Economic Development

Journal Communications Inc. announced that its board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $45 million of its outstanding class A common stock and/or class B common stock until the end of fiscal 2013.

Congressional Republicans did an about-face Tuesday and agreed to allow President Barack Obama to raise the national debt ceiling after receiving an urgent request to do so from 474 corporate executives, including several from Wisconsin.

New applications for unemployment benefits fell nationally last week to the lowest level in three months, but rose in Wisconsin.

Lee Enterprises Inc., the Davenport, Iowa-based parent company of the Wisconsin State Journal, the Capital Times and the Racine Journal Times in Wisconsin, has been notified by the New York Stock Exchange that its 30-trading-day average share price has fallen below the $1 minimum standard and will need to cure the deficiency within six months for continued listing.

Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. senior research analyst Colin Sebastian has initiated research coverage of Internet and interactive entertainment companies.

In the wake of BMO Financial Group’s acquisition of M&I Bank last week, U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin) expressed concern that the acquisition of local banks by large out-of-state banks has a negative effect on small businesses and farmers.

Fourteen of 22 available business activity indicators for the metro Milwaukee area registered improvement in May, according to the latest report by the Metropolitan

Providing another sign of economic recovery, several U.S. retailers reported strong comparable store sales for the month of June.

Caterpillar Inc. announced it has completed its acquisition of Bucyrus International Inc.

Despite a sluggish second quarter, most signs post to growth in sales, profits and hiring for companies in the second half of the year.