Later reports show mixed November for retailers

NEW YORK -- Hopes for a robust holiday shopping season faded Thursday after the nation's retailers reported mixed results for the Thanksgiving weekend and all of November. Initial reports showed retailers had an upbeat start to the holiday season. Those results came from mall operators and analysts who examined preliminary sales data.

Ex-Enron exec indicted in Calif. power crisis

SAN FRANCISCO -- A former top executive at Enron Corp. was indicted on 11 counts of conspiracy and fraud Thursday in connection with the company's manipulation of energy markets during California's power crisis.

John Forney, 41, of Ohio, is the third Enron official indicted on allegations of manipulating California's electricity prices.

Construction industry, workforce at First Friday

First Friday Coffee today features a talk on workforce development and the construction industry. The speaker will be John S. Gaal, the director of training and workforce development for the Carpenters District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity. First Friday Coffee is a monthly program held by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. This month's meeting will be held at 7:30 a.m. Friday at the Show Me Center.

Owner of FAO Schwarz files for Chapter 11

PHILADELPHIA -- Unable to pump up holiday sales or find a buyer, the owner of FAO Schwarz toy stores filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Thursday, less than eight months after emerging from an earlier bankruptcy..

-- From staff, wire reports