When Inc

Profit at WellPoint Inc., the largest U.S. health insurer, more than doubled in the second quarter as the company cut costs, added members and raised premiums, the Indianapolis-based firm said Wednesday. The company was created in November when Anthem Inc. bought Thousand Oaks-based WellPoint Health Networks Inc., which operates Blue Cross of California, and took its name. The combined company runs health plans across the country, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield coverage in 13 states.

What does it take to launch a new national magazine? Investors. A distributor. Lots of presold ads. A writer or two. Oh, yes, and a launch party, the kind with a catered buffet, guests to be impressed and napkins and match books with the magazine's name engraved on them. That was the scene Thursday night, when Time Inc. introduced its new Entertainment Weekly, a publication devoted to brief and beyond-brief reviews of movies, TV shows, recordings and books.

For five years now, the would-be developers of Honey Springs have battled environmentalists and area residents over the fate of 2,200 acres six miles southeast of Jamul. The confrontations have taken place before the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, the state Legislature, the Metropolitan Water District and three levels of courts. Remarkably, neither side seems weary of the fight. Back in 1980, when Presenting Inc.

When Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs announced the new price of the iPhone 3G on Monday, the number $199 fell from the top of the screen behind him. It bounced with a satisfying "boing" sound, akin to those old ads on daytime TV: "This set of knives can be yours for only $19.99!" Apple's marketing slogan for the new iPhone, which runs on a faster wireless network, is "twice the speed at half the price." But, as usual, there's a catch. People are starting to do the math and realizing that the new iPhone will actually cost more than the current versions -- but the payments are spread out. It's like an iPhone financing plan, sponsored by AT&T Inc. Yes, the new iPhone, which goes on sale July 11, will cost $200 less than the current version.

One casualty of the Disney-DreamWorks animation battle may have been a few seconds of footage featuring Shrek playing the bagpipes and Donkey playing the accordion. It was part of a new trailer promoting THX, the venerable sound system owned by George Lucas and used in more than 2,500 theaters across America. Last June, DreamWorks pitched THX the idea of using the "Shrek" characters in a new trailer.

WellPoint Inc., the largest U.S. health insurer, said Friday that it expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of about 90 cents a share, less than its previous forecast, because of debt-buyback costs. Membership will rise 4% this year, the company predicted. The Indianapolis-based company was formed in November when Anthem Inc. bought Thousand Oaks-based WellPoint Health Networks Inc. for about $20 billion. The company also said 2005 earnings would improve to about $7.

It was a year when Carl Karcher Enterprises went "back to basics," when Naugles Inc. nearly lost its shirt and Taco Bell pulled a pizza out of its Mexican hat. But 1985 may have marked just the beginning of what industry analysts project could be a crucial turning point for Orange County's fast-food and restaurant industry. In fact, 1986 could represent a year when six major Orange County restaurant companies at once attempt to vastly change their images from that of recent years.

Businessland Inc. was rescued from the brink of bankruptcy Tuesday when JWP Inc. announced plans to acquire the San Jose-based computer retailer in a deal worth about $52 million. JWP, a $3-billion engineering and consulting firm based in Purchase, N.Y., described the proposed acquisition as "an excellent strategic fit."

Businessland Inc. was rescued from the brink of bankruptcy Tuesday when JWP Inc. announced plans to acquire the San Jose-based computer retailer in a deal worth about $52 million. JWP, a $3-billion engineering and consulting firm based in Purchase, N.Y., described the proposed acquisition as "an excellent strategic fit."

Premier Laser Systems Inc., a medical devices maker, is expected to go public with a $10.5-million stock offering in mid-November, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Premier plans to sell 2.1 million units priced at $5 each, according to its filing. The units consist of one share of common stock and two warrants, which can later be used to purchase common stock for $4.65 and $5.70 a share. Of the approximately $10.