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Thursday, August 7

  • Toyota Income Falls in 'Severe' Quarter  (AP / 7:34PM CDT on 08/07) DETROIT -- Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday that its first-quarter net income dropped 28.1 percent to 353.6 billion yen, or $3.2 billion, mainly because of the impact of exchange rates between the yen and the dollar, higher raw material costs and the turbulent U.S. market. But it remained the world's most profitable automaker.
  • EPA won't reduce ethanol requirement  (UPI / 6:34PM CDT on 08/07) WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency refused Thursday to reduce its quota for ethanol use from 9 billion gallons this year and 11 billion gallons in 2009.
  • Grain prices turn upward Thursday  (UPI / 5:54PM CDT on 08/07) CHICAGO, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Grain prices swung up on the Chicago Board of Trade Thursday as the dollar strengthened against the euro and oil prices rose in New York.
  • Toyota Profits Plunge Due to U.S. Challenges  (AP / 5:34PM CDT on 08/07) DETROIT -- Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday that its first quarter net income dropped 28.1 percent to 353.6 billion yen, or $3.2 billion, mainly due to the impact of exchange rates between the yen and the dollar, higher raw material costs and the turbulent U.S. market.
  • Lexus Once Again Tops Dependability Study  (AP / 5:34PM CDT on 08/07) WASHINGTON -- Toyota Motor Co.'s Lexus brand recaptured the top spot in J.D. Power and Associates annual survey of long-term vehicle quality released Thursday, which found a 5 percent reduction of problems found in three-year-old models.
  • Oil prices close higher Thursday  (UPI / 4:04PM CDT on 08/07) NEW YORK, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices wavered Thursday then settled $1.60 cents higher at $119.95 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
  • Canadian mining 'copter crash kills four  (UPI / 2:14PM CDT on 08/07) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Canadian transportation officials were at the scene Thursday of a four-fatality helicopter crash in British Columbia trying to determine the crash cause.
  • EPA rejects lower biofuels standards  (UPI / 12:54PM CDT on 08/07) WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rejected a request by the State of Texas to lower the nation's renewable fuels standard.
  • N.Y. bank manager admits to $1M theft  (UPI / 12:24PM CDT on 08/07) NEW YORK, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- William Brahe Jr. has admitted to stealing more than $1 million from accounts while serving as a manager of a bank in Carle Place, N.Y., officials say.
  • U.S. chain store sales up in July  (UPI / 12:14PM CDT on 08/07) WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. chain store sales rose 2.6 percent in July on a year-over-year basis, the International Council of Shopping Centers reported Thursday.
  • NAR predicts improved home sales  (UPI / 11:44AM CDT on 08/07) WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The new housing stimulus bill could lift U.S. home sales by the fourth quarter, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday.
  • Canadian building permits fall in June  (UPI / 9:44AM CDT on 08/07) OTTAWA, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The value of Canadian building permits fell 5.3 percent overall in June to $6.3 billion from a month earlier, the Statistics Canada agency reported Thursday.
  • Critics: Profit drives Pickens energy plan  (UPI / 9:44AM CDT on 08/07) DALLAS, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens' energy initiatives are motivated by profit, not domestic security, critics said.
  • Auto designer Pininfarina dies  (UPI / 9:04AM CDT on 08/07) TURIN, Italy, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Andrea Pininfarina, chairman and chief executive officer of Italian car designer Pininfarina, was killed Thursday in a traffic accident, authorities said.
  • GOP to protest up to Democrats' convention  (UPI / 8:44AM CDT on 08/07) WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Republicans say they'll protest Democratic energy policies from the U.S. House of Representatives floor until the start of the Democratic Party convention.
  • Toyota profits down with sales robust  (UPI / 7:54AM CDT on 08/07) NAGOYA, Japan, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Shrinking sales in the United States helped push Toyota Motor Corp.'s second-quarter net profit down 28.1 percent from a year ago, the company said.

    Wednesday, August 6

  • Grains trend lower in Chicago Wednesday  (UPI / 4:14PM CDT on 08/06) CHICAGO, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Grains continued a recent downward trend on the Chicago Board of Trade Wednesday on improved weather and optimistic yield estimates.
  • Oil prices fall slightly Wednesday  (UPI / 3:24PM CDT on 08/06) NEW YORK, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices wavered Wednesday, then edged down 23 cents in the late afternoon to $118.35 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
  • Big Three face big risks in turnarounds  (UPI / 12:04PM CDT on 08/06) DETROIT, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- All three U.S. auto giants face the possibility of bankruptcy as they adapt to current consumer trends favoring smaller vehicles, industry analysts said.
  • Oil stocks up, gas stocks down, EIA says  (UPI / 11:04AM CDT on 08/06) WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. crude oil inventories increased, but gas inventories declined in the week ending Aug. 1, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said.
  • Food inflation accelerates in Britain  (UPI / 8:34AM CDT on 08/06) LONDON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Food prices rose sharply in Britain over the past year, up 9.5 percent from July 2007, a retail watchdog group said.

    Tuesday, August 5

  • Walgreens expands drug savings program  (UPI / 10:54PM CDT on 08/05) DEERFIELD, Ill., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The Illinois-headquartered drug store chain Walgreens has fired a new salvo in a pharmaceutical price war.
  • Grains trend lower in Chicago Tuesday  (UPI / 6:05PM CDT on 08/05) CHICAGO, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Falling crude oil prices and the rising dollar pushed prices lower on the Chicago Board of Trade Tuesday.
  • Oil prices down a dime Tuesday  (UPI / 3:24PM CDT on 08/05) NEW YORK, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices fell 10 cents Tuesday to $118.50 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
  • Analysts see Chrysler at a crossroads  (UPI / 2:24PM CDT on 08/05) AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. auto giant Chrysler LLC is at a crossroads one year after Cerberus Capital Management LP took over, industry analysts said.
  • GAO: Iraq has third highest oil reserves  (UPI / 1:34PM CDT on 08/05) WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- A U.S. government report finds Iraq has the third largest oil reserve in the world and generated $96 billion in oil revenue from 2005-07.
  • Energy conservation cuts power grid strain  (UPI / 12:34PM CDT on 08/05) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- A U.S. scientist says people often waste power because they aren't aware of how they can reduce electrical consumption.
  • U.S. cops battle gas-pump card skimming  (UPI / 11:34AM CDT on 08/05) WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Secret Service says it is investigating the nationwide use of gas-pump skimming devices that steal credit card numbers.
  • U.S. service sector declined in July  (UPI / 11:24AM CDT on 08/05) TEMPE, Ariz., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Non-manufacturing U.S. businesses declined slightly in July, the Institute for Supply Management reported Tuesday.
  • U.S. retail sales unchanged on week  (UPI / 11:04AM CDT on 08/05) WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Retail sales in the United States were unchanged in the final week of July, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.
  • Spain's economy deteriorates, analysts say  (UPI / 10:34AM CDT on 08/05) MADRID, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Analysts have issued dire warnings about the state of banks in Spain, as many economic sectors have deteriorated, sources said.
  • Severstal purchases third U.S. steelmaker  (UPI / 9:54AM CDT on 08/05) MOSCOW, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Russian steel giant Severstal has completed a $775 million tender offer, buying 94 percent of U.S. steelmaker Esmark's outstanding shares, the company said.
  • Firefighters still sick after May fire  (UPI / 8:34AM CDT on 08/05) LONDON, Ontario, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Some 50 Canadian firefighters who fought a farm chemical fire in May must undergo medical testing in London, Ontario, after 10 experienced illnesses.
  • Northern Rock recovery hits a snag  (UPI / 8:24AM CDT on 08/05) LONDON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The British Treasury said Tuesday it would convert nearly $6 billion in loans to Northern Rock bank into common bank shares to help balance its books.
  • New rules pull rug from under house deals  (UPI / 7:44AM CDT on 08/05) RENO, Nev., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Lending rules at U.S. finance companies are changing quickly, eliminating some deals that were previously given the green light, industry observers said.
  • Oil prices fall sharply Monday morning  (UPI / 7:24AM CDT on 08/05) NEW YORK, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices fell nearly $3 to $118.60 a barrel in electronic overnight trading, continuing a monthlong decline on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

    Monday, August 4

  • Grains sharply lower in Chicago Monday  (UPI / 8:24PM CDT on 08/04) CHICAGO, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Grains contracts turned sharply lower on the Chicago Board of Trade Monday following a monthlong downward trend in crude oil.
  • Greenspan warns of regulatory reaction  (UPI / 8:04PM CDT on 08/04) WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan says more U.S. and overseas banks may end up in government rescue plans.
  • Oil prices fall down more than $3 Monday  (UPI / 5:54PM CDT on 08/04) NEW YORK, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices eased $3.31 a barrel Monday on the New York Mercantile Exchange to $121.27 per barrel.
  • GOP asks Pelosi to reconvene House  (UPI / 5:44PM CDT on 08/04) WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Bring the U.S. House of Representatives back into session after the August recess, House Republicans asked Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in a letter.
  • Winter wheat almost complete; corn lags  (UPI / 4:24PM CDT on 08/04) WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. corn crop lags slightly behind its historic average in silking, its key pollination stage, the Department of Agriculture said Monday.
  • Consumers and cars mismatched, group says  (UPI / 3:04PM CDT on 08/04) WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Proposed U.S. fuel economy standards for 2011 to 2015 vehicles are based on faulty assumptions, a consumer group said Monday.
  • Ford and GM discuss collaborative research  (UPI / 2:24PM CDT on 08/04) DETROIT, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp, are in discussion to join forces on research and development, sources at both companies said.
  • Factory orders up for fifth straight month  (UPI / 1:44PM CDT on 08/04) WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- New orders for manufactured U.S. goods increased for the fifth consecutive month, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Monday.
  • Residents mop up after weekend storm  (UPI / 12:44PM CDT on 08/04) MONTREAL, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- The head of Montreal's water management service says residents shouldn't expect financial compensation for sewer backups caused by weekend storms.
  • Top TNK-BP official resigns amid turmoil  (UPI / 12:34PM CDT on 08/04) MOSCOW, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- The chief financial officer for joint Russian-British oil giant TNK-BP has resigned, citing an inability to work independently, the company said.
  • Florida business accused of Medicare scam  (UPI / 12:24PM CDT on 08/04) DORAL, Fla., Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Manassas Medical Center of Doral, Fla., has allegedly been collecting Medicare funds in exchange for non-existent services, alleged participants say.
  • Fees precede transactions at some banks  (UPI / 11:14AM CDT on 08/04) NEW YORK, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Some U.S. banks are charging overdraft fees before accounts are technically overdrawn, sources said.
  • California insurance bill nears completion  (UPI / 10:24AM CDT on 08/04) SACRAMENTO, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- The state of California is nearing a compromise on legislation that would tighten controls on individual medical insurance policies, sources said.
  • Lab results needed in missing child case  (UPI / 10:15AM CDT on 08/04) ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Florida authorities said they hope to learn this week whether a stain and hair samples from her mother's car are linked to missing 2-year-old Caylee Anthony.

    Sunday, August 3

  • Canada's Sea-to-Sky Highway reopened  (UPI / 11:34AM CDT on 08/03) WHISTLER, British Columbia, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The famed Sea-to-Sky Highway in western Canada was reopened five days after a rockslide blocked the road, transportation officials said Sunday.
  • Two admit stealing appliances  (UPI / 1:14AM CDT on 08/03) DENVER, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Two men have pleaded guilty to stealing refrigerators, stoves and microwaves from newly constructed houses in the Denver suburbs.
  • PM wants Malaysia to make hybrids  (UPI / 12:24AM CDT on 08/03) SHAH ALAM, Malaysia, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has urged Proton, the country's automobile manufacturer, to begin producing hybrid cars.
  • Poll: Scots oppose 'drink tax'  (UPI / 12:04AM CDT on 08/03) EDINBURGH, Scotland, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- A majority of Scottish voters oppose increasing taxes on alcohol to curb problem drinking, a poll indicated.

    Saturday, August 2

  • Vehicle sales up in Canada in July  (UPI / 10:05PM CDT on 08/02) TORONTO, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Sales of motor vehicles, which fell last month in the United States, rose 5 percent in Canada.
  • Husband of slain woman charged with fraud  (UPI / 8:04PM CDT on 08/02) LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- The owner of a California gold-trading firm, whose estranged wife was stabbed to death Monday, has been arrested on federal charges, the FBI said Saturday.
  • 3 detained in Turkish dorm collapse  (UPI / 6:14PM CDT on 08/02) BALCILAR, Turkey, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Three people were detained Saturday in connection with an explosion at a girls' dormitory in central Turkey that left 18 people dead, officials said.
  • ETA bomber's release draws protests  (UPI / 2:34PM CDT on 08/02) MADRID, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- The release of notorious Basque bomber Inaki de Juana is unjustified, say protesters planning a wave of demonstrations across Spain.
  • Washington Post records first red ink  (UPI / 12:44PM CDT on 08/02) WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- The publisher of The Washington Post says the media company will "weather the storm" after posting its first-ever operating loss as a public company.
  • Investors Unfazed By GM's Huge Loss: Cuts Under Way Soften Impact of $15.5-Billion Blow on Shares  (AP / Katie Merx, Detroit Free Press / 10:34AM CDT on 08/02) Aug. 2--Despite posting the third-worst loss in its 100-year history, General Motors Corp. seemed Friday to have Wall Street's confidence that recently announced plans would be sufficient to carry the company through to better times in 2010.
  • Bush blames Congress for oil prices  (UPI / 9:24AM CDT on 08/02) KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. President George W. Bush Saturday blamed Democratic congressional leaders for "high gas prices."
  • Report: Cuomo Readies Citigroup Charges  (AP / 7:34AM CDT on 08/02) The New York attorney general is preparing to file possible civil fraud charges against Citigroup Inc. in connection with auction-rate securities, sources say.
  • Priority Bank is 8th U.S. bank to fail  (UPI / 7:04AM CDT on 08/02) BRADENTON, Fla., Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Assets of First Priority Bank, the eighth U.S. bank to fail this year, have been transferred to other institutions, federal authorities say.
  • Brit real estate booms as 2nd homes sold  (UPI / 6:14AM CDT on 08/02) LONDON, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- British real estate agents say falling property prices are causing business to boom in rural and coastal areas as city dwellers sell off second homes.

    Friday, August 1

  • 3 killed in fire on Scottish trawler  (UPI / 11:44PM CDT on 08/01) FRASERBURGH, Scotland, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Three fishermen were killed in a fire on board a fishing trawler docked in a Scottish harbor.
  • Yukos executive sentenced to life  (UPI / 10:24PM CDT on 08/01) MOSCOW, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- A former executive with the Russian oil giant Yukos now living in Israel was sentenced in absentia Friday to life in prison for murder.
  • Crude oil prices up on Mideast tension  (UPI / 3:14PM CDT on 08/01) NEW YORK, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Tension in Israel helped boost crude oil prices Friday.
  • New bridge on horizon year after collapse  (UPI / 1:04PM CDT on 08/01) MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- A new Interstate 35W bridge across the Mississippi River in Minneapolis should open in September, a year and a month after the old span collapsed.
  • Vehicle recall system frustrates Canadians  (UPI / 11:44AM CDT on 08/01) OTTAWA, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Canadian vehicle recall laws have far fewer teeth than U.S. laws, leaving free safety repairs a voluntary move by manufacturers, industry observers said.
  • U.S. unemployment rises to 5.7 percent  (UPI / 11:14AM CDT on 08/01) WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. unemployment rate rose from 5.5 percent to 5.7 percent in July on the loss of 51,000 non-farm jobs, U.S. government statistics showed.
  • U.S. manufacturing index unchanged in July  (UPI / 10:34AM CDT on 08/01) WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- The Institute for Supply Management said Friday U.S. manufacturing activity in July was little changed from June and remains in slow contraction.
  • U.S. construction spending dropped in June  (UPI / 10:05AM CDT on 08/01) WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Spending on private and public construction in the United States fell in June, the U.S. Commerce Department said Friday.
  • A used Prius is money in the bank  (UPI / 8:54AM CDT on 08/01) TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 1 (UPI) -- A used Toyota Prius is doing something very few vehicles ever do: appreciating in value, a car value research group said.
  • ACLU wants less security at Democratic meet  (UPI / 8:05AM CDT on 08/01) WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- A U.S. judge in Denver promises a ruling soon in a trial seeking easier security provisions at the Democratic National Convention.
  • India ready to return to WTO talks, report  (UPI / 6:34AM CDT on 08/01) NEW DELHI, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- India's commerce minister says his country is ready to return to world trade talks on the Doha round but won't compromise on issues affecting its farmers.
  • Energy bill will have to wait  (UPI / 12:44AM CDT on 08/01) WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate said any action on an energy bill must wait until after the August recess since the two parties have been unable to agree.
  • Muslim groups appeal cartoon ruling  (UPI / 12:34AM CDT on 08/01) COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Seven Muslim groups in Denmark say they will appeal a decision rejecting their libel suit against a newspaper that published cartoons of Mohammed.

    Thursday, July 31

  • Farmers turning manure into cash  (UPI / 11:24PM CDT on 07/31) CHICAGO, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Some U.S. dairy farmers are cashing in on cow manure by using methane gas to produce electricity.
  • New Jersey's biggest newspaper may be sold  (UPI / 9:44PM CDT on 07/31) NEWARK, N.J., July 31 (UPI) -- Advance Publications, owned by the Newhouse family, announced Thursday it will sell New Jersey's largest newspaper unless 200 employees take buyouts.
  • Grains prices continue downward trend  (UPI / 8:14PM CDT on 07/31) CHICAGO, July 31 (UPI) -- Grains contracts continued a downward trend on the Chicago Board of Trade Thursday as crude oil prices fell in New York.
  • Oil price drops Thursday in extended slide  (UPI / 3:14PM CDT on 07/31) NEW YORK, July 31 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices swung lower to $124.19 a barrel Thursday, as the U.S. dollar gained against the euro and economic news pointed to weaker consumer spending.
  • U.S. jobless claims jump in week  (UPI / 12:24PM CDT on 07/31) WASHINGTON, July 31 (UPI) -- First-time claims for U.S. unemployment insurance jumped dramatically during the week ending July 26, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday.
  • FDA warns against eating Mexican peppers  (UPI / 8:44AM CDT on 07/31) WASHINGTON, July 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to eat raw serrano or jalapeno peppers grown in Mexico, as well as any foods containing them.
  • Deutsche Bank posts second-quarter profits  (UPI / 8:24AM CDT on 07/31) FRANKFURT, Germany, July 31 (UPI) -- Deutsche Bank, the largest bank in Germany, posted $1 billion in profits in the second quarter in spite of massive write downs, the bank said.
  • PPG Industries sells share of division  (UPI / 8:14AM CDT on 07/31) PITTSBURGH, July 30 (UPI) -- PPG Industries Inc. is spinning off its auto glass and services division, giving it the name Pittsburgh Glass Works, the Pittsburgh company said.
  • Brazil's economy lifting rich and poor  (UPI / 8:14AM CDT on 07/31) BRASILIA, Brazil, July 31 (UPI) -- Brazil's growing economy is lifting the country's rich and poor and shows signs of sustainability, analysts said.
  • Israelis barricade West Bank village  (UPI / 7:34AM CDT on 07/31) RAMALLAH, West Bank, July 31 (UPI) -- Israeli authorities used sandbags and cement barricades Thursday to block entrances to West Bank village of Nalain.
  • Ban expresses Doha disappointment  (UPI / 12:34AM CDT on 07/31) NEW YORK, July 31 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, concerned about the failure of the Geneva trade talks on the Doha round, says their success was important at this stage.

    Wednesday, July 30

  • Grains mixed in Chicago as crude oil rises  (UPI / 7:14PM CDT on 07/30) CHICAGO, July 30 (UPI) -- Grains traded mixed on the Chicago Board of Trade Wednesday as crude oil prices surged in New York.
  • ASE picked to operate national energy lab  (UPI / 3:34PM CDT on 07/30) WASHINGTON, July 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy says it has selected the Alliance for Sustainable Energy to manage and operate the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
  • Oil prices break two barriers Wednesday  (UPI / 3:24PM CDT on 07/30) NEW YORK, July 30 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices rose Wednesday on news the U.S. inventory of gasoline had dropped by 3.5 million barrels on the week ending July 25.
  • Fires burn in northern Utah  (UPI / 2:54PM CDT on 07/30) SALT LAKE CITY, July 30 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Utah struggled Wednesday to contain a wildfire near Salt Lake City.
  • Peach pickers hit by lightning in S.C.  (UPI / 2:14PM CDT on 07/30) SPARTANBURG, S.C., July 30 (UPI) -- A group of peach pickers was hit by lightning as severe thunderstorms rolled across upland South Carolina.
  • Fla. partly foils alleged Lebanon con  (UPI / 2:05PM CDT on 07/30) TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 30 (UPI) -- Florida officials say a Lebanese con man nearly tricked a state agency out of almost $6 million, but the plot was discovered before all the money disappeared.
  • Study: Cover crops good for tropical soils  (UPI / 2:05PM CDT on 07/30) MANHATTAN, Kan., July 30 (UPI) -- U.S., Brazilian and French scientists say no-till farming combined with a winter cover crop is most effective in retaining tropical soil nutrients.
  • Nissan offers 6,600 workers buyouts  (UPI / 1:34PM CDT on 07/30) FRANKLIN, Tenn., July 30 (UPI) -- Nissan said Wednesday it was offering autoworkers at two Tennessee plants between $100,000 and $125,000 each to leave their positions.
  • Oil and gas supplies drop last week  (UPI / 12:44PM CDT on 07/30) WASHINGTON, July 30 (UPI) -- U.S. crude oil and gas inventories declined in the week ending July 25, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday.
  • U.S. gained 9,000 jobs from June to July  (UPI / 12:24PM CDT on 07/30) ROSELAND, N.J., July 30 (UPI) -- U.S. non-farm jobs increased by 9,000 from June to July, reversing a three-month downward trend, a research group said Wednesday.
  • Norwegian farmers cheer trade talk failure  (UPI / 10:05AM CDT on 07/30) OSLO, Norway, July 30 (UPI) -- Norwegian farmers, eager to retain government subsidies, cheered the breakdown of World Trade Organization talks, sources said.
  • Cablevision completes Newsday deal  (UPI / 9:24AM CDT on 07/30) BETHPAGE, N.Y., July 30 (UPI) -- Cablevision Systems Corp. has closed its deal with Tribune Co. for 97 percent of the daily newspaper Newsday on Long Island, N.Y., the company said.
  • U.S. automakers curtail leasing options  (UPI / 7:54AM CDT on 07/30) DETROIT, July 30 (UPI) -- U.S. automakers are moving quickly to change their leasing programs in response to falling used car values, Detroit's Big Three said.
  • U.N. building to cut air conditioning  (UPI / 7:34AM CDT on 07/30) NEW YORK, July 30 (UPI) -- The U.N. headquarters in New York will be warming up as part of an initiative to battle climate change, U.N. officials say.

    Tuesday, July 29

  • Corn trades higher in Chicago Tuesday  (UPI / 6:44PM CDT on 07/29) CHICAGO, July 29 (UPI) -- Grains traded lower on the Chicago Board of Trade Tuesday, but corn tracked up in spite of a downward trend in crude oil.
  • Peters unveils new highway, transit plan  (UPI / 5:14PM CDT on 07/29) ATLANTA, July 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. interstate system, congestion and transit are key points to a "better approach" to transportation matters, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said.
  • Doha trade talks end in stalemate  (UPI / 4:14PM CDT on 07/29) DOHA, Qatar, July 29 (UPI) -- International trade talks in Doha, Qatar, broke down Tuesday with disagreements among three world powers on access to agricultural markets, sources said.
  • White House chides Congress on energy  (UPI / 3:44PM CDT on 07/29) WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- The White House criticized U.S. congressional Democrats Tuesday for delaying consideration of energy-related legislation before the August recess.
  • Crude oil prices fall again Tuesday  (UPI / 3:24PM CDT on 07/29) NEW YORK, July 29 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices fell again Tuesday in New York, continuing a downward trend that has pushed prices to levels not seen since early May.
  • Teck Cominco to buy Fording Coal  (UPI / 3:05PM CDT on 07/29) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 29 (UPI) -- Canadian mining company Teck Cominco Ltd. said it had reached agreement to purchase Fording Canadian Coal Trust for $21.1 billion.
  • Ex-mayor of Newark, N.J., gets 27 months  (UPI / 2:54PM CDT on 07/29) NEWARK, N.J., July 29 (UPI) -- Sharpe James, the former mayor of Newark, N.J., was sentenced Tuesday to 27 months in prison for helping his girlfriend buy city property.
  • Stevens indicted for alleged form fraud  (UPI / 1:44PM CDT on 07/29) WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- Sen. Ted Steven, R-Alaska, was indicted Tuesday for allegedly lying on his Senate financial disclosure forms, the U.S. Justice Department said.
  • Report: Web sites still blocked by Chinese  (UPI / 1:44PM CDT on 07/29) BEIJING, July 29 (UPI) -- Despite assurances that censorship of foreign Web sites would be lifted, journalists arriving in Beijing for the Olympics say some sites are still blocked.
  • Energy costs spurring school spending cuts  (UPI / 11:14AM CDT on 07/29) WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- A report released Tuesday said spending cuts affecting virtually every school district in the United States are coming this fall due to higher energy prices.
  • U.S. retail sales gained last week  (UPI / 10:05AM CDT on 07/29) WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- Retail sales in the United States made strong gains during the week ending July 26, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.
  • Gas field producing instant millionaires  (UPI / 9:05AM CDT on 07/29) SHREVEPORT, La., July 29 (UPI) -- One of the largest natural U.S. gas fields is making instant millionaires out of modest, work-a-day Louisiana and Texas land owners, sources said.
  • FDA: Don't eat American lobster tomalley  (UPI / 9:05AM CDT on 07/29) WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns consumers not to eat tomalley in American lobster (Maine Lobster), no matter where the lobster was harvested.
  • U.S. peppers cleared in salmonella study  (UPI / 8:44AM CDT on 07/29) WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said U.S.-grown jalapeno and Serrano peppers are not connected with the current Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak.
  • Experts point to peak oil production  (UPI / 7:44AM CDT on 07/29) WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- The world's maximum oil output peaked about three years ago, an industry expert from Texas said.

    Monday, July 28

  • GM Details Truck Output Cuts  (AP / 8:34PM CDT on 07/28) DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. on Monday detailed its plan for cutting North American truck production by nearly 300,000 units when it announced that it will eliminate 117,000 units of production from its truck plants by the end of the year.
  • Grains mostly up as hot weather moves in  (UPI / 7:44PM CDT on 07/28) CHICAGO, July 28 (UPI) -- Grains trading edged up on the Chicago Board of Trade Monday as hot, dry weather put upward pressure on soybeans and corn.
  • Analyst: Ford to gain on Chrysler's issues  (UPI / 5:24PM CDT on 07/28) DETROIT, July 28 (UPI) -- A former International Trade Commission economist said Monday the difficulties at Chrysler LLC will benefit rival U.S. auto giant Ford Motor Co.
  • GM softens blow of Canada plant closing  (UPI / 3:54PM CDT on 07/28) OSHAWA, Ontario, July 28 (UPI) -- General Motors Corp. workers facing the closure of a Canadian truck plant will get severance deals and maybe more work, company and union official said Monday.
  • Oil prices rise on tension in Nigeria  (UPI / 3:44PM CDT on 07/28) NEW YORK, July 28 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices rose slightly in New York Monday on tensions in Nigeria and a sharp drop in U.S. miles driven in May compared to a year ago.
  • Firm seeks to custom fit online shopping  (UPI / 2:54PM CDT on 07/28) AUSTIN, Texas, July 28 (UPI) -- Retail consultants at an Austin, Texas, company are studying online shoppers to help e-retail companies close on sales, a company executive said.
  • Mechel price change ends dispute  (UPI / 12:54PM CDT on 07/28) MOSCOW, July 28 (UPI) -- Russia's steel giant Mechel has agreed to match world and domestic coking coal prices, avoiding a dispute with government regulators, a presidential aide said.
  • Trips not taken hurt government coffers  (UPI / 12:14PM CDT on 07/28) WASHINGTON, July 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation says the increase in the price of gasoline is producing a decline in federal gas tax revenues.
  • Texas continues to clean up from Dolly  (UPI / 11:14AM CDT on 07/28) SAN ANTONIO, July 28 (UPI) -- Hurricane Dolly made such a mess of the Rio Grande Valley of Texas that officials estimated Monday it will take at least another week to recover.
  • Construction in Iraq plagued with waste  (UPI / 9:54AM CDT on 07/28) WASHINGTON, July 28 (UPI) -- Lucrative construction projects in Iraq are ending with work incomplete and millions of dollars wasted, government regulators said.
  • Cars driving China's oil demand  (UPI / 8:54AM CDT on 07/28) BEIJING, July 28 (UPI) -- China's escalating demand for oil can be traced to increased auto sales in the country and government subsidies that keep prices low, analysts said.
  • Safety issues rise in Nevada construction  (UPI / 7:14AM CDT on 07/28) LAS VEGAS, July 28 (UPI) -- Construction-related fatalities in Nevada have prompted a series of investigations amid allegations that safety regulators are ineffective, sources said.

    Sunday, July 27

  • Calif. districts reduce school bus service  (UPI / 9:54PM CDT on 07/27) LOS ANGELES, July 27 (UPI) -- The volatile cost of fuel is causing California school districts to curtail school bus service for thousands of students, officials and parents said.
  • Tennessee becomes auto hub  (UPI / 8:04PM CDT on 07/27) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., July 27 (UPI) -- A planned influx of auto industry jobs in Chattanooga could help the Tennessee state economy, experts say.
  • Former royal mansion facing demolition  (UPI / 5:04PM CDT on 07/27) LONDON, July 27 (UPI) -- A British mansion where Prince Andrew once lived may soon be demolished, The Sunday Times of London said.
  • Food safety overhaul sought  (UPI / 4:54PM CDT on 07/27) WASHINGTON, July 27 (UPI) -- Experts say the recent U.S. salmonella outbreak shows the system for protecting the nation's food supply needs to be overhauled.
  • Toyota mulls price hikes for Prius, Lexus  (UPI / 2:14PM CDT on 07/27) TOKYO, July 27 (UPI) -- Toyota Motor Corp. is considering raising the price of its hybrid Prius and luxury models in Japan to help offset higher material costs, an executive said.
  • Congressman: Bridge repairs underfunded  (UPI / 9:44AM CDT on 07/27) WASHINGTON, July 27 (UPI) -- U.S. states are paying the price for spending money meant to repair crumbling bridges on other things, a U.S. congressman says.

    Saturday, July 26

  • U.S. tourists not big spenders in Oslo  (UPI / 7:34PM CDT on 07/26) OSLO, Norway, July 26 (UPI) -- More tourists are coming to Oslo but they are spending less in the Norwegian capital, analysts say.
  • Federal-Mogul reports profits of $90M  (UPI / 5:44PM CDT on 07/26) SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 26 (UPI) -- U.S. auto parts supplier Federal-Mogul Corp. has bounced back from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, reporting profits of $90 million, records show.
  • Khalil: Lower oil prices due to diplomacy  (UPI / 3:54PM CDT on 07/26) ALGIERS, Algeria, July 26 (UPI) -- The president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries says improved relations between Iran and the United States led to lower oil prices.
  • Gunmen kidnap oil workers in Nigeria  (UPI / 2:54PM CDT on 07/26) ABUJA, Nigeria, July 26 (UPI) -- Eight oil workers were kidnapped Saturday in a brazen assault on a petroleum tanker in Nigeria, a military official said.
  • China mulls consumption tax hike on autos  (UPI / 2:44PM CDT on 07/26) BEIJING, July 26 (UPI) -- The Chinese government could raise its car consumption tax on luxury vehicles with high emissions, officials say.
  • Crocs shares drop by nearly 50 percent  (UPI / 2:24PM CDT on 07/26) NIWOT, Colo., July 26 (UPI) -- Shares in Crocs Inc. have fallen by nearly 50 percent as the Colorado shoe company reported its first potential sales slump in six years.
  • Ford to rebrand Mercury line  (UPI / 1:44PM CDT on 07/26) DETROIT, July 26 (UPI) -- Ford Motor Co. plans to rebrand its Mercury line as an entry-level luxury car, senior executives say.
  • Investigators probe N.Y. apartment blast  (UPI / 1:04PM CDT on 07/26) NEW YORK, July 26 (UPI) -- New York City fire officials Saturday investigated the cause of an apartment building gas explosion that injured 17 people, two of them critically.
  • Housing bill passed by U.S. Senate  (UPI / 12:05PM CDT on 07/26) WASHINGTON, July 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate used a rare weekend session Saturday to pass a landmark housing bill meant to mitigate the ongoing mortgage crisis.
  • Fighting erupts at journalists' summit  (UPI / 11:34AM CDT on 07/26) CHICAGO, July 26 (UPI) -- Fighting erupted at a summit of minority journalists in Chicago between backers and opponents of Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade, officials said.
  • American Axle plans 2,500 lay-offs  (UPI / 8:34AM CDT on 07/26) DETROIT, July 26 (UPI) -- American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. says it plans to lay off 2,500 employees and eliminate 70 percent of its U.S. manufacturing capacity.
  • Chrysler Suspends New Car Leases  (AP / 8:34AM CDT on 07/26) Plummeting prices for used trucks and SUVs has led U.S. automaker Chrysler Corp. to suspend issuing leases for its new vehicles, auto industry analysts say.
  • Chrysler suspends new car leases  (UPI / 8:14AM CDT on 07/26) DETROIT, July 26 (UPI) -- Plummeting prices for used trucks and SUVs has led U.S. automaker Chrysler Corp. to suspend issuing leases for its new vehicles, auto industry analysts say.
  • Regulators close two U.S. banks  (UPI / 8:04AM CDT on 07/26) RENO, Nev., July 26 (UPI) -- Federal regulators have closed two banks in the U.S. West, saying they were undercapitalized due to the poor performance of home mortgage loans.

    Friday, July 25

  • Dodd to release loan information  (UPI / 9:14PM CDT on 07/25) HARTFORD, Conn., July 25 (UPI) -- Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd said he plans to give additional details about his home loans amid accusations he received special treatment as a Senate member.
  • Grains mostly trend up in Chicago Friday  (UPI / 7:44PM CDT on 07/25) CHICAGO, July 25 (UPI) -- Grains trading tracked up on the Chicago Board of Trade Friday as a federal judged limited a haying proposal for the Conservation Reserve Program.
  • Poll: Preference for beer grows in U.S.  (UPI / 4:44PM CDT on 07/25) PRINCETON, N.J., July 25 (UPI) -- Preference for beer by U.S. adults has increased to a double-digit margin over its rival beverage wine, Gallup Poll researchers said.
  • Arch Earnings Triple on Soaring Coal Prices  (AP / Jeffrey Tomich, St. Louis Post-Dispatch / 2:34PM CDT on 07/25) Jul. 25--Shares of Arch Coal Inc. soared Friday after the nation's No. 2 coal producer reported second-quarter profit that exceeded Wall Street expectations and raised its earnings outlook for the year.
  • Damage from Dolly may top $1 billion  (UPI / 11:54AM CDT on 07/25) BROWNSVILLE, Texas, July 25 (UPI) -- Estimates of damage in Texas from Hurricane Dolly could reach $1 billion, an insurance council said.
  • Foreclosure led to suicide, police say  (UPI / 11:34AM CDT on 07/25) TAUNTON, Mass., July 25 (UPI) -- The foreclosure crisis was blamed for the death of a Taunton, Mass., woman, who police said killed herself over possibly losing her house.
  • Bill seeks to compensate tomato growers  (UPI / 10:54AM CDT on 07/25) WASHINGTON, July 25 (UPI) -- The tomato industry is seeking compensation for losses incurred after a salmonella outbreak prompted the U.S. government to issue a tomato warning.
  • Senate bill goes beyond troubled homeowner  (UPI / 9:04AM CDT on 07/25) WASHINGTON, July 25 (UPI) -- The new housing bill nearing passage in the U.S. Senate goes beyond help for troubled homeowners, analysts said.
  • French pass sweeping economic reforms  (UPI / 8:24AM CDT on 07/25) PARIS, July 25 (UPI) -- Economic reforms passed in France will add 0.3 percentage points of annual growth to the country's economy, the government said.
  • Report: GM Canada, union reach deal  (UPI / 7:34AM CDT on 07/25) OSHAWA, Ontario, July 25 (UPI) -- Union officials say a deal has been struck with General Motors Canada for workers affected by the planned shutdown of a plant in Oshawa, Ontario.
  • Oil prices head up Friday morning  (UPI / 7:34AM CDT on 07/25) NEW YORK, July 25 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices rose modestly Friday to $126.26 a barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange, following a recent $20-per-barrel drop.

    Thursday, July 24

  • MSHA imposes $1.8M fines for mine collapse  (UPI / 5:54PM CDT on 07/24) PRICE, Utah, July 24 (UPI) -- The Utah coal mine where nine people were killed last year had major engineering problems that left it "destined to fail," U.S. regulators said Thursday.
  • Grains mixed in Chicago Thursday  (UPI / 5:54PM CDT on 07/24) CHICAGO, July 24 (UPI) -- Grains trading was mixed on the Chicago Board of Trade Thursday with traders reacting to comments by the chairman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee.
  • AutoNation to trim staff 5 percent  (UPI / 5:54PM CDT on 07/24) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 24 (UPI) -- The largest U.S. auto retailer, AutoNation, said it would cut 1,300 store positions in an effort to trim costs after a slumping second quarter.
  • Dems fall short on oil reserve vote  (UPI / 5:04PM CDT on 07/24) WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- U.S. House Democrats Thursday failed to move legislation releasing oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
  • USDA renews program to fight pig syndrome  (UPI / 3:34PM CDT on 07/24) WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Agriculture Department Thursday said it was renewing funding for research, education and extension service regarding pig health.
  • Oil prices rebound slightly Thursday  (UPI / 3:24PM CDT on 07/24) NEW YORK, July 24 (UPI) -- An eight-day slide in crude oil prices turned around Thursday with prices making a modest comeback on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
  • U.S., New Zealand sign clean energy plan  (UPI / 2:34PM CDT on 07/24) WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- The United States and New Zealand committed to a plant that helps develop clean energy on island nations and territories, a U.S. official said Thursday.
  • Perino: Dems wasting time on energy bill  (UPI / 1:34PM CDT on 07/24) WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- The White House Thursday ridiculed efforts by Democrats to free up the U.S. strategic oil reserve, calling it a waste of time.
  • Ford records worst quarter in its history  (UPI / 1:24PM CDT on 07/24) DEARBORN, Mich., July 24 (UPI) -- Ford Motor Co. posted its worst quarter in company history with losses of $8.7 billion, the result of a market turn toward fuel-efficient cars, analysts said.
  • Boehner calls Dems' energy bill 'joke'  (UPI / 1:14PM CDT on 07/24) WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner Thursday called the Democrats' efforts to free up the strategic oil reserve a "joke."
  • Pelosi: House won't validate Bush policy  (UPI / 12:44PM CDT on 07/24) WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Thursday rejected White House pressure on energy legislation, saying President Bush just wants his failed policies validated.
  • Chrysler to cut 1,000 more salaried jobs  (UPI / 12:34PM CDT on 07/24) AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 24 (UPI) -- U.S. auto giant Chrysler LLC announced it would cut an additional 1,000 jobs from its salaried staff, creating an 18 percent staff cut since February 2007.
  • Reid: GOP not serious about energy bill  (UPI / 11:14AM CDT on 07/24) WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Thursday accused Republicans of blocking efforts to deal with high gasoline prices.
  • U.S. jobless claims rise  (UPI / 9:24AM CDT on 07/24) WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- First-time claims for U.S. unemployment insurance increased during the week ending July 19, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday.
  • Canada's TD Bank drops U.S. name battle  (UPI / 9:04AM CDT on 07/24) TORONTO, July 24 (UPI) -- Canada's Toronto Dominion Bank has abandoned its legal fight over its U.S. name with a 12-outlet Massachusetts bank.
  • Argentine presidential adviser resigns  (UPI / 12:54AM CDT on 07/24) BUENOS AIRES, July 24 (UPI) -- Argentine President Cristina Kirchner named Sergio Massa her new Cabinet chief Wednesday, the day after Alberto Fernandez resigned the key advisory post.

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