sun microsystems inc

Silicon Valley software giant Oracle Corp. announced a deal Monday to buy Micros Systems for $5.3 billion, eyeing the Columbia firm for its niche supplying technology to hotels, restaurants and retailers around the world.

Oracle Corp. is reportedly nearing a deal to buy Columbia-based Micros Systems Inc., which supplies information systems to the hospitality and retail industries.

Budget cuts have cities such as Baltimore exploring whether they can sell or lease their historic sites. While some fear this could cut public access to landmarks, others say such transfers, if done right, can save them.