Apr. 23--Theater developer funds MS research

A North Carolina movie theater developer intends to disclose a major donation today that will enable a Duke scientist to launch genetic research at the N.C. Research Campus to combat multiple sclerosis.

The businessman, Herman Stone, will be joined by campus founder and billionaire Dole Food owner David Murdock during the event at the Kannapolis complex.

Targeting MS would add a new dimension to the health and nutrition research under way at the $1.5 billion campus. With Stone's funding, Duke scientist Simon Gregory will continue studying the gene that causes MS. Officials declined to disclose the amount of the donation.

A Charlotte native who has two children with MS, Stone has been a longtime advocate for research on the disease. He is president of Stone Theatres and former owner of Consolidated Theatres, which he sold last year to Regal Entertainment for $210 million.

McClatchy reports on first quarter

Since you're reading this newspaper, chances are you might care about its future. And that means you also may care about the financial health of its parent, The McClatchy Co. of Sacramento, Calif.

That company, struggling with declining revenue like most media companies, will report first-quarter results this morning. McClatchy has slashed thousands of jobs, including some at this paper, and taken other steps to slash costs. Investors will be listening closely to CEO Gary Pruitt for any signs that the regions hit hardest by the recession, including California and Florida, are stabilizing.

Looking to UPS for a sign on economy

Among other corporate earnings out today: Amazon .com , Amgen, Microsoft, Nucor, PepsiCo and US Airways.

One to note is United Parcel Service. The world's largest package-delivery business is widely considered another indicator of the broader economy's health. Big Brown is expected to report that profit and revenue fell, but Wall Street again wants hints that the declines are slowing.

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