Ad executives Alan Blum and Charles Herbstreith founded Five Point Snacks, which donates a portion of sales to an organization called the Veterans Aid Foundation. They say they plan to donate 11% of profits to the foundation when the company becomes profitable.

Sunday's tragic 15-car accident that killed racecar driver Dan Wheldon has many people calling for changes to make the race safer. NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson even said that the cars should stop racing on ovals.

Jim Edwards argues that the desire for greater sponsorship money and TV ratings plays a role in making racing more dangerous, because, like fistfights in hockey, fans like to see crashes. "Fans love them, and racing's owners, sponsors and broadcasters know that," he writes.

Daimler AG has announced that Ernst Lieb has been relieved of his duties as CEO of the maker's Mercedes-Benz USA operations effective immediately. The move took even well-placed insiders by surprise, triggering a variety of rumors about the well-liked executive's sudden departure. Company officials issued this statement: "Ernst Lieb has been excused from his duties as CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), effective immediately. Daily business operations of MBUSA will be conducted by Herbert Werner (CFO and Vice President Finance, Controlling & IT) until further notice."

Taco Bell has named Brian Niccol its chief marketing and innovation officer, said Taco Bell spokesperson Rob Poetsch via email on Oct. 14. Niccol starts on Oct. 24 with the Yum! Brands-owned company.

For the past few weeks, the Portland (Ore.) Art Museum has been rolling out its new logo through press and advertising materials, and signs and banners at its campus. The museum has replaced its more traditional typeface that spelled out the museum's entire name with a broad "P" without the open space inside and without the words "Portland Art Museum." Portland design firm Ziba did the work.

The first two weeks of the National Basketball League regular season are cancelled over the ongoing salary cap and revenue sharing dispute, and investors are looking at potential impact on athletic retailers like Foot Locker Inc. and The Finish Line Inc. For good reason: between July 1998 and January 1999, when the last lockout took place, retailers saw weaker sales.

Walmart plans to close all of its Marketside stores later this month, according to a Mouth by Southwest report. The locations -- all in Arizona -- will close Oct. 21.

Target, the second-largest discount retailer in the U.S., said it will sell only sustainable, traceable fish by 2015. The Minneapolis-based company will partner with the nonprofit marine conservation group FishWise to reach these goals. Target operates 1,762 stores, many of which are converting to incorporate markets that sell fresh and frozen foods, including fish.

Retail sales rose 1.1% to $395.5 billion in September-the biggest jump since February. The government also revised upward sales numbers for July and August.