Jan. 31 -- Taking a cotton message to Congress (J.T. Smith Column): Monsanto Company will underwrite the cost of a Cotton Foundation special project aimed at giving national legislators a better understanding and appreciation for the U.S. cotton industry.

Jan. 30 -- Local businesses unaffected by disease outbreak (Doug Williamson Column): Flu shots apparently have protected many employees from the bug going around town.

Jan. 30 -- Ag outlook still bright as January rolls to end (J.T. Smith Column): Overall, the area agricultural picture isn't bad as January comes to an end this weekend.

Jan. 29 -- See what people are searching for on the Web: I never write about, make a big deal of or delve into the myriad ways to waste time on the Internet. So, let's just consider this an exploration of the human condition.

Jan. 29 -- There's no loophole for good intent: The company president tried hard to help the Internal Revenue Service and got stung doing it.

Jan. 29 -- Resolve to succeed in a job change in '98: If a job change tops your 1998 wish list, here are some ways to begin.

Jan. 29 -- Online trading can blind your sensibility: Cries of anguish filled the airwaves, news columns and online forums earlier this fall when the stock market took a one-day, 550-point tumble.

Jan. 29 -- Advisers say retirement market offers best growth potential: NEW YORK (Dow Jones News) -- A majority of financial advisers believe that the growing retirement market offers them the greatest opportunity to expand their business in the near future, according to a survey by Fidelity Investments.

Jan. 29 -- 'The Money Book' should be on your bookshelf: If you only read one book in your lifetime, other than the Bible, "The Consumer Reports Money Book" should be your choice.

Jan. 29 -- Cattle on feed up 9 percent in Texas from last year (J.T. Smith Column): Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in Texas feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 2.85 million head as of January -- up 9 percent from a year earlier.

Jan. 29 -- Women taking more risk with investments: In the late 1980s, Peggy Evans received an inheritance. But the money, more than she had ever had on hand before, presented a problem. Where should she invest it?

Jan. 29 -- Local businesses facing worker shortage: Joe Davis has a problem.

Jan. 29 -- Young people should study how to function in an office environment: When Bill Goehring teaches other people how to prepare for retirement, he never acts his age.

Jan. 28 -- Penney to close 75 stores, laying off thousands of workers: DALLAS (AP) -- J.C. Penney Co. said Tuesday it will close 75 stores and lay off about 4,900 people as the company struggles to improve its retail division.

Jan. 28 -- A look at the chip that makes it all work: Face front, computerphiles. Today, we're going to look at some of the mysterious inner workings of that strange and marvelous machine of yours.

Jan. 28 -- Internet full of Clinton-Lewinsky sites: The Clinton-Lewinsky affair, maybe I should have used "situation," is at the top of everyone's discussion list this week.

Jan. 28 -- Regional boll weevil vote delayed until March (J.T. Smith Column): A referendum on whether a Boll Weevil Eradication Program should continue in the Rolling Plains Central zone has been delayed until March 11.

Jan. 27 -- McMurry center changes name, but not focus (Doug Williamson Column): The McMurry University Family Business Center has changed its name, but not its focus. It is now known as the McMurry Leadership Development and Family Business Center.

Jan. 27 -- Peanut producers say "yes" to poundage quotas (J.T. Smith Column): Poundage quotas for peanuts will continue. Peanut growers have approved poundage quotas for the 1998 through 2002 crops of peanuts.

Jan. 27 -- Internet access speeds up: Phone, computer firms to unveil ADSL lite: Telephone companies and computer makers detailed plans Monday for a new kind of high-speed Internet access, up to 30 times faster than today's modems, priced at $40 to $60 a month.

Jan. 27 -- Continental, Northwest announce alliance to connect routes: HOUSTON (AP) - Northwest Airlines and Continental Airlines announced an alliance Monday that would join the route networks of the nation's fourth and fifth biggest airlines, but Continental pilots are already threatening to make it a "marriage from hell" if their demands aren't met.

Jan. 27 -- Some OPEC ministers hold emergency session on prices: VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Several OPEC ministers, concerned about a devastating plunge in crude oil prices, met in emergency session Monday to see if they could suggest a way to bounce back.

Jan. 27 -- AT&T cutting up to 18,000 jobs in latest bid to restore luster: NEW YORK (AP) - Hired three months ago to turn around AT&T, chairman C. Michael Armstrong on Monday detailed a cost-cutting drive to slash up to 18,000 jobs, freeze executive salaries and shake up management.

Jan. 27 -- Microsoft Corp. to split stock 2-for-1: REDMOND, Wash. (Dow Jones) - Microsoft Corp. announced Monday it will split its stock for the seventh time in its history.

Jan. 27 -- Compaq-Digital deal won't face antitrust problems, experts say: NEW YORK (Dow Jones News) - Compaq Computer Corp.'s planned $9.6 billion acquisition of Digital Equipment Corp. should not have too difficult a time gaining approval from antitrust regulators, legal experts said Monday.

Jan. 25 -- Year 2000 computer crisis draws attorneys' attention: NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- While fixing computers to avoid a problem with the year 2000 is expensive, ignoring it might be even more so.

Jan. 25 -- For some folks, computer problems starting like it's Dec. 31, 1999: So much for the "year 2000" glitch that will gum up the world's computers two years from now. The next millennium already has arrived for a small but growing number of frustrated consumers and businesses. How to prepare for the year 2000 bug

Jan. 25 -- America Online expands content, technology on Internet: NEW YORK (Dow Jones News) -- America Online Inc. -- staking its claim to the World Wide Web -- is making some of its most popular technology and home-grown content available to all Internet surfers.

Jan. 25 -- Business Notebook: Announcements of interest to the local business community

Jan. 25 -- Drilling consolidation: when will it end?: The drilling industry has shrunk dramatically in the last 15 years and there's no way to tell when the trend will end, says Midland oil executive Ray Peterson.

Jan. 25 -- Gateway 2000's stock rises on strong fourth-quarter profits: NEW YORK (Dow Jones News) -- The stock of Gateway 2000 Inc. climbed 9 percent Friday after the personal-computer maker surprised Wall Street with stronger-than-expected earnings growth.

Jan. 25 -- Super Bowl ads have great attraction: The most-watched televised sporting event in America is today.Can you identify the sponsor of these 1997 Super Bowl ads

Jan. 25 -- 6th Big Country Farm & Ranch Show just around corner: The 6th annual Big Country Farm & Ranch Show is expected to be bigger than ever Feb. 10-11 in Abilene.

Jan. 24 -- Rate increase request become deregulation test case: AUSTIN -- When Central Power & Light Company asked state officials for a rate increase in 1995, few expected the request to become a test case for utility deregulation.

Jan. 24 -- Patterson Energy buys Robertson Onshore for $40 million: SNYDER, Texas (Dow Jones News) -- Patterson Energy Inc. said Friday it agreed to acquire closely held Robertson Onshore Drilling Co. for $40 million.

Jan. 24 -- Cotton leaders trying to buffer Asian financial woes (J.T. Smith Column): It's no secret the Asian economic problems eventually could put a whammy on the cotton market. After all -- a big chunk of Texas' cotton crop ends up in Asian countries.

Jan. 24 -- Scripps reports increased fourth quarter cash flow: The E.W. Scripps Co., parent of the Abilene Reporter-News, Friday reported increased cash flow of 15 percent for the fourth quarter and 19 percent for 1997.

Jan. 23 -- Survey finds business owners optimistic about coming year: Abilene business owners expect slow, gradual growth this year.

Jan. 23 -- De Leon native named Clay County agricultural agent: Michael Mahan is the new county agricultural agent for the Clay County Extension Service.

Jan. 23 --Microsoft settles part of case with government, avoiding contempt case: WASHINGTON (AP) -- Seeking to avoid contempt of court charges, Microsoft Corp. agreed Thursday to let computer makers temporarily offer its latest version of Windows 95 without easy access to its Internet Explorer software.

Jan. 23 --Netscape now giving away Internet broswer: SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Netscape Communications Corp., fighting to regain ground in the browser war against Microsoft, on Thursday took a weapon from its rival's arsenal: Its Navigator software is now free.

Jan. 22 -- If info is incorrect, keep changing the credit report: Q. I recently complained to Experian after learning that someone else's negative credit information had been reported on my report. It seems that this person has a similar Social Security number (one digit off). I'm getting the problem fixed, but I'm worried about it happening again.

Jan. 22 -- Finessing flextime: Let's make a deal: When Kris McKnight proposed a new working arrangement to her boss, she handed over 16 pages of supporting documentation.

Jan. 22 -- Today's lesson: Your home page can get you fired: TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) -- Hired to teach computer technology at a marketing company, Cameron Barrett suggested his trainees check out his Web page, where he published his own fiction.

Jan. 22 -- Gamble with IRS and you'll lose: Perhaps it wasn't the best career choice, but compulsive gambler Mark D. Collins worked at the Off-Track Betting parlor. He kept his gambling in check -- for a time.

Jan. 22 -- Children and networking, breast-feeding and sexual harassment: Letters, I get letters and faxes and phone calls and e-mail. This correspondence is edited.

Jan. 22 -- Get a surge suppressor, battery backup and protect your electronic property: Now that it's time for making New Year's resolutions, resolve to protect all your sensitive electronic equipment -- including computers, printers, modems, and even televisions and fax machines -- from dangerous spikes and surges.

Jan. 22 -- This is great time to refinance mortgage: It's time -- time to buy that first home, time to move up to a bigger one, time to refinance that high-interest mortgage that's chewing up your budget.

Jan. 22 -- Book gives words you should have used: If you have ever wished you had handed a management situation differently, Dr. Donald Weiss has a word for you.

Jan. 22 -- Farmers Union slates state convention for Jan. 30-31 (J.T. Smith Column): Texas Farmers Union members will wrestle with ag issues at TFU's state convention Jan. 30-31 at the Harvey Hotel in Plano.

Jan. 22 -- A VCR can provide backup for your hard drive: Did you know there is a backup tape drive that's far more popular than any disk drive around and chances are, you probably already own one and you don't even know it?

Jan. 22 -- No big changes in Windows 98 update: For millions of Windows 95 users, the biggest event of the coming year will be the expected spring debut of Microsoft's new Windows 98 operating system.

Jan. 22 -- Too many yes-men bad for business: A few years ago, seminars on "workplace diversity" offered advice on diversifying race and gender. That still happens.

Jan. 22 -- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be debilitating but is treatable: For Bill Guidera, education minister at Broadview Baptist Church, his bout with carpal tunnel syndrome began with a few aches and pains.

Jan. 21 -- After-class project turns into international learning experience: An after-class pastime turned class project is getting an "A" at McMurry University from everyone involved.

Jan. 21 -- Quality of sound card can enhance computer experience: Ah, the sound of music.

Jan. 21 -- Computer giants, phone companies team up for lightning-quick Web: NEW YORK (AP) -- Three giants of the computer industry reportedly have joined with most of the nation's regional phone companies in an attempt to offer Internet access in the home almost 30 times faster than current speeds by next Christmas.

Jan. 21 -- Of babies and the Super Bowl: Babies and the Super Bowl are an obvious combination for this week's websites column.

Jan. 21 -- Perry to recognize ag pioneers at heritage program (J.T. Smith Column): Texas Ag Commissioner Rick Perry will recognize 108 farm and ranch honorees at the 24th annual Texas Family Land Heritage Ceremony Jan. 23.

Jan. 20 -- No business news in observance of Martin Luther King Holiday

Jan. 18 -- About 400,000 AT&T customers not billed for a month's calls: CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- A bookkeeping problem let some 400,000 AT&T customers in three Eastern states and Washington D.C. get a reprieve on bills for a month's worth of long-distance telephone calls.

Jan. 18 -- Personal organizers can help with that resolution to organize your life: By now, the new year is well underway, and your resolution to become master of your own schedule has probably gone down the tubes.

Jan. 18 -- Business Notebook: News and notes of interest to the local business community

Jan. 18 -- New Options: How about leasing a computer?: AUSTIN (AP) -- Richard Winward has been trying to keep up with computer technology since 1983.

Jan. 18 -- Toyota decides not to sell Prius in U.S. this year: DETROIT -- Toyota Motor Corp. won't sell the environmentally friendly Prius sedan in the United States this year after all.

Jan. 18 -- ESPN Magazine leads mini-boom of sports magazines: NEW YORK -- ESPN Magazine throws down the gauntlet on the second page of a letter to would-be charter subscribers.

Jan. 18 -- Some cotton modules still being ginned into 1998 (J.T. Smith Column): The last of the bumper 1997 Texas cotton crop is still being processed through some cotton gins into 1998.

Jan. 18 -- Unresponsive companies frustrate job seeker: Dear Mr. Walberg: My question has to do with the unresponsive attitude of employers, before and after the interview process.

Jan. 17 -- Dunavant a bit more optimistic than USDA on cotton: When William B. "Billy" Dunavant, Jr., talks cotton -- the U.S. and world global cotton industry listens.

Jan. 16 -- Northern restaurant borrows name, Southwestern theme from Abilene: Up in a land of ice and snow (well, compared to here, anyway), a second Abilene shines its lights and beckons passers-by with the sound of a blues guitar.

Jan. 16 -- Mighty busy time at boll weevil office nowadays (J.T. Smith Column): To say the Boll Weevil Eradication Program is buzzing with activity right now would be an understatement.

Jan. 16 -- American Eagle regional airlines to transition to single carrier: DALLAS (AP) -- The parent company of American Airlines said Thursday it will merge its four regional carriers, which operate as American Eagle, into a single carrier.

Jan. 16 -- Home sales are rising: Abilene Realtors are smiling. Final totals for 1997 brought them an 8.3 percent increase in number of homes sold and a 9.2 percent rise in total value of those homes.

Jan. 16 -- Brownwood oilman resigns from firm: BROWNWOOD -- Embattled oil and gas producer Sid Sers of Brownwood has resigned as president of Trinity Gas Corporation, an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday.

Jan. 15 -- Annuities not scoring with no-load buyers: While "no-load" investing has long been a popular way to own mutual funds, it has been very slow to catch on in the closely related realm of variable annuities.

Jan. 15 -- Chart where your money is: After you've tallied up all your investment gains and losses this year, do what the pros do and make a pie chart showing where your fund money is invested.

Jan. 15 -- Roth IRA Congress' gift to the taxpayer: One of Congress' biggest gifts to the American taxpayer last year was the Roth IRA.

Jan. 15 -- It's time again to order windbreak trees in Abilene: Now is the time for Taylor County landowners and homeowners to order windbreak trees from the Middle Clear Fork Soil and Water Conservation District in Abilene.

Jan. 15 -- Computer price cuts mean good deal for consumers: This time last year, a name-brand computer with Intel's new Pentium 166 "multimedia" processor was just about top of the line, and the price reflected it. The machine was selling for around $2,100.

Jan. 15 -- Seeking to define worker disabilities: If you can control your medical condition such as diabetes or arthritis with medication or a medical device, are you disabled?

Jan. 15 -- Hendrick opens half of Hickory Center: Hendrick Medical Center has opened half of Hickory Center, a new medical complex at North 18th and Hickory.

Jan. 15 -- Books explores where leaders come from: Just where do we get leaders?

Jan. 15 -- How to maximize your benefits: Companies spend more than $746 billion on employee benefits, yet too many workers spend little time trying to get the most out of them, benefits advisers say.

Jan. 15 -- Get better organized with free software: If you are "organizationally challenged" like me, you need this software.

Jan. 14 -- Progressive Farmer's Farm Safety Day Camp coming to Expo Center (J.T. Smith Column): Representatives of Extension Service offices in Taylor and surrounding counties -- along with other officials -- met in Abilene at Zentner's Tuesday and fine tuned plans for a major farm safety camp.

Jan. 14 -- Shareware a great source of programs, but you need to support it (Brian Bethel Column:) A lot of cool software is available on the Internet, and a lot you can download for free.

Jan. 14 -- Finding flying friends, art and Titanic sites (Doug Williamson Column): When I have friends and relatives flying into Abilene or over to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, I frequently wonder, "Where are they now?"

Jan. 13 -- Hawley getting two banks: From zero to two. The percentage gain cannot be figured. But what can be figured is that in the next few months, Hawley will have a pair of banks.

Jan. 13 -- Taylor County show features three days of judging this year: The Taylor County Livestock Show will have judging of animals on three days this year instead of two days as in the past.

Jan. 13 -- Defensive stock picks may offer solace amid market declines: PHILADELPHIA - With more and more experts wondering if 1998 will be the year of the bear on Wall Street, investors may do well to start looking at some defensive stock picks.

Jan. 13 -- U.S. farmers may need safety net from Asian crisis, USDA head warns: CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Asian currency crisis could be trouble for U.S. farmers, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman warned about 5,000 attendees Monday at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Charlotte.

Jan. 13 -- Dow rises, shaking off early slide spurred by Hong Kong selloff: NEW YORK (AP) - Blue-chip stocks bounced higher Monday despite another rough day overseas, as bargain hunters took advantage of an early slide that pushed some popular averages to the lowest level since the market selloff last fall.

Jan. 11 -- Business Notebook: News and notes of interest to the local business community

Jan. 11 -- Do you invest? Or play the market?: NEW YORK -- The stock market rises and falls in great giant steps, and that is why amateur investors this year could be challenged with a test of their insight, their fortitude and their bankrolls.

Jan. 11 -- Natural gas most popular source for power generation: Natural gas is today's favorite energy choice in America for producing electrical power, says energy analyst Greg Wortham of Alexandria, Va., a Sweetwater native.

Jan. 11 -- Bank grabs Olympic rings for '02 Games: As part of its continuing effort to become a nationally recognized brand, NationsBank Corp. will sponsor the U.S. Olympic teams through 2004 and be a sponsor and official bank of the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Jan. 11 -- Internet time slows to a virtual crawl in '98: In the early days of Netscape, Tom Paquin, one of the company's founding engineers, would ask colleagues how long they had worked at the company. Three months, four months would come the reply.

Jan. 11 -- Money-making presentation tips: Jack just completed a presentation to a potential customer and it seems everything went wrong. He was asked questions he couldn't answer, his slide presentation was washed out by the lights in the room, and he knew their "We'll get back to you... ." was just a polite way of saying "no!"

Jan. 11 -- Points to consider before refinancing: Mortgage interest rates are so attractive right now that it's tempting to take advantage of them without a second thought. But don't let the low rates blind you to financial common sense.

Jan. 11 -- Program challenges students to raise standards: Texas Scholars challenges thousands of students across the state to raise their own academic standards.

Jan. 11 -- Texas Department of Health launches '98 air attack on rabies (J.T. Smith Column): The aerial battle on rabies in Texas has resumed.

Jan. 10 -- Electronic cotton receipts are making trading efficient (J.T. Smith Column): Electronic warehouse receipts have made for smoother trading on the New York Cotton Exchange.

Jan. 9 -- Abilene economy remains static: Abilene's economy in the second quarter of 1997 sat still. It was the second consecutive quarter without growth in gross sales, a barometer on the health of the economy.

Jan. 9 -- Area youngster can win trip to nation's capital (J.T. Smith column): An all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., next June will be awarded to some youth by Stamford Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Jan. 9 -- Microsoft seeks to tone down legal battle with Justice: WASHINGTON (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. executives expressed regret Thursday for the company's harsh rhetoric in its legal battle with the Justice Department and said the software maker should have been more respectful of the court and prosecutors.

Jan. 9 -- Big 3 lose market share in '97: Detroit's Big Three automakers sold more minivans, sport-utilities and pickup trucks in 1997. But they sold far fewer cars.

Jan. 9 -- Career Stop opens in Haskell: HASKELL -- A satellite office of Career Stop has opened in the Department of Human Services office on the courthouse square, aimed at providing employment services.

Jan. 8 -- Hot new trend: filing for bankruptcy: NEW YORK -- Forget cigar lounges, Beanie Babies and sports utility vehicles. The hottest trend sweeping the country is filing for personal bankruptcy.

Jan. 8 -- Do more than just hope for a successful new year, make it happen: Ah, the new year. A blank calendar. Three hundred and sixty-five days waiting to be lived; a new experience around every corner. What a feeling of hope and prosperity the new year brings.

Jan. 8 -- Haskell businessman goes extra mile for customers: HASKELL -- Ron Howard knows attracting business to smaller communities isn't easy. That's why he's willing to go "the extra mile" to bring in customers.

Jan. 8 -- Big Country Farm & Ranch Show expected to draw near 20,000: The 6th annual Big Country Farm & Ranch Show is Feb. 10-11 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene and is expected to be the biggest ever.

Jan. 8 -- How to maximize your benefits: FORT WORTH, Texas -- Companies spend more than $746 billion on employee benefits, yet too many workers spend little time trying to get the most out of them, benefits advisers say.

Jan. 8 -- Paying off the mortgage early -- many have done it: It's time to look at New Year's resolutions. Perhaps you're among those who have vowed to pay off your mortgage this year -- or at least well before you retire.

Jan. 8 -- Chitchat or training? Most office learning is informal and everyday: A chance meeting in the hall. A quick visit to a co-worker. To a boss, it may look like goofing off. But workers know better: They often learn more chatting on the job than in any training session.

Jan. 8 -- Set personal goals if you truly want success: "Do I ever hate my job! I'd like to ..." or "If only I would have ..." or I should have listened to ..." or "What can I do, I'm trapped in this job by a family, mortgage, car payments and all that stuff? What do you want me to do?" or worse, "I love what I'm doing, look at all the stuff' I own."

Jan. 8 -- Secret shoppers can curb theft, improve service: Question: Two years ago I purchased a restaurant franchise in a shopping mall that is making a small profit. Around the holidays, I notice that employee theft increases and the preventive measures recommended by the franchisee have failed. What can I do differently?

Jan. 8 -- Southern Mesa Ag Conference focuses on area crops Jan. 19: The Southern Mesa Agricultural Conference is 8 a.m. Jan. 19 at the Dawson County Ag Annex Building at 609 N. 1st in Lamesa.

Jan. 8 -- Unresponsive companies frustrate job seeker: Dear Mr. Walberg: My question has to do with the unresponsive attitude of employers, before and after the interview process.

Jan. 7 -- Chrysler unveils its diesel-electric car: Chrysler Corp. thinks it has the solution to the world's eco-dilemmas.

Jan. 7 -- Online purchases can be made safely: So, you're surfing along on the Internet one day when you happen to run across the perfect gift for your aunt.

Jan. 7 -- Some answers to the questions of new computer owners: Lots of new computers arrived under the tree and the questions from readers are piling up. Let's muddle through some.

Jan. 7 -- Texas Ag Finance Authority problems not reflective of farmers: The president of Texas' largest farm organization notes that financial difficulties of the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority do not reflect the ability of the state's farmers and ranchers to repay loans.

Jan. 6 -- Low mortgage interest rates getting attention locally: Low mortgage interest rates are encouraging more people to buy homes and more owners to look at refinancing.

Jan. 6 -- SBC Communications proposes to purchase Southern New England Telecommunications: SBC Communications, the Texas-based telecommunications company, returned to the takeover trail Monday with a $4.4 billion offer that will give it a more secure foothold in the Northeast.

Jan. 6 -- Global climate treaty bad news for U.S. agriculture (J.T. Smith Column): The Global Climate Treaty Summit, which concluded during December in Kyoto, Japan, raised some issues that the U.S. agricultural industry will follow closely in the months ahead, reports the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.

Jan. 6 -- Apple gathering of the faithful to be a tame expo: Once again, Apple is entering Macworld Expo, the largest annual gathering of Mac users that begins today, in need of a lift. The crowd in San Francisco, expected to number 70,000, will be seeking assurance that the computer they love will continue to be a viable alternative to Windows-based PCs.

Jan. 6 -- Can the market pace be sustained in 1998?: As 1998 gets under way, Wall Street is living in the shadow of the crab. Last year was a record one in many ways; the investment banking and trading industries did more business than ever before. Impressive performance across a range of markets underpinned a bounteous year. While 1997 did not quite match the performance of 1996 or 1995, the three-year stretch judged as a whole was phenomenal.

Jan. 4 -- Mac faithful await Apple's next move after tumultuous year: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- What a long, strange year it's been for Apple.

Jan. 4 -- Classic car dealers make a comeback: OAKLAND, Calif. -- After years of a riding out a sputtering market, classic car dealers are finally seeing an acceleration in value and are hoping a new smog law that takes effect in January will boost sales even more.

Jan. 4 -- Abilene native helps craft merger: Many Big Country businessmen are saying they had "a pretty good year" in 1997. One Abilene native had "a really good year" -- maybe the year of the century.

Jan. 4 -- Murphy's Law doesn't apply: The conditions are perfect for continued growth in mergers: Last year marked the third-consecutive year of record mergers and acquisitions activity in the U.S. and abroad, fueled by a favorable stock market, regulatory and technological changes, and the desire by corporations to do big strategic transactions.

Jan. 4 -- An epidemic of futures: Welcome to the future -- a world of wristwatch phones, oxygen bars dispensing pure air to gasping consumers, a growing underclass of technological have-nots filled with rage and frustration and an increasingly beleaguered middle class trapped in high-security ghettos with only their robotic pets for company.

Jan. 4 -- Some stores making gift returns less happy: People trying to exchange Christmas gifts and other items may find they have trouble getting full refunds.

Jan. 4 -- Texas hog numbers pig out big for year-end 1997 (J.T. Smith Column): The December count of Texas hogs and pigs at 560,000 head was up 10 percent from the previous year's inventory.

Jan. 4 -- Wheat outlook in Abilene region strong for spring: 1998 began on a high note for wheat in the Abilene region.

Jan. 4 -- Die broke. Don't retire. Pay cash.: After spending 45 years writing newspaper stories, a no-brain job if there ever was one, shouldn't I get to spend the next 20 goofing off?

Jan. 3 -- Ten stories were big in cattle feeding industry (J.T. Smith Column): 1997 is history and a new year has begun. As has long been traditional, the Texas Cattle Feeders Association took a look back on the year ended and cited the Top Ten news stories in the cattle feeding industry.

Jan. 2 -- No business news. Happy New Year.

Jan. 1 -- Korea will get $200 million for cotton purchases: Last week, USDA announced $1 billion export credit guarantees (GSM-102 loan) to South Korea - and there was speculation at the time that U.S. cotton would get a slice of that pie.

Jan. 1 -- Head of WCTOGA moving to Midland: After more than 10 years, Morris Burns is saying goodbye to Abilene.

Jan. 1 -- Tucker's Cleaners always ready for something different: For decades, Mike Latimer's family has kept collars pressed, slacks sharp and napkins neat.

Jan. 1 -- Entrepreneurship stays on course for growth in '98: The same forces that impact Fortune 500 heavyweights like Amoco Corp. or Motorola Inc. also affect the corner deli and the local dry cleaner, the florist and the neighborhood law firm.

Jan. 1 -- Stempel Products lays off one-third of its employees: AMARILLO, Texas (AP) - The new owners of an Amarillo office products maker that went bankrupt months after being lured to town by millions in taxpayer-financed incentives have laid off a third of the plant's workforce.

Jan. 1 -- Gas company embroiled in fraud case makes emergency motion: BROWNWOOD, Texas (AP) - A Brownwood natural gas company under federal investigation for making false claims about oil finds in Colombia has filed for bankruptcy and asked a judge to appoint an emergency trustee.