Cartoon Network head resigns after improper publicity stunt

In a memo to staff members, Jim Samples, general manager and executive vice president, said he regretted the incident and felt “compelled to step down, effective immediately, in recognition of the gravity of the situation that occurred under my watch.”

Dozens of blinking circuit boards showing a cartoon character giving the finger were planted in 10 cities as part of a guerrilla marketing campaign to promote the cartoon “Aqua Teen Hunger Force.” In Boston, the discovery of the devices Jan. 31 led police to shut down bridges and highways and send in the bomb squad.

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MILWAUKEE (AP) ? Analysts estimate a strike at Harley-Davidson Inc.’s main assembly plant is costing the motorcycle maker up to $11 million a day in sales, but predict it will be short-lived and have little effect on the company’s performance this year.

The Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker said Thursday that a nearly weeklong strike in York, Pa., will cause it to miss shipment guidance for the first quarter.

Harley had expected to ship between 82,000 and 84,000 bikes during the first three months of the year. But a strike by 2,800 union workers at the plant, where top-selling, heavyweight Touring and Softail bikes are made, means it will come up short.

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NEW YORK (AP) ? The nation’s retailers rebounded in January from their disappointing holiday season as shoppers redeemed gift cards to buy winter and spring merchandise. The arrival of frigid temperatures in much of the country helped clear out what was left of cold weather items.

As retailers reported their better-than-expected sales Thursday, winners included Limited Brands Inc., Nordstrom Inc., and Federated Department Stores Inc. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. beat Wall Street estimates, though its monthly gain was modest. Even Gap Inc., which has long struggled with disappointing sales, beat analysts’ expectations.

Among the losers were Abercrombie & Fitch Co., AnnTaylor Stores Corp. and Chico’s FAS Inc.