Nov. 29 -- What you can do to save some money on taxes at the end of the year: Before year's end, you might want to consider whether Uncle Sam has enough of your money or whether you've properly sheltered income so it is out of the government's reach.

Nov. 29 -- Electronic tax filing is faster, easier than regular forms: There are ways to avoid the late winter paper chase associated with income tax filing.

Nov. 29 -- Texas water wars heat up over right of capture issue (J.T. Smith): Some years back, one of the many bosses I've had in my career told me ad day would come when people fought over water more than oil.

Nov. 29 -- Area Business Notes: News from around the Big Country

Nov. 29 -- FEMA taking steps to reduce disaster damage, spending in Texas and nationwide: WASHINGTON -- The personal and economic toll from Hurricane Andrew, the Los Angeles earthquake, the Midwest and Texas floods, Tropical Storm Frances and countless other natural disasters that have hit the United States cannot be quantified.

Nov. 29 -- Weak oil prices, other factors slow Texas economy: HOUSTON -- Weak oil prices, the Asian financial crisis and natural business cycles are finally wearing on the Texas economy, which economists agree should continue slowing down through 1999.

Nov. 29 -- Low-cost gas stations putting squeeze on some fuel sellers: BELLEVUE, Ohio -- It used to be that Dave Freitag's Sohio gas station had three pumps, a repair shop and a candy bar rack. Today his British Petroleum station sells fresh fruit, lottery tickets and Blimpie sandwiches, but doesn't offer oil changes.

Nov. 29 -- AOL-Netscape deal could spawn new means of Internet access: NEW YORK -- If America Online chairman Steve Case delivers on his promises, his company's merger with Netscape could lead to brand new ways of navigating the Internet.

Nov. 28 -- NFU praises USDA move to purchase $50 million in U.S. pork (J.T. Smith): If you raise hogs in the Abilene region -- as so many folks and youngsters do -- I don't have to tell you that prices have been mighty poor in 1998.

Nov. 28 -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans shed trademark to compete: NEW YORK -- Over the past 50 years, more health insurance policies have been sold under the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand name than any other.

Nov. 28 -- Exxon-Mobil would be No. 1 oil company, but won't squeeze pump prices: NEW YORK -- If Exxon and Mobil merge to form the world's biggest oil company, don't expect higher prices at the pump.

Nov. 28 -- OPEC ministers depart Vienna after low-key meeting: VIENNA, Austria -- OPEC oil ministers have adjourned their testy year-end meeting after failing to agree on measures to halt a slide in world oil prices.

Nov. 28 -- Holiday shoppers say strong economy gives them confidence to spend: DALLAS -- Before sunrise, while most people were in deep sleep after a night of gorging on turkey, serious shoppers stood in line outside Texas stores and malls Friday, ready to hunt for after-Thanksgiving bargains.

Nov. 27 -- Now is a good time to consider the market risk: The stock market is only distantly related to economics. It's a function of greed, apprehension and panic, all superimposed on the business cycle. - Raymond F. DeVoe Jr.

Nov. 26 -- What to do about the Jerk at Work: You know this person at work. He's always right. At least he thinks he is. His work is always perfect, while everyone else's is flawed. His ideas are always great, and those from others are greatly inferior. He, or she, is the jerk at work.

Nov. 26 -- BBB gives shoplifting warning tips: The Better Business Bureau has issued a holiday warning to local businesses of the increased risks of shoplifting and employee theft during the holiday season. The information is pertinent for businesses - especially retail outlets - across Texas.

Nov. 26 -- Protecting turkey eggs may be key to Thanksgiving tradition (J.T. Smith): Football games, family and turkey. Lots of turkey. Be a bunch of that throughout America today.

Nov. 26 -- Texas Stock Index participates in raucous October surge: AUSTIN (AP) - The Texas Stock Index rose by 19.1 percent in October, resulting in a gain of 72 percent for the past year, the state comptroller's office says.

Nov. 26 -- Area Business Notes: News from the Big Country

Nov. 26 -- OPEC faces oil glut dilemma, though production cuts not seen likely: VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Oil prices are hovering at their lowest point in a decade, but it doesn't appear that OPEC is willing to take the bitter medicine and accept further production cuts.

Nov. 25 -- Commission OKs historic designation for Abilene Towers: The Abilene Landmarks Commission unanimously recommended the addition of a historic overlay zoning designation to the recently purchased Abilene Towers at its Tuesday meeting.

Nov. 25 -- Surfing the Web (Doug Williamson): We devote today's column to tomorrow's holiday, Thanksgiving.

Nov. 25 -- Farm Credit Bank reports strong third-quarter financial results (J.T. Smith): The Farm Credit Bank of Texas (FCBT) and its affiliated lending institutions report strong third quarter financial results as highlighted by record loan volume for the 81-year history of the lending cooperative.

Nov. 25 -- Another test looming for Internet free speech: On Dec. 8, the fate of free speech on the Internet will be debated - again. Like the initial battle between free speech advocates and government officials over the infamous - and unconstitutional - Communications Decency Act (CDA), the current debate focuses on minors, at least in theory.

Nov. 25 -- AOL emerges as dominant partner in $4 billion deal: WASHINGTON - Not long ago, America Online cajoled in vain for a closer relationship with Netscape, whose pioneer browser software had helped popularize the Web.

Nov. 25 -- Home sales, total value outpacing '97: The statistics are all in double digits around the Abilene Board of Realtors these days. Home sales are up 11 percent over last year and the total volue has risen 15 percent over the first 10 months of 1997.

Nov. 25 -- RRC sets gas production allowables: The Railroad Commission of Texas set gas production allowables for prorated fields at 47,504,271 MCF, which the Commission projects to be market demand.

Nov. 24 -- Abilene Area Pecan Show is Dec. 1-2 at the Mall of Abilene ( J.T. Smith): It's that nutty holiday time of year. And to get December off to a great start, the Abilene Area Pecan Show is Dec. 1-2 at the Mall of Abilene.

Nov. 24 -- Survey: Small spurt in hiring predicted (Doug Williamson): Manpower Inc. projects a small hiring spurt this winter. In its quarterly survey of local businesses, Manpower found 16 percent planning to add staff in the first quarter, while only 3 percent anticipated cutting employees.

Nov. 24 -- Lawmaker has plan for Y2K bug: State Sen. Troy Fraser would like computer hardware and software companies to fix the Year 2000 Bug for free.

Nov. 24 -- Millennium bomb could cause big problems for companies: NEW YORK - The Year 2000 computer problem could cause far-reaching problems for U.S. companies, from shutting down oil wells to forcing microprocessor plants to close, according to disclosures made in recent days.

Nov. 24 -- Oil producers struggle amid depressed oil prices: DENVER (AP) - As world leaders cross swords over a glut oil supplies that has sent prices down to the lowest level in 11 years and consumers gleefully buy cheap gas, independent producers in the Rocky Mountains are struggling.

Nov. 24 -- Proposed AOL/Netscape deal is Topic A at Microsoft trial: WASHINGTON (AP) - Microsoft used the news that America Online may be buying Netscape to try to bolster its courtroom defense Monday against federal antitrust charges.

Nov. 22 -- Holiday shopping without careful planning can lead to large debt: Come January, every nook and cranny of Amanda Davis' appointment schedule will be filled.

Nov. 22 -- Ag lender stockholders approve merger of two PCAs (J.T. Smith): The stockholders of the Texas Production Credit Association in San Angelo and the Rolling Plains PCA in Stamford have overwhelmingly approved the merger of the two agricultural lenders.

Nov. 22 -- Report shows that Texas needs to improve quality of workforce: AUSTIN -- Improving education and boosting workforce training would make Texas more competitive in the global marketplace, a new report released Friday said.

Nov. 22 -- Oregon farm town grows the old-fashioned way -- with blue-collar jobs: HERMISTON, Ore. -- Don't tell the folks in this eastern Oregon farm town they need a computer-chip plant or a ski resort.

Nov. 22 -- Home prices rising faster than inflation in many cities: WASHINGTON -- Prices of existing homes are rising faster than inflation in many metropolitan areas, with the strongest increases showing up along the West Coast and in some Southern cities.

Nov. 22 -- Time marches on past Southwest Airlines ticketing machines: HOUSTON -- A glitch from the past, the technology of the present and trends toward an online future conspired to kill Quicket.

Nov. 21 -- Slump in oil prices affects area businesses: Mired in the psychology of oversupply, crude has been stuck at $9.50 per barrel for the last three days, just 50 cents above the 12-year low reached in June.

Nov. 21 -- Dr. Jimmy Smith focuses on health care for growing meat goat industry (J.T. Smith): Clearly one of the fastest growing industries in the Abilene region is meat goats.

Nov. 21 -- Bankers say industry is well prepared for Year 2000: WASHINGTON -- The nation's bankers are telling people not to panic over the Year 2000 date change, trying to counteract doomsday scenarios of millions of Americans draining their bank accounts in December 1999.

Nov. 21 -- No holiday strike, company and FedEx pilots say: MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Federal Express Corp. pilots agreed Friday to keep working during the holiday season after talk of a possible strike sparked a rally by nonunion workers backing the company and drew a hard line from FedEx's founder.

Nov. 21 -- South Orient working to reach agreement to sell rail line: SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) -- South Orient Railroad Co. is negotiating a deal to sell part of a 500-mile rail line that has been on the market for about two years.

Nov. 21 -- Banks growing cautious about business lending: WASHINGTON -- Worried about economic prospects, bankers are growing increasingly cautious about lending to business borrowers but so far haven't tightened credit to households, a Federal Reserve survey found.

Nov. 20 -- Food aid for Russia will include some U.S. beef (J.T. Smith): Some good news for cattlemen. That food aid package for Canada that was announced earlier this month will include at least 120,000 metric tons (more than 240 million pounds), the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) now reports.

Nov. 20 -- Gadgets and gizmos from Comdex '98: LAS VEGAS - Five hundred and ten football fields of floor space showcasing thousands of computer products.

Nov. 20 -- Treasury says it's uncertain how budget surplus can save Social Security: WASHINGTON - The chairman of the House tax-writing committee pressed the Clinton administration unsuccessfully Thursday for details of how the president envisions using government budget surpluses to fix Social Security.

Nov. 20 -- Texas Instruments to sell Italy plant, shut Portuguese plant: Texas Instruments Inc. said it will sell a plant in Aversa, Italy, and close its semiconductor-assembly venture in Porto, Portugal, a decision the company blames on the Asian economic crisis.

Nov. 20 -- Sharing cabs, flying coach: Business travelers cut back amid uncertain economic times: They're sharing cabs at AT&T and flying coach at Motorola. Grounded executives find it's hard to book a videoconferencing room at transmissions maker Sauer-Sundstrand.

Nov. 19 -- Pecan crop will be off this year compared with great 1997 crop (J.T. Smith): This year's area pecan crop won't be as bountiful - or as great in quality - as the superb 1997 crop. After a rough 1998 season, that probably won't surprise many folks.

Nov. 19 -- Area Business Notes: News from the Big Country

Nov. 19 -- Crude closes in on 12-year lows on inventory data: Crude oil prices plunged Wednesday for the fourth consecutive session on the New York Mercantile Exchange, flirting with 12-year lows as inventory statistics reinforced concerns about a glut in supplies.

Nov. 19 -- Trade deficit improves in September after setting record: WASHINGTON (AP) - A blip in aircraft exports temporarily narrowed the U.S. trade deficit in September. But economists warn the gap between what the nation sells overseas and buys will continue to grow, though perhaps not as rapidly as during the peak of Asia's financial crisis.

Nov. 19 -- The magic of database marketing: So you've taken advantage of the great deals on computers, set up your new system and installed a database management program. You're ready to get moving on that direct-marketing project except for one thing: your database is empty.

Nov. 19 -- Microsoft accuses IBM of steering rivals to gang up on it: WASHINGTON - Microsoft took the offensive Wednesday at its antitrust trial, accusing IBM of recruiting its largest rivals into a plan to cripple the software giant's influence.

Nov. 19 -- Internet providers setting Web time limits: Some of the nation's biggest Internet service providers are capping the amount of time customers can spend surfing the Web.

Nov. 18 -- Drilling holes into sealed frames can be extremely dangerous (J.T. Smith): It's just about the most common thing in the world for farmers to want to put a piece of equipment in their farm shop and modify it some way.

Nov. 18 -- Federal Reserve cuts rates, signals wait before next one: WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve moved to protect the economy Tuesday by cutting interest rates for the third time in seven weeks but signaled to Wall Street not to expect any more reductions soon.

Nov. 18 -- Surfing the Web (Doug Williamson): This week's column is a true hodgepodge. We go from meteors to movies and from Furby to Cape Cod.

Nov. 18 -- Injunction orders Microsoft to change products that don't meet Java standard: SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - A federal judge Tuesday ordered Microsoft Corp. to change Windows 98 and other software to make it meet Sun Microsystems Inc.'s standards for Java programming language or stop shipping the products all together.

Nov. 18 -- Business Innovation Center to get fiber optic data link: Tenants at the Business Innovation Center will be getting high-speed data service by the end of the year.

Nov. 18 -- Online banking experience was interesting: Every time I declare the Internet to be moving closer to its full potential, something happens to remind me we're not there yet.

Nov. 17 -- Dale Rollins treats Program Council group with Calls of the Wild (J.T. Smith): The waiting list to get Dr. Dale Rollins as a speaker is a long one. But the renowned Texas A&M wildlife specialist thrilled and intrigued those attending the Taylor County Extension Program Council Annual Meeting Thursday.

Nov. 17 -- Estate planning seminar Thursday (Doug Williamson): Estate planning will be the topic of a half-day seminar and luncheon Thursday at the McMurry University Leadership Development and Family Business Center.

Nov. 17 -- Has rapid turnaround jeopardized interest-rate cut? WASHINGTON (AP) - Just weeks ago, the economy seemed on the brink of big trouble. The stock market was plunging. A credit crunch seemed imminent. Some economists were talking recession.

Nov. 17 -- Judge laughs over Gates' testimony: WASHINGTON (AP) - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates appeared so uncooperative and forgetful in interviews with government lawyers that the judge overseeing the company's antitrust trial laughed and shook his head while watching Monday.

Nov. 17 -- Saddam threat no threat to oil prices: Matt Talbott pumps unleaded into his gas-guzzling, cherry-red '69 Ford Galaxy 500 for about $1 a gallon, the same price as a week ago and a week before that - and it will probably be the same next week, too.

Nov. 15 -- Teachers Wetsel and Schwertner earn Honorary American FFA Degree (J.T. Smith): Barron Wetsel and David Schwertner, agriscience instructors and advisers at Coronado High School, received the Honorary American FFA Degree during the past week's 71st National FFA Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

Nov. 15 -- Farm-state senators concerned with proposed grain merger: WASHINGTON -- Two farm-state senators expressed "serious concern" Friday about the proposed merger of the nation's two top grain exporters, saying they fear plans by Cargill Inc. and Continental Grain Co. may further hurt farmers already reeling from a bad year.

Nov. 15 -- Fewer customers leave cereal market soggy for Kellogg, others: GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Jan Czarnota grew up eating Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal for breakfast. But these days, she's more likely to start her day with a bagel or a piece of fruit.

Nov. 15 -- Social Security may be the route to wealth: NEW YORK (AP) -- The most effective argument for a partially privatized Social Security has been around for ages, available to everyone but largely unused except by the rich.

Nov. 15 -- eToys takes the chaos out of toy shopping with its Internet service: NEW YORK -- As an uncle, Toby Lenk lived the nightmare that went into shopping for Christmas toys: the crowds, the lines and of course, the screaming kids.

Nov. 15 -- City officials to consider filtering Internet at public libraries: DALLAS (AP) -- After a heated public meeting this week, officials in the North Dallas suburb of Plano have decided to consider using filtering software to keep children from viewing explicit material on the Internet.

Nov. 14 -- Clothing manufacturer keeps going in competitive industry: In a 30,000-square-foot building on the west side of Abilene, Rita Barber Inc.'s 44 employees stitch together fashions that are to die for.

Nov. 14 -- West Texas Classic Limousin Bull Sale is today (J.T. Smith): The West Texas Classic Limousin Bull Sale is at 1 p.m. today at Producers Livestock Auction on North Bell Street in San Angelo.

Nov. 14 -- Companies reach settlement in merger: West Texas Utilities' parent company, Central and South West Corp., and Ohio-based American Electric Power reached settlements Thursday with several groups in Texas and Arkansas regarding the two companies' pending merger, a company spokesman said.

Nov. 14 -- Blue Cross-Blue Shield creates new jobs: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is putting to work 110 people at its recently-expanded claims and customer service center in Abilene, the company said.

Nov. 14 -- Hackers have their way with company secrets: DALLAS -- Computer criminals can change airplane radar information, tap into credit reporting agencies and make international phone calls on your company's dime.

Nov. 14 -- U.S. commission finds evidence of injury to domestic steel industry: WASHINGTON -- The U.S. steel industry has produced evidence that it could be damaged by cheap imports sent to the American market by steelmakers in Japan, Russia and Brazil, a federal commission said Friday.

Nov. 13 -- Garza hopes to reverse bad judgments: When Tony Garza campaigned for his seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, he was seeking to reverse years of bad judgment.

Nov. 13 -- Young wheat producers eligible for leadership awards (J.T. Smith): Young Texas wheat farmers are eligible to compete for leadership development awards.

Nov. 13 -- Study: Minorities not getting mortgages despite national surge in home ownership: NEW YORK - In these days of easy credit, Alice Scott of Houston was told her $20,000 annual earnings as a freelance hairdresser weren't enough to qualify for a $15,000 mortgage.

Nov. 13 -- Taylor County honors Outstanding Extension Cooperator awards: Travis Gary and Joyce Jay were recognized with top honors at the annual Extension Program Council meeting Thursday night at the Taylor County Extension Center.

Nov. 13 -- Consumers should ask before they give: WASHINGTON (AP) - It's not better to give than to receive if the gift ends up in the hands of scam artists, warned the government Thursday.

Nov. 12 -- Seeking job? Take a shower: In the midst of one of the tightest labor markets Colorado has ever seen, the Kaiser Permanente HMO must interview 15 job applicants to find even one qualified candidate.

Nov. 12 -- Texas Farm Bureau Convention is Nov. 28-Dec. 2 at Lubbock (J.T. Smith): This has been a tough year for agriculture. Nevertheless, a big turnout is expected for the 65th annual Texas Farm Bureau Convention Nov. 28-Dec. 2 in Lubbock..

Nov. 12 -- 2,000 ways to personalize your desktop: Your computer desktop says worlds about you. If you use the standard gray desktop, you are sensibly conserving your display resources. But with video cards packing as much memory as a year-old mainframe computer, you'd be missing a fantastic opportunity if you didn't personalize your desktop.

Nov. 12 -- Area business notes: News from the Big Country

Nov. 12 -- Gates says government doesn't have much of a case in antitrust lawsuit: BELLEVUE, Wash. (AP) - The government doesn't have much of a case in its antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft Corp., Chairman Bill Gates told shareholders Wednesday.

Nov. 12 -- Crafting a statement of purpose: A well thought-out "Statement of Purpose" can bring new life to your firm, no matter what the size of your company. Employees will become happier, more productive, and increasingly more loyal when they know the exact reason your company exists and what their part is in making that happen.

Nov. 12 -- Investing clubs mostly fail to top market: Beardstown Ladies, move over. When it comes to investment clubs that haven't performed as well as originally thought, a new study suggests you have got plenty of company.

Nov. 11 -- National Farmers Union applauds agreement on U.S. food aid to Russia (J.T. Smith): With American farmers having been hit with weather disasters and a historic downturn in the farm economy, the National Farmers Union is hailing a U.S. plan to provide about 3.1 million metric tons of food aid to Russia.

Nov. 11 -- Retailers' search under way for holiday help: The holiday hunt is on, but not for the perfect gift. Retailers are searching for extra help to accommodate the holiday shopping rush.

Nov. 11 -- Why do you think they call it the World Wide Web: Last night, I decided to see how many countries I had Internet friends in, not counting the hundreds I've interacted with from the United States.

Nov. 11 -- Surfing the Web (Doug Williamson): This week's World Wide Web trek takes us from Teddy Roosevelt to tsunamis and from license plates to Internet Explorer.

Nov. 11 -- Scripps selling Dallas newspaper group to Lionheart of Fort Worth : CINCINNATI (AP) - The E.W. Scripps Co. agreed Tuesday to sell its Dallas Community Newspaper Group to Lionheart Holdings LLC, subject to agreement on final terms.

Nov. 11 -- Gates in 1995: 'This antitrust thing will blow over': WASHINGTON - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, now fighting a government antitrust case built partly on e-mail evidence, told Intel executives in 1995 that he might change his company's policy about how often to destroy internal e-mail.

Nov. 11 -- Leadership series today: The third annual Worldwide Lessons in Leadership Series will be held at the Abilene Civic Center today.

Nov. 10 -- Taylor County Extension Council to meet Thursday in Abilene (J.T. Smith): The annual meeting of the Taylor County Extension Council is 7 p.m. Thursday at the Taylor County Extension Center at 1982 Lytle Way on the Taylor County Expo Center grounds in Abilene.

Nov. 10 -- Small Business Salute today (Doug Williamson): Davis, Kinard & Co. will be honored this morning with the quarterly Small Business Salute by the Abilene Business Council.

Nov. 10 -- Gray area of ethics on job is discussed: Often, the right way to treat employees might be to follow the Golden Rule.

Nov. 10 -- RRC sponsoring workshop of commingling rules: With oil prices in the gutter, operators need to be able to squeeze everything they can from each dollar.

Nov. 10 -- Gates, on videotape, denies threatening Intel: WASHINGTON (AP) - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, who has had a long though at times rocky relationship with Intel Corp., denied he ever threatened Intel or tried to discourage its software efforts.

Nov. 10 -- Pay gap endures at highest levels of corporate America: NEW YORK (AP) - A seat at the boardroom table doesn't guarantee a woman will earn as much as her male counterpart, a research group reported Monday.

Nov. 8 -- Geology: A Profession on the Rocks: When Cathy Austin, a Hardin-Simmons University sophomore, told her father she was going to major in geology, her father was bewildered.

Nov. 8 -- Jim Ned and Woodson FFA'ers are Texas delegates to national convention (J.T. Smith): Two area high school students will help decide the future direction of the National FFA Organization during November at the National FFA Convention.

Nov. 8 -- Deadline nears for service academy appointments: Big Country residents who wish to serve their country by enlisting in a military academy have until Dec. 1 to apply for an appointment.

Nov. 8 -- Texas gun-toters shun liability coverage: HOUSTON -- An unusual special risk coverage aimed at providing Texans who legally carry a concealed handgun with liability, bodily injury and $50,000 in legal defense coverages, hasn't caught fire here.

Nov. 8 -- Job cuts this year -- the most since 1993: NEW YORK -- The ax is swinging again in corporate America. With profits from abroad falling and fears of an economic slowdown ahead, companies have returned in greater numbers to the "downsizing" that became unpleasantly familiar in the early 1990s.

Nov. 8 -- A modest proposal: Tie stock broker compensation to performance: NEW YORK -- Four years ago, the then-chairman and chief executive of the New York Stock Exchange gave what in retrospect was a courageous speech to members of the securities business.

Nov. 8 -- New Visa chief executive works to safeguard brand name: NEW YORK (AP) -- Passing the stately Art Deco Pan Am building recently, Malcolm Williamson was reminded of his most critical task as new chief executive officer of Visa International -- safeguarding the Visa brand.

Nov. 7 -- Jerry and Connie Stevens go on to a string of cattle wins after fair (J.T. Smith): The 1998 West Texas Fair during September in Abilene was just the beginning of many top cattle wins for Jerry and Connie Stevens of south Taylor County.

Nov. 7 -- Banks increasing credit-card fees, shortening grace periods: Credit-card issuers are boosting late fees and over-limit fees and cutting grace periods, says a new consumer group study.

Nov. 7 -- Rivals accuse Microsoft of intentional software bugs: WASHINGTON -- Apple Computer's courtroom description of Microsoft as a software saboteur is the latest in a string of complaints by competitors that the company has tweaked its own programs deliberately to interfere with a rival's product.

Nov. 7 -- FCC chairman: No per-minute charges for Internet access: WASHINGTON (AP) -- The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is promising consumers that a pending decision won't lead to charges by the minute for connecting to the Internet by phone.

Nov. 7 -- Brokers will have to change their ways, SEC chairman says: BOCA RATON, Fla. -- With technology allowing everyone to be an armchair broker, the professional brokers will have to change the way they do business in the 21st century, the government's top securities regulator said Friday.

Nov. 7 -- Steel industry bleeds, but observers question need for sanctions on foreign steel: PITTSBURGH -- The cry went up at 40-some rallies last month from Pennsylvania to Minnesota and Alabama, and steelmakers and steelworkers uttered it with one voice.

Nov. 6 -- Job growth slows significantly in October; factories cut workers: WASHINGTON - U.S. job growth slowed in October as factories struggling with a loss of sales overseas cut workers for the seventh time in nine months.

Nov. 6 -- Farm Credit Bank of Texas partners with John Hancock (J.T. Smith): The Farm Credit Bank of Texas recently purchased $206 million participation in an agricultural loan portfolio held by John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Boston, Mass.

Nov. 6 -- Dow sprints back toward 9,000: NEW YORK - Stocks rose to the highest level in three months Thursday, with the Dow moving within 100 points of 9,000 in an autumn rally that keeps finding new life.

Nov. 6 -- Spurred by Kathie Lee scandal, White House offers sweatshop pact: NEW YORK (AP) - A White House task force that included Nike and Reebok and grew out of the Kathie Lee Gifford sweatshop scandal has agreed to a pact that protects workers at overseas factories.

Nov. 5 -- What do workers think of employers' holiday gifts? With just 50 days before Christmas, employers are making arrangements to furnish employees with tokens of their appreciation for a year's work. Or is it just token appreciation?

Nov. 5 -- RR Ranch 29th Annual Angus Bull Sale is Nov. 10 at Nolan (J.T. Smith): There is no better Angus bull sale in the nation - or the world - than the 29th Annual RR Ranch Angus Bull Sale coming up Nov. 10 at the Nolan ranch.

Nov. 5 -- Area business notes: Briefs from the Big Country

Nov. 5 -- Smart cards a tough sell in U.S., proponents concede: NEW YORK - As they eulogized an electronic-cash card trial on the Upper West Side Wednesday, bankers and technology experts were asking fundamental questions: Why have the little cards embedded with silicon chips - known as smart cards - not taken off in the United States, and how can they be made more attractive?

Nov. 5 -- Car, truck sales surge in October, automakers optimistic for '99: DETROIT - If consumer confidence is slipping, there's little evidence of it on the nation's car lots. Sales of cars and light trucks surged 10 percent in October as most automakers posted gains.

Nov. 5 -- Getting Going: Rock-solid investing guidelines for uncertain times: Now what? We have had neither financial Armageddon nor a quick stock-market bounceback. Instead, share prices are muddling along, down sharply from their July 17 peak but - thanks to the gains of the past two sessions - handily above the Aug. 31 low.

Nov. 5 -- Last-minute absences up 25 percent in a year - the reasons: Part of me wishes that all the workers on Earth would call in sick tomorrow and keep calling in sick every day until they use up all the sick days that their employers offer.

Nov. 4 -- Wehrmann-Donnell Angus Bull Sale just week away at Expo Center ( J.T. Smith): The Wehrmann-Donnell Bull Sale is going to be one of the bigger agricultural events to come to the Taylor County Expo Center in many moons.

Nov. 4 -- "Portal" is the latest buzzword from the Web (Brian Bethel): They're everywhere. They're growing. But are they worth it? So-called Internet portal sites (many of which used to to be called "search engines") aim to be your first stop when it comes to the World Wide Web.

Nov. 4 -- TV makers agree on digital TV standards: WASHINGTON - Cable customers should be able to buy digital TV sets next year that will work with their set-top boxes, allowing them to see any cable show in a new format that promises razor-sharp pictures and sound.

Nov. 4 -- Clinton signs bill limiting shareholder suits: WASHINGTON - President Clinton on Tuesday signed legislation creating national standards for class-action shareholder lawsuits. Some Democrats had warned it could close the courthouse door to ordinary investors.

Nov. 4 -- Dow unchanged amid some mild profit-taking: NEW YORK - Most stocks rose Tuesday, but some profit-taking among the blue chips left the Dow with no change for the first time in nearly two years.

Nov. 3 -- The problems in agriculture were the same in 1926 (J.T. Smith): This being election day, there's been lots of noise about farm and ranch problems in recent weeks. At least some widespread rainfall over the weekend should have many folks in a better state of mind.

Nov. 3 -- Complaints arise over phone bills from Ohio carrier (Doug Williamson): The Abilene Better Business Bureau has received numerous calls about Discount Plus.

Nov. 3 -- USDA to consider extension requests for CRP emergency grazing: USDA has agreed to a recommendation from U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm to consider requests for time extensions during which counties are eligible to participate in emergency Conservation Reserve Program grazing.

Nov. 3 -- Americans raid their savings to maintain brisk spending: WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans spent at a brisk pace in September, but to do it they had to raid their savings for the first time in nearly 40 years. Economists warned that people can't keep that up for long.

Nov. 3 -- Gates appears in court - on videotape: WASHINGTON (AP) - Microsoft chairman Bill Gates took center stage at his company's antitrust trial Monday, appearing on TV and computer screens throughout a federal courtroom as the government tried to show he masterminded plans to crush his competition.

Nov. 1 -- Area HMO members not affected by large premium increases: Many Abilene-area HMO policyholders are not seeing dramatic premium increases like the headline-grabbing, sometimes two-fold increases seen across the country.

Nov. 1 -- Group to address thorough agenda of business issues: The upcoming session of the Texas Legislature will be an important one for business.

Nov. 1 -- NCBA and TSCRA agree to work for stronger national group (J.T. Smith): Leaders of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, along with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, met in Fort Worth during the past week and announced renewed efforts to strengthen the national group while making producer profits a priority.

Nov. 1 -- Restructuring of dealer networks promises changes in automotive retailing: DETROIT -- After decades of maintaining a bloated, costly system of franchised dealers, the two biggest U.S. automakers are moving rapidly to modernize the way they distribute and sell their cars and trucks.

Nov. 1 -- A resurgence in downtowns across the country: It's well known that people have been fleeing cities for decades now, which has led to explosive growth in suburbs and to some increase in rural populations. But trends change, happily enough, and now urban downtowns are enjoying a resurgence.

Nov. 1 -- Few pre-election anxieties in the markets: NEW YORK -- Going into Tuesday's midterm elections, and looking ahead to the prospect of a presidential impeachment inquiry in Congress, Wall Streeters seem to have remarkably few political worries on their minds.

Nov. 1 -- Start now to save on taxes paid next year: Hard to believe, but the end of 1998 is just two months away.