Published Jan. 1, 2010. Article, video and layout by Andrew Baltazar
In North America, the first equipment manufacturer to get out of the gate with a large hybrid excavator is Komatsu, which has begun putting its Hybrid PC200LC-8 into the hands of U.S. suppliers. Komatsu began selling the hybrid excavator to Japanese construction companies in mid-2008 and to Chinese companies in August 2009.

Published May 12, 2009. By Andrew Baltazar
AirTran just announced it will outfit every single one of its planes with GoGo in-flight Wi-Fi by midsummer. In other words, Facebook stalking will be taken to a whole new level, literally.

Chicagoans traveling to Boston, Atlanta, and a few Florida cities can get there in full Wi-Fi glory without a stopover. Those setting off to other AirTran destinations will have to fly through Atlanta.

Published April 23, 2009. By Andrew Baltazar
If you live in Chicago, chances are you’re a victim of the Comcast monopoly. You’re probably reading this on Internet bandwidth supplied by Comcast, and your TV might right now be turned on, with broadcasting piped through a Comcastic cable box.

In part 1 of How to Ditch Comcast, we’ll show you how to start reducing those monthly fees by replacing Comcast TV with free, high-quality, over-the-air programming.

“How?” you ask. With rabbit ears.

Published Feb. 11, 2009. By Andrew Baltazar
“There’s only one state, California, that has construction regulations,” says Alan Banwart, environmental protection specialist with EPA Region 7. “Other than that, there are no state regulations out there. There are some local regulations, but most of those are on the East Coast.”

Fortunately for California-based construction companies, grants are available via the Carl Moyer Program, a state-funded initiative. But for contractors in other states that are retrofitting vehicles because of local rules or in anticipation of future emissions-related regulations, grants are a little tougher to come by.

Published Jan. 1, 2009. By Andrew Baltazar
First introduced in 1959 by Grove, the rough-terrain crane was designed as a multi-purpose construction tool. Equipped with industrial-strength tires, these mobile machines can lift loads on muddy, uneven, or harsh ground, otherwise precarious territory for truck-mounted cranes and other mobile cranes. To a certain extent, they are also able to transport loads on leveled ground. But because rough-terrain cranes mainly operate on treacherous terrain, operators need to conduct their work with utmost caution.

Published Aug. 12, 2008. By Andrew Baltazar
The construction industry has been plagued by a series of fatal crane accidents in recent months. According to experts, lack of training combined with inadequate safety standards and subpar inspection services are to blame.

Published Thursday, March 13, 2008. By Andrew Baltazar
A tightly knit technology community, backed by the growth of capital markets organizations and small businesses, is driving the development of new Web-based technologies in the city and has made the City of Big Shoulders a force to be reckoned with in the dot-com world.

In 2004 the founder of a Web design firm called 37 Signals, Jason Fried, launched Basecamp, a Web-based project management tool. Uncertain whether his first software product would be viable, Fried told himself that if Basecamp could not generate $5,000 in revenues per month throughout the first year, he would cancel it.

Also picked up by Freepress.net and Chicago Media Action

That's because Dore drives one of the only plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) in the Midwest.