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Big changes loom if high gas prices hold, U. of I. expert says
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Americans’ usual fuel-saving shortcuts could give way to dramatic changes affecting the nation’s auto, housing and even job markets if gasoline prices stay at record highs nearing an average $4 a gallon nationwide, a University of Illinois economic expert says. “For most of us, we’re not going to change anything fundamental right […]
Proposed law could drive up health-insurance costs, U. of I. expert says
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Health-insurance costs could ultimately balloon if President Bush signs a bill forbidding insurers from using genetic tests that gauge disease risks when setting premiums or deciding eligibility for coverage, a University of Illinois insurance expert says. Hailed by advocates as the first major civil rights bill of the 21st century, the effort […]
Study shows ‘snowballing futility’ for workers in arbitration cases
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A hodge-podge of state laws has created legal land mines that are blowing away a disproportionate share of awards handed to employees in arbitration cases against their employers, according to a new University of Illinois study. Labor law professor Michael LeRoy says his research reflects a disturbing trend of “snowballing futility” for […]
U. of I., Illinois chamber starting certification program for HR managers
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – More than 9,300 Illinois companies were investigated last year for alleged labor law violations, sparked by employee complaints about problems ranging from wages and overtime to workplace safety. Many problems likely could have been averted if human resource practitioners were better trained in the often complex nuances of federal and state labor […]
Lost Illinois town offers lessons for race relations in America, expert says
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama delivered what many consider the signature speech of his candidacy last month in Philadelphia, pleading for straightforward talk about race as ethnic rumblings dogged his historic bid to become the nation’s first black president. Meanwhile, back in Obama’s home state, planning was under way for another summer of […]
Fed juggling inflation, economy as it considers rate cut, U. of I. expert says
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Mounting worries about inflation will weigh on the Federal Reserve Board this week as it mulls a seventh cut in short-term interest rates in the last eight months, a University of Illinois economist says. Anne Villamil predicts the Fed will trim its key interest rate by another quarter-point at the end of […]
What’s the best use of your federal tax rebate?
More than $150 billion in federal tax rebates will be doled out starting next month – cash the government hopes burns a hole in taxpayers’ pockets and lights a fire under the nation’s listless economy. Retailers are already jockeying for a share of the windfall, worth up to $600 for individuals and $1,200 for married […]
Airfares could rise if Delta-Northwest deal spawns more mergers, expert says
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A proposed merger of Delta and Northwest airlines likely won’t drive up the cost of flying, but that could change if the deal sparks a flurry of consolidation among U.S. air carriers, a University of Illinois business professor says. Finance professor Heitor Almeida says Delta and Northwest largely serve different regions, so […]
Poll: Most still undecided about constitutional convention for Illinois
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Support is lagging for Illinois’ first constitutional convention in four decades, but could get a boost from growing unrest over political in-fighting that many citizens fear has paralyzed state government, according to a new University of Illinois poll. Nearly 40 percent of respondents in the Institute of Government and Public Affairs survey […]
Star status among financial analysts overrated, new study says
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Some Wall Street analysts are hailed as stars, packing enough wallop to send stock prices soaring or tumbling as their earnings forecasts ripple through a growing landscape of financial news outlets. But while some analysts crunch numbers better than others, the gap is small and ultimately doesn’t give investors as much of […]
Round-the-clock casinos bad for society, U. of I. gambling expert says
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Gambling addictions and drunken driving are among life-changing problems that will worsen if Illinois allows casinos to take bets 24 hours a day, a University of Illinois professor who has studied gambling for more than two decades says. Nationally known gambling critic John W. Kindt argues the Illinois Gaming Board should be […]
U.of I. experts say overhaul proposals could worsen credit crisis
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Bush administration’s sweeping plan to overhaul the nation’s financial regulatory system could compound the credit crisis it seeks to cure, two University of Illinois finance professors say. Stephen D’Arcy says regulators should let the crisis play out, learning from the lessons it provides, rather than overreacting and implementing changes that could […]