Short Cuts

United Marketing Solutions, Inc. a local direct mail franchising company, has signed new franchisees in Central Lake County, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and North Baltimore, Maryland.

A Chicago City Council panel supported giving landmark status to the old Lakeside Press building on the Near South Side used for sixty years by printer R.R. Donnelley.

Microsoft confirmed Tuesday that it will launch an online music store this fall, under the purview of its MSN service.