JOHN R. McCUTCHEN / Union-Tribune The former Robinsons-May at Westfield Mission Valley is one of 400 stores formerly owned by May Department Stores that are becoming Macy's stores.

Macy's gambit to become a national brand begins in earnest this week as the retail behemoth opens new stores and blitzes the media with an aggressive advertising campaign. The change is a result of last year's $11 billion acquisition of May Department Stores by Macy's parent, Federated Department Stores.

SAN FRANCISCO – As corporate intrigue goes, it's hard to beat this: an uproar over news leaks from the boardroom, a cloak-and-dagger investigation, allegations of spying and double-dealing, and a clash involving some of Silicon Valley's best-known names that could end in lawsuits and possibly criminal charges.

Pressed by the state to slash premiums, California's largest homeowners insurance company yesterday proposed a double-digit rate cut that would save customers a total of $123 million a year. State Farm asked the Department of Insurance to approve rate cuts averaging 10.6 percent, or $103 a year, for 1.2 million policyholders in California.

The economy in San Diego County probably will slow down through the end of this year, and the weakness could extend into the beginning of 2007, according to an analysis of leading economic indicators released yesterday by the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate at the University of San Diego.

DALLAS – Texas Instruments will show off its technology that lets cell phones record TV shows as the chip maker bumps heads with rival Qualcomm in a market that analysts say holds huge potential.