Oct. 31 -- Republican and Democrat ag and business leaders display Stenholm support: Some drove for hours to make a 3-minute talk.

Oct. 31 -- Farm and ranch safety tips on fires are timely with frost approaching (J.T. Smith): After frost arrives soon, the wildfire hazard in the Abilene region will be even greater than it is now.

Oct. 31 -- Farmers and ranchers struggle to survive drought even as fall arrives: ALTUS, Okla. -- Cattle in far southwest Oklahoma were so hot this summer that some ranchers built guards around water troughs to keep the cattle from leaping in for a cooling dip.

Oct. 31 -- Hundreds of environmental service companies closing their doors: TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Companies that clean up pollution and help businesses comply with environmental regulations have fallen on hard times with one in four closing their doors during a recent two-year period.

Oct. 31 -- Survey names San Francisco, Boston, New York, Chicago top real-estate cities: NEW YORK (Dow Jones News) -- San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, New York, and Chicago are the cities with the best real-estate investment prospects, according to Emerging Trends In Real Estate, an annual survey of markets conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Lend Lease Corp.

Oct. 30 -- ACU Aggie Club honors top alumni in agriculture (J.T. Smith): Besides the the presentation of "Oustanding Aggie of the Year" to Dr. Charlie Hart and the "Young Professional Award" to Chandra Scott Corse - as mentioned in the past Sunday's column - Abilene Christian University also presented two more awards to alumni at its recent annual Homecoming banquet.

Oct. 30 -- Waldrop's Furniture company truly caters to customers: Competition is hot and heavy in the furniture store business. Sam Waldrop knows that, as well he should after more than 50 years in the industry. Sam's father, G.W. Waldrop, started the business 75 years ago. Today, Waldrop's Furniture is one of Abilene's oldest firms.

Oct. 30 -- Group calls for phone company competition: An ad hoc coalition of communications companies and a citizens' advocacy group is calling for Southwestern Bell and GTE to open the doors for more competition.

Oct. 30 -- USDA announces $2.8 billion in market loan assistance payments: U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm praised the annoucement by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman Thursday concerning the delivery of $2.8 billion in USDA Market Loss Assistance Payments contained in the omnibus spending bill recently signed into law on Oct. 21.

Oct. 30 -- Bank holding companies declare raise in dividends: Two local bank holding companies have good news for shareholders this week. First Financial Bankshares declared a 10-percent stock dividend and a 27.5-cent per share cash dividend.

Oct. 30 -- Some Baby Boomers don't want to retire: NEW YORK - The overwhelming majority of wealthy Americans do not want to retire at 65, according to the latest survey of investor optimism by PaineWebber, the Wall Street brokerage.

Oct. 29 -- Conservation Reserve Program sign-up continues through Dec. 11 ( J.T. Smith): Another general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program is under way. The latest sign-up began Oct. 26 and continues through Dec. 11.

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

Oct. 29 -- America Online says Internet contract hinged on Windows: WASHINGTON - A senior executive with America Online adamantly disputed claims Wednesday by Microsoft Corp. that AOL distributed Microsoft's Internet software because it was better technology.

Oct. 29 -- Should you take the plunge into personal bankruptcy? NEW YORK - You're swamped by debt. Bill collectors are ringing down your phone incessantly. Now you're debating whether to file for personal bankruptcy.

Oct. 29 -- Small businesses need plan for dealing with sexual harassment: In a now landmark Supreme Court case, former Boca Raton, Fla., lifeguards Beth Ann Faragher and Nancy Ewanchew said two supervisors groped them and made offensive comments on their job. Faragher said one supervisor told her: "Date me or clean the toilets for a year."

Oct. 29 -- Going ... going ... sold to man with the 28800 modem! Imagine a huge yard sale, except the world is the neighborhood, the browsers set the prices, and the goods being offered aren't just junk.

Oct. 28 -- SBA pledges more, faster, financing for some businesses: Some small businesses may have an easier time quickly accessing more financing, thanks to modifications in government programs.

Oct. 28 -- Surfing the Web (Doug Williamson): The variety of attention on the World Wide Web this week is diverse.

Oct. 28 -- Microsoft accused of trying to split Internet market: WASHINGTON - Calling Microsoft's billionaire chairman the most significant witness in the government's antitrust case, a judge ruled Tuesday that government lawyers can show all 20 hours of videotaped interviews with Bill Gates.

Oct. 28 -- Recourse loan program should be a boost for mohair industry (J.T. Smith): The Texas sheep and goat industry has been taking it on the chin ever since the end of the Wool and Mohair Incentive Program.

Oct. 28 -- U.S. CoC endorses Stenholm: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm Tuesday, citing his voting record on issues of interest to small businesses.

Oct. 28 -- Silicon Valley's new technology museum to open this weekend: SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Rhine is known for its wineries. New York has the Met. And now Silicon Valley has The Tech.

Oct. 27 -- Cattlemen discuss Texas weather (J.T. Smith): This farm writer visited with many cattlemen from South Texas who were in this part of the state late last week for the big Dudley Bros. Bull Sale at Comanche.

Oct. 27 -- Cattlemen's Round-Up reaches $234,000 after final fall sale at Junction: JUNCTION - The final sale in the fall series of the 1998 Cattlemen's Round-Up for Rehab raised $12,041 at Junction Stockyards Monday.

Oct. 27 -- Netscape CEO: We're the good guys; Microsoft the 'enemy' : WASHINGTON (AP) - Microsoft Corp. confronted a Netscape executive Monday with a derisive message from one of his own employees that ridiculed Netscape's Internet software as "faster than a dog with no legs."

Oct. 27 -- Equipment problems halts trading on NYSE: NEW YORK (AP) - Equipment problems brought trading to a halt for about an hour Monday afternoon on the New York Stock Exchange, the nation's biggest stock market.

Oct. 27 -- Devout Christians are victimized in alleged investment scam: ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - With his wholesome good looks, his talk of Christian ministry and his mother in tow, Jonathan Strawder didn't take long to sell Diane and Frank Smith on an investment opportunity that promised a 360 percent return in a year.

Oct. 25 -- Certificates may make home ownership easier: A new plan to help the local economy could make home ownership easier for Abilene-area residents who qualify.

Oct. 25 -- Laser drilling could be oil exploration's next revolution: Drilling time could be reduced to hours rather than days if researchers are able to find a feasible application for laser technology capable of cutting rocks.

Oct. 25 -- Chandra Scott Corse receives Young Professional Award from ACU (J.T. Smith): Abilene native Chandra Scott Corse was one of two recipients of the "Young Professional Award" from the Abilene Christian University Department of Agriculture and Environment this year.

Oct. 25 -- Flight attendant workforce matures along with industry attitudes: DALLAS -- Sherri Cappello's work uniform once consisted of a miniskirt with white plastic boots and little bows for her hair.

Oct. 25 -- Home builders rushing to get into active adult market: SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. -- For the past decade, Don and Harriet Doerr have been the envy of friends back home in Nebraska.

Oct. 25 -- New Jersey telephone company settles with 20 states for $1 million: DETROIT -- Twenty states will divide a $1 million payment from a New Jersey phone company that changed customers' long-distance service without their permission.

Oct. 24 -- Monhollon speaks at Rotary Club luncheon: The United States should hope for a soft landing from its overheated economy, Jimmie Monhollon, dean of Hardin-Simmons University's College of Business, told the Abilene Rotary Club at a Friday luncheon.

Oct. 24 -- The feral hog poses big problems for many in Texas agriculture (J.T. Smith): Wild hogs make money for some people through hunters, so they may be viewed as assets by a few.

Oct. 24 -- Higginbotham says they're not closing Gorman store: GORMAN -- Higginbotham Bros. and Co. officials say they are not closing their Gorman store after 102 years, only "merging" it with the larger, sister store in De Leon, only 11 miles away.

Oct. 24 -- Researchers suspect string of deadly cancers tied to work: NAPERVILLE, Ill. (AP) -- Health investigators increasingly suspect that chemicals used at an Amoco Corp. research center are tied to a mysterious cluster of deadly brain cancers among employees and they hope to solve the puzzle early next year, company officials say.

Oct. 24 -- American schools may be solution to Japanese economic woes: BOSTON (AP) -- For years, American businessmen listened breathlessly to the Japanese for any tidbit of advice that might help them squeeze out more profit.

Oct. 24 -- Silicon Valley divided over Microsoft trial: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- In Silicon Valley, where a company can be battered by the mere whiff of news that Bill Gates is looking its way, high-tech companies are watching the government's antitrust case against Microsoft with horror and fascination.

Oct. 23 -- Dudley Bros. bull sale averages $1,767 in fierce bidding: COMANCHE -- The 37th Annual Dudley Bros. Bull Sale grossed $212,040 on 120 Herefords in just two hours here Thursday to average $1,767 per bull.

Oct. 23 -- CEO speaks at Hardin-Simmons: The top man at the Dallas Federal Reserve doesn't see a financial catastrophe hitting the United States like the one in Asia and South America, but he's not as optimistic as he was just a few months ago.

Oct. 23 -- First Texas Red Angus Feeder Calf Sale is success (J.T. Smith): The Texas Red Angus Association held its special Red Angus Feeder Calf Sale this month at Producers Livestock Auction in San Angelo and met with success. Plans now are to make this an annual event.

Oct. 23 -- New apartments to be constructed: For the first time in a decade and a half, Abilene is getting a new, large-scale apartment complex.

Oct. 23 -- IRS wins a round in battle over taxing restaurant tips: WASHINGTON -- Uncle Sam doesn't serve the food or the wine, but the government is insisting on its share of the tip.

Oct. 23 -- Power Wheels recall one of largest ever: WASHINGTON -- Parents should immediately remove the batteries from their kids' Power Wheels cars and trucks because faulty wiring can cause them to erupt in flame, the government said Thursday in announcing one of the biggest toy recalls ever.

Oct. 22 -- Biles says fall armyworms may become problem for area wheat growers (J.T. Smith): Wheat growers across the state have been having problems with fall armyworms during the past few weeks, reports Stephen Biles, Extension Service agent for Integrated Pest Management.

Oct. 22 -- How small business owners discover, validate their entrepreneurial ambitions: For years, Cindy McCathren cooked a lot of food for a lot of friends. They raved about her culinary skills. So when her husband, Jim, noticed his architectural firm had outgrown its current location, Cindy sensed a chance to cultivate the seed fertilized by her friends abd planted in her head long ago.

Oct. 22 -- Laser technology may revolutionize oil industry: ODESSA - Beneath the dark cloud of falling oil prices and rumors of imminent industry layoffs, visitors at an oil-industry exposition examined such products as neck-shading hats for roughnecks and oil-drilling lasers.

Oct. 22 -- Big Country business notes: News from around the area

Oct. 22 -- Retirees cut trips, work longer as stock market drop hits golden nest eggs: Bill Moon was having a fine retirement. Flush with a retirement account fattened by the roaring stock market, the 67-year-old former telephone worker paid for half of his daughter's new Jeep, and planned to buy a new car for himself this week and set off to see Montana and the Dakotas.

Oct. 22 -- Seniors on the Net? You bet your mouse: Of all the misbegotten notions that people believe about computers, here's one of the biggest myths of all: Computers are just for kids or young adults.

Oct. 21 -- Nongrain LDP deadline for applications is nearing (J.T. Smith): The USDA deadline for submitting applications for the non-grain loan deficiency payment is close. Deadline is Nov. 1.

Oct. 21 -- Cobwebs aren't gathering on old web browsers (Brian Bethel): Time to fire up your shiny new Pentium II with your shiny, new 450 mhz processor, billions of bytes of RAM and infinite hard drive space, eh?

Oct. 21 -- Eastland auction sale pushes Cattlemen's Round-Up past $220,000 mark: EASTLAND - The 1998 Cattlemen's Round-Up for Rehab got a big boost in the fall series with the special sale at Eastland Livestock Auction Tuesday.

Oct. 21 -- Guest speaker focuses group on employee importance: Though a company might own millions of dollars of property, that's not its most valuable asset. Instead, employees are what count.

Oct. 21 -- Big Country youths among District III Gold Star winners: HASKELL - Youngsters were honored for outstanding achievements and leadership during this year's District III Gold Star Awards Banquet Tuesday night at the Haskell Civic Center.

Oct. 20 -- Fast track legislation failed but had considerable agriculture support (J.T. Smith): The renewal of fast track trade negotiating authority could have been a positive development for some farmers.

Oct. 20 -- Home sales booming here: Sales of homes in Abilene skyrocketed in September. The Abilene Board of Realtors reports a 40-percent rise in sales of homes through the Multiple Listing Service compared with September 1997. Dollar volume also increased by 38 percent.

Oct. 20 -- Government alleges no-holds barred campaign by Microsoft: WASHINGTON (AP) - Government lawyers opened their landmark antitrust trial against Microsoft Corp. on Monday by accusing the software titan of a carefully crafted, no-holds barred campaign to illegally "crush" a rival company.

Oct. 20 -- McDonald's 3rd-quarter profits, sales up; nearly 200 restaurants to close: McDonald's Corp. said Monday third-quarter profits and sales increased, as the Oak Brook, Ill.-based burger giant overcame economic difficulties in foreign markets and bounced back at home.

Oct. 20 -- Kroger purchase creating supermarket powerhouse: CINCINNATI (AP) - Kroger Co. is buying Fred Meyer Inc. to create a grocery powerhouse designed to compete with giant retailers such as Wal-Mart that are expanding into the supermarket business.

Oct. 18 -- Options for your 1999 contract commodity payments: ANSON -- Producers have the option to receive fiscal year 1999 Production Flexibility Contract (PFC) payments anytime during the fiscal year covering Oct. 1, 1998 through Sept. 30, 1999.

Oct. 18 -- Texas pumpkin crop survives drought year in flying colors: Mack Hickerson has been raising pumpkins since 1964 at his Floyd County farm -- certainly no newcomer to the pumpkin patch.

Oct. 18 -- Dudley Bros. 37th Annual Bull Sale is big event Thursday at Comanche (J.T. Smith): The only fall event that draws as many vehicles to Comanche as a football game takes place this week.

Oct. 18 -- Big Country Business Notes: News from around the area

Oct. 18 -- More and more robots populate world's factories: A record number of industrial robots were installed last year around the world and rapid growth is forecast into the next century, according to a new report.

Oct. 18 -- Mini-malls: one answer to small business start-ups: Would you like to expand your home-based business, but don't really know how?

Oct. 17 -- Tschaar and Durham of Abilene join Santa Gertrudis Breeders (J.T. Smith): Mike Tschaar & David Durham, Gambling Hills of Abilene, have become members of Santa Gertrudis Breeders International.

Oct. 17 -- Disney helps lead the fight to extend Mickey Mouse's copyright: WASHINGTON -- Facing the loss of their exclusive rights to Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other cartoon stars, Walt Disney Co. executives led a successful lobbying campaign to secure an extra 20 years of protection for their U.S. copyrights.

Oct. 17 -- Latest interest-rate cut suggests more are coming: WASHINGTON -- With its surprise interest-rate cut, the Federal Reserve is signaling it will reduce rates repeatedly if necessary to prevent the world economic slump from toppling the U.S. economy into recession.

Oct. 17 -- Roth IRA, gambling tax changes help send $1.7 billion for home health: WASHINGTON (AP) -- Married couples earning up to $150,000 a year could convert to advantageous Roth IRAs and taxes on prize winnings would change under a House-Senate deal providing $1.7 billion to improve Medicare home health care.

Oct. 17 -- Fox says World Series ad inventory nears sellout: NEW YORK -- Fox television executives say this year's bicoastal World Series matchup that includes baseball's best-known team should help the network improve on last year's dismal World Series audience figures.

Oct. 16 -- Jones County Fair is Saturday in Anson with day-long action (J.T. Smith): The 1998 Jones County Fair is Saturday at the fairgrounds in Anson.

Oct. 16 -- Operation Thank You to start (Doug Williamson): The Abilene Chamber of Commerce will kick off Operation Thank You Tuesday with more than 80 volunteers contacting more than 1,300 local businesses.

Oct. 16 -- Who cares what kids like; hot toys created by intense publicity campaigns: NEW YORK - Before Furby was available in any store nationwide, its manufacturer, Tiger Electronics, proclaimed the Gremlin-like interactive toy the must-have pick of the year. But who picked Furby as the hot toy for Christmas? Not the kids.

Oct. 16 -- Kerr-McGee to buy Oryx Energy for about $1.86 billion in stock: DALLAS - Kerr-McGee Corp. is buying Oryx Energy Co. for $1.86 billion in stock in a deal that will create one of the largest independent oil exploration and production companies in the U.S.

Oct. 15 -- Texas cotton crop might make 3 million bales tops (J.T. Smith): The 1998 Texas Upland cotton crop is expected to total 3 million bales - some 42 percent less than last year and 31 percent below the 1996 cotton crop.

Oct. 15 -- Employee theft is a fact of business life: When it comes to employee theft, employers are the ones grabbing the thieves by their collars and yanking them into accountability.

Oct. 15 -- Apple's $106 million earnings in quarter gives it first profitable year since 1995: CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) - Apple Computer Corp. reported its first profitable fiscal year since 1995, as sales of its new iMAC helped the rebounding computer company earn a healthy $106 million in its fourth quarter.

Oct. 15 -- Dates set for boll weevil eradication votes: AUSTIN (AP) - Cotton growers and landowners near Lubbock and in southeast Texas will decide early next year whether to implement a boll weevil eradication program, the state Department of Agriculture said Wednesday.

Oct. 15 -- Ford's earnings 10 percent in third quarter: DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Ford Motor Co. earned $1 billion in the third quarter, more evidence that the world's No. 2 automaker has become the industry's most successful cost cutter.

Oct. 15 -- State regulators announce new e-mail address for reporting fraud: WASHINGTON (AP) - Worried by the growth of financial scams using the Internet, the new head of a state securities regulators' group is urging people to participate in a "Neighborhood Watch" program in cyberspace.

Oct. 15 -- FFB continues growth rate: First Financial Bankshares Inc. of Abilene continued its 10-percent earnings growth rate in the third quarter.

Oct. 14 -- Surfing the Web (Doug Williamson): Gulliver, Kosovo, Smoltz and Daguerrotypes are some of the stops on today's tour of the World Wide Web.

Oct. 14 -- Adults and youngsters will find great time at Watt Matthews celebration ( J.T. Smith): A great way to spend part of this weekend is the Watt Matthews Cowboy Days Friday and Saturday in Albany.

Oct. 14 -- Make sure you shop for software before buying (Brian Bethel): Shopping for software highlights one irrefutable fact: This stuff is expensive. Buy a big-name package, and you can pay literally hundreds of dollars, even for a disc that simply upgrades a program you already own.

Oct. 14 -- Bandag touts quality steps taken: Bandag Inc.'s Abilene plant patted itself on the back Tuesday, recognizing company steps toward industry-recognized quality.

Oct. 14 -- Health insurers in Texas plan premium increases: DALLAS (AP) - Citing higher costs, health insurance companies plan sharp premium increases in Texas, beginning Jan. 1.

Oct. 14 -- Merrill Lynch to cut 3,400 jobs: NEW YORK - Merrill Lynch, one of the world's biggest investment banks, is cutting 3,400 jobs worldwide after a sharp decline in third-quarter earnings because of global market turmoil.

Oct. 13 -- Abilene not too expensive a town in which to live (Doug Williamson): It's 6 percent cheaper to live in Abilene than in the average American city. The quarter survey by the American Chamber of Commerce Research Associates found New York City to be the most expensive place in the nation to live - some 130 percent more than the average. Abilene was 94 percent of the norm.

Oct. 13 -- It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas: It is only 19 days before Halloween, 45 days until Thanksgiving and 73 days before Christmas. However, some local retailers are jumping in early, putting out their Christmas merchandise and decorations.

Oct. 13 -- Quarter Horses and border collies to benefit WTRC on Oct. 24 (J.T. Smith): McCutchen Quarter Horses and Russell Johnson's Border Collies will conduct demonstrations to benefit the West Texas Rehabilitation Center Oct. 24 at the Coke County roping arena in Bronte.

Oct. 13 -- Markets, not banks, call the credit shots: NEW YORK - A credit crunch may be coming in the U.S., but it would follow a very different model from previous episodes when the banking system tightened the supply of credit.

Oct. 11 -- Low oil prices provide opportunities for expansion: Languishing oil prices have created plum conditions for West Central Texas oil independents to expand their operations.

Oct. 11 -- R.A. Brown Ranch 24th Annual Bull and Quarter Horse Sale is Wednesday (J.T. Smith): One of the world's top cattle and horse auctions is this week at Throckmorton.

Oct. 11 -- Oil-service companies' third-quarter net seen dropping amid oil slump: NEW YORK -- The dramatic slide in world oil prices since last fall, which stunned the exploration and production industry, has lasted long enough to damp nearly all aspects of the oil-services business.

Oct. 11 -- Motor oil companies fine-tune products, battle for market share: THE WOODLANDS -- Nestled in a forested tract north of Houston, Pennzoil researchers toil to figure out how to make motor oils better than the next guy.

Oct. 11 -- Board Games: As Lewinsky matter shows, job referrals are a network staple: On Dec. 11, Richard Halperin, executive vice president of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc., got a call from Vernon Jordan -- a board member for the firm's Revlon Inc. unit -- asking him to talk to a "bright young woman" about finding an entry-level job in New York.

Oct. 11 -- Questions and answers about hedge funds: WASHINGTON -- Hedge funds are under close scrutiny because of the $3.6 billion private bailout last week of Long-Term Capital Management LP, facilitated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Outside of Wall Street, little is known about these secretive and largely unregulated investment funds.

Oct. 10 -- Internet and high technology will give rural areas equal access (J.T. Smith): Lots of people just dream of "some day" living in the country. They have grown weary of traffic jams, pollution and the general rat race of the cities. But for many -- in whatever their profession -- it is a necessary evil to remain in the big city to keep in touch.

Oct. 10 -- Top corporate chieftains gloomy about economy's prospects: WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- Many of the nation's top corporate executives have become a touch gloomy about prospects for the U.S. economy as the financial turmoil sweeping the globe intensifies.

Oct. 10 -- Labor shortage challenges restaurant industry: LOGANVILLE, Ga. -- Signing bonuses. Flex scheduling. Management-track commitments. Scholarship offers and internships.

Oct. 10 -- Experts say Russia can survive without IMF: As Russia wrestles with crises on all fronts, its new leaders are facing the question of whether the nation can survive without the International Monetary Fund.

Oct. 10 -- E.W. Scripps Co.'s third-quarter earnings down: CINCINNATI (AP) -- The E.W. Scripps Co.'s third-quarter earnings declined 32 percent as acquisition costs and falling broadcast television profits offset improvements in its newspaper division.

Oct. 9 -- United States and Taiwan sign agreement for purchase of U.S. wheat (J.T. Smith): Taiwan and the United States have signed an agreement for Taiwan to purchase 750,000 metric tons to 850,000 metric tons of U.S. wheat from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1999.

Oct. 9 -- Farmers Union applauds Clinton for holding out for better ag package: A Sweetwater farmer and agricultural leader says the White House did the right thing by holding out for a better farm relief package.

Oct. 9 -- Will credit card lawsuit affect customers? NEW YORK - The Justice Department is suing Visa and MasterCard, alleging that the credit card associations have illegally blocked competitors such as American Express and Discover from issuing cards in the United States.

Oct. 9 -- Mortgage rates continue slide: WASHINGTON (AP) - Average mnortgage rates fell to 6.49 percent this week, continuing a six-week slide that has pulled them to their lowest level in a generation.

Oct. 9 -- Natural gas drilling shows promise for next few years: Don't look for the price of oil to rebound within a year, at least enough to stimulate stalled drilling services.

Oct. 8 -- Humor, when used with tact and sensitivity, can work in business: It's funny how humor can make a difference at work - when it's used in the right way.

Oct. 8 -- Loan deficiency payment of 2 cents available to cotton growers (J.T. Smith): A loan deficiency payment of 2.03 cents per pound will be available for the week ending Thursday to eligible producers.

Oct. 8 -- National sales tax would only annoy public: Would a simple national sales tax remain simple? Probably not. Should the income tax be replaced with a national sales tax? Probably not.

Oct. 8 -- Wal-Mart launch signals threat to supermarkets: BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores, the world's biggest and most powerful retailer, is threatening supermarket mayhem with the launch Wednesday of a format called Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, a supermarket in all but name.

Oct. 8 -- Privacy initiative announced by Internet companies: NEW YORK - Eight major Web companies announced a multimillion dollar online privacy initiative Wednesday aimed at heading off legislation in Congress.

Oct. 8 -- Area Business Notes: News from around the Big Country

Oct. 8 -- Rehab Club Pig Sale raises $17,321 for WTRC: The 1998 Rehab Club Pig Sale at the Wylie High FFA Ag Barn late Monday night was an overwhelming success.

Oct. 8 -- Coleman sale brings in $7,861 for Cattlemen's Round-Up effort: COLEMAN - The special Rehab Sale at Coleman Livestock Auction here Wednesday raised $7,861 as part of the fall series of the 1998 Cattlemen's Round-Up.

Oct. 7 -- Cattle: Now and Next Year workshop is Oct. 19 at Comanche (J.T. Smith): Extension Livestock committees in Comanche and Brown counties have planned an excellent beef cattle workshop for livestock producers from all over Central Texas.

Oct. 7 -- Vanity Internet: What will they think of next? (Brian Bethel): It's logic only a professional marketer could come up with: "We have vanity license plates, so why not vanity Internet providers?"

Oct. 7 -- Surfing the Net (Doug Williamson): This week's journey on the World Wide Web goes from cheese and wine to carousels and from ballet to glaciers.

Oct. 7 -- Cattlemen's Round-Up for Rehab is today at Coleman: The 1998 Cattlemen's Round-Up for Rehab fall series resumes with the special sale at about 1 p.m. today at Coleman Livestock Auction.

Oct. 7 -- AT&T hopes to get lucky with new phone service that rejects its own name: NEW YORK (AP) - Lucky Dog Phone Co. may sound like some mom-and-pop start-up, but it's actually Ma Bell talking.

Oct. 6 -- Cattlemen's Round-Up for Rehab is tomorrow at Coleman (J.T. Smith): The 1998 Cattlemen's Round-Up for Rehab fall series resumes with the special sale at about 1 p.m. tomorrow at Coleman Livestock Auction.

Oct. 6 -- Texas wheat stocks are at 10-year high now: During September, Texas wheat stocks reached a 10-year high. There were some 139.5 million bushels of wheat stored in Texas in all positions as of September, compared with 93 million bushels a year earlier.

Oct. 6 -- Legislation doesn't go far enough, says Stenholm: WASHINGTON - With 1999 forecast as another year of low crop prices, Texas' highest ranking agriculture representative says the 1999 farming funding legislation does not go far enough to solve farmers' long-range income problems.

Oct. 6 -- A date with technology (Doug Williamson): It's not often you get to sit in on a first date, especially when it's not your own.

Oct. 4 -- Fighting the common computer virus: How can a machine get sick? How can a bunch of wires and circuits catch a virus?

Oct. 4 -- Rural Summit Conference is all day Tuesday at Abilene Civic Center (J.T. Smith): A very important meeting for rural communities is just two days away.

Oct. 4 -- Big Country Business Notes: News from around the area

Oct. 4 -- Is your company your new hometown?: Technology manager Kristen Thurber buys birthday cards, mails letters, picks up dry cleaning, and gets her morning coffee fix on Main Street -- all without leaving work.

Oct. 4 -- Lone Star bank suit dismissed; judge again dismisses bank suit: DALLAS -- For the second time in five years, a state district court judge in Dallas has thrown out a lawsuit alleging that NationsBank Corp. committed fraud 10 years ago in acquiring the assets of Texas' biggest bank.

Oct. 4 -- More rate cuts to come?: NEW YORK -- It was only a one-quarter percent cut in short-term interest rates, but it caused a great todo not just in the United States but throughout the world.

Oct. 3 -- Abilene Oil Accountant Gets National Recognition: When Charlene Richardson began working in the oil business 18 years ago, professional oil accountant associations were dominated by representatives from the majors.

Oct. 3 -- Farmers Union calls for Congress to try again on farm relief (J.T. Smith): Texas Farmers Union is asking the U.S. Congress to go back to the drawing board on farm relief.

Oct. 3 -- Bids to tour Gates' home soar over $25,000: SEATTLE (AP) -- Microsoft employees are in a bidding war for a private tour of chairman Bill Gates' $53.4 million mansion. The tour leads the list of items on the auction block in the company's annual employee charitable-giving campaign.

Oct. 3 -- Global financial crisis drags down world economies: NEW YORK -- Not since the early 1980s has so much of the world been in recession.

Oct. 3 -- Funds' summer drop was worst in eight years: NEW YORK -- After the worst quarterly showing for stock mutual funds in eight years, 1998 is looking more and more like the year of the bond fund.

Oct. 2 -- New device saves time, money: Schlumberger Wireline and Testing introduced a new device this week the company said is unequaled in its ability to pinpoint down-bore fluid flow.

Oct. 2 -- WTU customers need to pay bills: Customers racked up $4.9 million in delinquent electricity bills with West Texas Utilities during 1998's summer heat wave.

Oct. 2 -- Donnell Cattle and Wehrmann Angus bring bull sale to Expo Center Nov. 11 (J.T. Smith): Angus breeders Tommy Donnell of Graham and Nick Wehrmann and Richard McClung Jr. of New Market, Va., will hold their second joint bull sale at 1 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene.

Oct. 2 -- IMF: Global recession can't be ruled out: WASHINGTON -- Worldwide economic turmoil has cost millions of jobs and more than $600 billion in output -- the equivalent of a country the size of Canada shutting down for a year, the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday.

Oct. 2 -- Rubin calls for 'new openness' in global financial system: NEW YORK (AP) -- The financial crisis that spread from Asia to Russia and now threatens Latin America could erode a global trend toward free-market economies, Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin said Thursday.

Oct. 1 -- Finding right employee not always that easy: Though regular folks might find the job search a daunting task, it's not exactly a cake walk for employers, either.

Oct. 1 -- Farm relief package is lean on relief for ranchers (J.T. Smith): Although they've been hit as hard by the Drought of '98 as anyone, little meat for cattlemen was contained in the $3.9 billion farm relief package announced by Congress.

Oct. 1 -- Donnell Cattle and Wehrmann Angus bring bull sale to Expo Center Nov. 11: Angus breeders Tommy Donnell of Graham and Nick Wehrmann and Richard McClung, Jr., of New Market, Va., will hold their second joint bull sale at 1 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene.

Oct. 1 -- Loopholes mean $15.7 million in insurance payouts for some West Texas farmers: HOUSTON (AP) - Some West Texas farmers were able to recoup $15.7 million in insurance claims this year thanks to federal loopholes that raised crop benchmarks so high that farmers were guaranteed a payout, the Texas Journal of The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.