JSonline: Business Watch
Business Watch: A Weblog of Today's Local Business News

• Harley Museum gets state brownfield grant
  The state will provide a $1.25 million environmental cleanup grant to Harley-Davidson Inc. (Sears, Kmart to phase out PVC
  Sears Holdings Inc. said today it would launch a program aimed at eliminating polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from its packaging and product lines. The action by the Hoffman Estates, Ill.- based retailer comes after shareholder groups filed resolutions urging Sears to take action regarding potentially dangerous chemicals in its products. The resolution was withdrawn when the company, which operates Sears and Kmart stores, agreed to discuss the issue of PVC in packaging and inventory. Sears, with more than $50 billion in sales, is one of several giant retailers looking at ways to remove PVC from its shelves. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target Corp. are among the others, according to the Center for Health, Environment and Justice.
• Goldman Sachs lowers MGIC to 'sell'
  Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (Ladish to build foundry in Mexico
  Ladish Co. (Midwest passenger traffic rose in November
  Midwest Air Group Inc. (Manitowoc Co. raises earnings estimates
  The Manitowoc Co. (Bankruptcy courts close for weather
  The U.S. Bankruptcy Court Clerk's office and the bankruptcy courts have closed because of the weather, but the federal Clerk of Courts Office and Probation Office remain open for now, according to Tony Lillibridge, supervisor with the U.S. General Services Administration. Those offices are located in the federal courthouse, 517 E. Wisconsin Ave. Chief U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa has closed his court for the day, but the other judges continue to hold court.
• Skyward names new CEO, president
  Skyward Inc., a Stevens Point provider of administrative software to schools, named two new executives today as founder Jim King moves out of day-to-day operations to become chairman of the board. Cliff King, currently president of the company, becomes chief executive officer; and Scott Glinski, vice president of sales, will be promoted to president.
• Cramer-Krasselt to relocate to Third Ward
  Marketing communications firm Cramer-Krasselt will move its Milwaukee office from downtown's east side to the Historic Third Ward, a company executive said today. Cramer-Krasselt, which provides advertising and public relations services, has signed a lease for 50,000 square feet at 224 E. Chicago St. The firm, with 169 local employees, will use two floors above Rubin's Furniture, and will move next fall, Executive Vice President Betsy Brown said. The transaction is among the larger office leases signed this year in the Milwaukee area. Cramer-Krasselt in March said it would lease space within a 10-story building that Ruvin