NATION

NATION
Kmart courts shopperswith more hours, buys
DETROIT -- With deep discounts and round-the-clock hours, troubled Kmart is courting last-minute holiday gift buyers as it prepares another round of closings that could be influenced by which stores draw more shoppers.
The retailer, which is operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, starts its nonstop shopping promotion today, which it also did last year. Stores will be open continuously from 6 a.m. today until 8 p.m. Christmas Eve.
Chairman and chief executive James Adamson has said this year's holiday season will not make or break Kmart. However, it will figure into another round of store closings to be announced in January.
Federal jury rulinggoes against Wal-Mart
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, forced employees to work unpaid overtime between 1994 and 1999, a federal jury found Thursday.
The lawsuit in U.S. District Court accused Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of violating federal and state wage laws. The jury did not rule on monetary damages, which will be decided in a separate trial.
More than 400 employees from 24 of Wal-Mart's 27 Oregon stores sued the retailer. It was the first of several such suits across the country to come to trial.
Dole chairman to buyrest of the company
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- Dole Foods chairman David H. Murdock has agreed to buy the rest of the giant food company and take it private in a deal valued at $2.5 billion.
Murdock will pay $33.50 per share for the approximately 76 percent of the company's outstanding common stock he doesn't already own, Dole said.
Dole shares soared 14.5 percent, or $4.13, to close at $32.58 Thursday.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports