COMPILED FROM WIRE REPORTSWednesday, October 17, 2007

COMPUTER MAKER

Dell's incentives are legal, a North Carolina court rules

RALEIGH, N.C. — The public financial incentives given to Dell Inc. to build a plant in Forsyth County are legal, the state Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday, rejecting the arguments of a Republican candidate for governor who sued on behalf of taxpayers.

Former state Supreme Court Justice Robert Orr argued the state and local incentives, which could exceed $300 million, are unconstitutional because they primarily benefit Dell.

The three-judge panel disagreed, finding that the incentives "promote the general economic welfare of the communities involved" and are therefore constitutional under a 1996 decision of the state Supreme Court.

MUSIC

Madonna shuns record label in deal with concert promoter

LOS ANGELES — Madonna and concert promoter Live Nation Inc. announced a deal that will give the company an all-encompassing stake in the music of the Material Girl, the latest big-name artist to break ranks with a major record label.

Financial terms were not disclosed in the joint statement released by Madonna and Live Nation.

But the deal is worth about $120 million over 10 years, a person who spoke on condition of anonymity previously said.

OPERATING SYSTEM

Apple's upgrade, due Oct. 26, will include 300 new features

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Apple Inc. announced that its newest operating system, one in a long line named after cats, will be released Oct. 26.

The new system will include 300 new features, including Stacks, which will give users a new way to access files and will spring up accordion-style from the dock. Another highlight is expected to be Time Machine, a quick way to automatically backup everything on a Mac.

"Leopard, the sixth major release of Mac OS X, is the best upgrade we've ever released," Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said in a statement. "And everyone gets the 'Ultimate' version, packed with all the new innovative features, for just $129."

NEWSPAPERS

McClatchy profit, revenue sink; accounting charge in the works

NEW YORK — McClatchy Co., one of the nation's biggest newspaper companies, reported sharply lower profit and revenue for its third quarter and said it would take an accounting charge to reflect the poor conditions in the newspaper business and the company's falling share price.

McClatchy said it was still determining how big the charge would be. Before accounting for the charge, McClatchy reported preliminary earnings of $23.5 million, or 29 cents per share, for the period that ended in September, down from $51.8 million, or 64 cents per share, a year earlier.