year history this year. The company’s plans mirror data released Monday by Dice, an online career website for technology professionals, showing Illinois — and primarily Chicago — employed its highest number ever of technology consulting workers.
TERRY SAVAGE: New mortgage rules will help banks, borrowers

The new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is off to a good start. Its first major act is a set of new rules to be followed by banks when making mortgage loans. The rules not only protect the borrowers, but give the banks some “safe harbors” that will, hopefully, allow them to make more mortgages with less red tape.

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Walmart to have eight city stores by week’s end; three more on tap

After battling labor leaders, entrenched grocers and City Council members, Walmart is gaining traction toward its goal of opening “dozens” of stores in Chicago.

Northwestern Medicine announces plan to raise $1 billion for research

Northwestern Medicine announced that it plans to raise more than $1 billion for medical research on Monday, though the “linchpin” for the proposed research site is not a done deal. Northwestern says the centerpiece of the $1 billion investment will be on construction of the new proposed building at the site of the former Prentice Women’s Hospital at 320 E. Huron.

American changing jet orders with Boeing, Airbus

American Airlines says it has renegotiated jet orders with Boeing Co. to save money and in some cases get a slightly smaller, less expensive version of Boeing’s new 787 jet.

Apple drags S&P;, Nasdaq down; Dow rises

Apple held down the Standard & Poor’s 500, pushing it further below the five-year high it reached last week, after the technology giant’s stock sank following a report that demand for the iPhone 5 may be weaker than expected. The Dow Jones industrial average edged higher.

Ram 1500, Cadillac ATS win top auto awards

General Motors’ Cadillac ATS and Chrysler’s Ram 1500 pickup on Monday won the 2013 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year. The winners were unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Special ed, nonprofits ‘get first crack’ at state money: Topinka

Illinois’ fiscal picture “is such a mess in Springfield it just makes me sick,” state Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka told board members and educators from the Special Education District of Lake County after a tour of Laremont School in Gages Lake. But “we will get through this — for the sake of our state and the residents that you serve, we have to get through this,” she said, assuring that organizations that need funds to assist the disabled will go to the front of the line in her office.