BeeBusinessDesk's blog

Breweries have tried for decades to attract attention by making tap handles larger and more colorful, but the microbrewery movement has brought a proliferation of artsy and exotic ones.

President Bush told U.S. auto industry leaders on Tuesday he recognized they had “tough choices” to make their companies competitive in a difficult global environment and promised a continuing dialogue between government and industry.

Ford’s F-series trucks are under an attack seldom seen in the company’s 103-year history, mainly from domestic rival GM and Japanese nemesis Toyota.

Weekly New Business License listings for the City of Modesto

Here’s what you’ll find in the Work&Money section of The Bee on Tuesday:

From the rising cost of retiree health care to the advantages a weak yen gives the Japanese, the heads of the Big Three U.S. automakers will press for more recognition for their problems when they sit down Tuesday with President George Bush, but they will stress they don’t want a bailout.

Columnist Peter Post says the use of public humiliation of employees by managers shouldn’t be tolerated.

The resignations of KB Home chairman and other executives in the wake of a stock options scandal shouldn't derail the company, analysts say.

In Saturday's Work&Money section:

The benefits of environmentally friendly, or sustainable, agricultural practices were demonstrated to valley farmers this week.

The new music for Microsoft's next generation operating system, Vista, is only a few notes, but a lot of work to compose. Afterall, the tune will be around a long time and heard whenever someone signs on a computer using Vista.

Popular old toys get updated to better compete with electronic gadgets and games. A couple of classics get inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame: The Easy-Bake Oven and Lionel model trains

Columnist Michelle Singletary warns workers to check their paycheck stubs to make sure they are accurate before the end of the year.

From the Vine wine notes and Focus on Ag briefs ...

Sunday:

Don't be a holiday target of con artists and crooks this year. There are things consumers can do to protect themselves and their personal financial information to ensure this holiday shopping season doesn't turn into a nightmare.

Phone customers who didn’t reapply in time for low-cost phone service will get an extended period with the low-cost service. The California Public Utilities Commission announced that consumers removed from the state's LifeLine discount service will be placed back on the service, even if they didn’t turn in recertification forms by the deadline.

According to the PUC, it began a program this year that gave the job of recertifying Californians for the program to an outside organization. Because of confusion, very few of the low-cost customers re-applied for California LifeLine.

These customers will have their bills credited accordingly and should contact their phone company for more information. About 3.5 million Californians are enrolled in California LifeLine. For more information: cpuc.ca.gov