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Saturday, May 17, 2008

Current weather:
61° F partly cloudy

Business news

Published Saturday, May 17, 2008

Food stamps falling short

CHICAGO – Danielle Brown stands outside a South Side market at midnight, braving the spring chill for her first chance to buy groceries since her food stamps ran out nearly two weeks ago.

Residential construction rises sharply

WASHINGTON – Construction of new homes increased by the biggest percentage in more than two years in April, a rare spot of good news amid the worst downturn in housing in more than two decades.

401(k) contributions remain stable … so far

NEW YORK – Jamie P. Menges sees many of his clients getting squeezed in this economy, and some are considering hard choices – like cutting back on their 401(k) contributions.

Winery startups sprout in Whatcom County

BELLINGHAM – New wineries are popping up over much of Washington, mostly in the Walla Walla and Woodinville areas. But the trend is spreading to pockets of the Puget Sound region.

Grant will fund antenna research

A Liberty Lake tech startup has landed a $148,000 federal grant to work with Gonzaga University faculty on wireless equipment innovation.

A history of food stamps

1939-1943: People buy orange stamps equal to their normal food expenses; for every dollar of orange stamps purchased, they receive an extra 50 cents in blue stamps to purchase surplus food.

Oil price sets trading record, stocks mixed

NEW YORK – Wall Street pulled off its lows to finish narrowly mixed Friday as investors squared concerns about rising oil prices with a surprise jump in home construction. The major indexes ended the week with big gains.

Expensive art market healthy, but shows whiff of hesitation

NEW YORK – It took only about 120 seconds for a Monet to exchange hands for a small fortune recently.

Fannie Mae reduces payment requirement

By relaxing down-payment requirements for borrowers in markets where home prices are falling, Fannie Mae aims to both resuscitate the flagging housing market and respond to pressure from industry groups, consumer advocates and lawmakers.

A religious angle

NEW YORK – Moazzam Ahmed tried for years to square his investment goals with the tenets of Islam.

Summer data key to direction

NEW YORK – After nine months of turmoil that started with the collapse of the subprime mortgage market, Wall Street appears to be at a turning point of sorts.

May 16

Cabela's targets real estate market

UPS climbs aboard Big Brown bandwagon

Inland Power has green goal for new HQ

Icahn threatens Yahoo revolt

State adds six gas pump inspectors

Markets rise on better economic news

Shoppers downsize portions

Rates on 30-year mortgages dip to 6.01 percent

Nordstrom says profits off 24 percent

May 15

Experts believe recession less likely

Building boom's faults revealed

Geiger Spur on track for renovation

U.S. casinos may take economic hit

Inflation lower despite rising food prices

Business in brief: Itron lands big meter contract

A mission to save homes

Inflation news helps stocks advance

Google now nation's top Web site

Foreclosure filings soar 65 percent over last year

May 14

Housing slowdown hits N. Idaho

May 13

Signs point to next-gen iPhone launch

Old pumps didn't count on high prices

Investor activist gets his say on lowering executive pay

In brief: Tribune Co. wraps up sale of newspaper

Oil price drop eases inflation fears

Consumer extras are redefined in leaner times

Southwest taps banks for $600 million

Hedges help drive income for Kaiser

May 12

Mint.com offers free way to track your finances

Zune update will pose problems

404 error goes way back

No Video Challenge winner this week

Where's that stimulus check? Find out

Jargon 2.0: Captcha

Online tutoring is growing, but not right for every student

Where are the sales? Sites point the way

Etsy is crafting a success story

Visual search sites get another look

How do I...declutter Windows XP desktop?

May 11

Navigating rough waters

Rising costs have restaurants rethinking menus

Marketers twisting gas prices into hook

Week in review

Diners like small portions so much they order two

Amish salvage stores offer old-fashioned bargains

Business Beat

Week ahead

'Naming names' column inspires rich debate

The Motley Fool: Take closer look at return on equity

May 10

Dollar may turn

More investors dealing in options

'Myst' might hit the silver screen

This Mother's Day, some will spend time over money

Circuit City lets bidder see books

Investment scam education to be tested

Economists give region pat on back

Business in brief: Google-Yahoo ad deal to be fought

Citigroup will shed $500 billion in assets

AIG's report of loss contributes to Dow's tumble

787 delay to reach two years for some

May 9

Avista to add wind power to network

Funeral industry eyes body-dissolving process

Here's the Dirt: Club spending $5 million on Valley facility

States mandate safety on Web site

'08 Dodge Challenger hits the streets

Rule would limit insurers' pitches

Business in brief: Interest rate notice proposed

Shoppers seek discounts

Commodity companies lead modest upturn

30-year mortgage rates dip

May 8

Housing market 'slowed appreciably'

Some drivers slow down to save on gas

Look, up in the sky: It's a company logo

Advanced Input lands British deal

Venture promises faster wireless

Business in brief: Deal is distant on farm bill

News Corp. earnings up threefold

Stocks retreat on concerns over oil

Red Lion reports net loss; company buys Denver hotel

Nighthawk announces buyback

Studios victorious in file-sharing suit

May 7

Young will keep rockin' in a Blu-ray world

Areva chooses Idaho for new uranium plant

Spokane gallery wins Webby Award

Congress weighing steel pennies, nickels

In brief: Coffey wins liftme achievement award

Stocks move higher as oil busts another record

May 6

Yahoo ponders its next move

Oil prices climb to $120

State AGs discussing energy

WSU selects plan for Riverpoint health, research center

Chicken, pork costs may rise

Stocks down on higher oil prices

Business in brief: Iraq signs deal to buy Boeing planes

May 5

Web success with Penny Arcade

Cart Shark: Wigix offers alternative to eBay

Sharing photo lighting tips through a blog

USB drives let you take your work with you

Help with road trips is just a click away

Web site allows occasional virtual faxes

Movie classics a hit across the pond

Play online for a good cause

Video Challenge: Can you name that lake area?

Jargon 2.0: Sockpuppet, a bogus identity

May 4

The Beauty Beaker

Yahoo chief in a tough spot

Economic doldrums good for movies

Week in review

A switch is in the works

Business Beat

Week ahead

Paychex may come in handy

May 3

Energy play tricky

Lending preferred to more rate cuts

Production firm buys art school building

Immigrants stocking up on rice

Mining firm awaits word on Venezuela

Linens 'n Things files Chapter 11

Lydig to help finish Richland facility

Profit-takers have their day; blue chips inch up

Microsoft sweetens its offer for Yahoo

Lionel LLC pulls out of bankruptcy

Business in brief: Airport boardings up for month, quarter

May 2

Agency declares salmon disaster

Home Depot closing 15 stores

Parking garage considered for Davenport District

Business leaders tell of D.C. trip

Business in brief: Rise in spending is misleading

SUV sales plummet for GM, Ford in April

Dow ends above 13,000 as dollar jumps

Exxon's profit rises 17 percent

30-year mortgage rates up

May 1

'Memristor' – an element of circuitry – could beef up storage

Fed makes key interest rate cut

Jobs Plus marks another year of recruiting companies

Key Tronic shares rise on income report

Business in brief: Avista earnings up over year ago

In defense of ethanol

Stocks dip on Fed's mixed message

New House bill targets safety against dust explosions

GM losses prompt cut in forecast

April 30

BlueRay selling top two floors

Sheltered from the storm

ISM hangs by a thread

Rising demand for coal boosting electricity rates

Business in brief: Key Tronic posts quarterly gain

Countrywide's losses mount

Stocks mixed before Fed rate decision

Fed set to cut key rate again

April 29

ReliOn draws more investors

Stimulus checks start way into marketplace

Foreclosures skyrocket

Kerkorian believes Ford has future

Business in brief: United pursuing US Airways

Wrigley family sells

Cautious investors keep markets steady

Gas cost is top worry, survey says

Voter ID decision won't affect Washington much

April 28

Trafficking cop: Spokane attorney taking her blog to D.C.

Sites have volumes of info

Life 2.0: A suite answer for documents

Wave goodbye to silent video

Jargon 2.0: Zettabyte

Worthy projects would love to borrow your PC

UI puts Moscow's best green footprint forward

Mix tapes are easy online

Find podcasts by way of Scouta

Video Challenge: Winner for "I'm a Believer" contest

April 27

Unique design, fast recharge could make flashlight the next big thing

Your body language could hurt you at work

Business is personal for this entrepreneur

Week in review

Business Beat

Week ahead

Doctors want more medical implants tailored for kids

Green, but deadly to pests

Coupons are going at a fast clip

Naming names: Just how important is it?

The Motley Fool: Steer clear of troubled firms

April 26

Payout funds vary

Consumer mood next week's focus

Microsoft bid deadline looms

Bad valves, high prices a double whammy

BlueRay files counterclaim over records suit

Safeco shares dip as uncertain market reacts to pending sale

Business in brief: Bank's earnings down 10 percent

Markets manage back-to-back winning weeks

Demand for smaller cars rising alongside fuel prices

Potlatch settles federal lawsuit

Company news: First-quarter profit reports a mixed bag

April 25

AmericanWest takes hit

Analog TV owners win, lose when using digital converters

Here's the dirt: Sunset Hill condos proposed

Potlatch profitable despite falling prices

Panel develops electricity shortage warning system

Ford report, jobs news lift Dow

Microsoft CEO: Sales of beloved XP could continue

Microsoft profit falls 11 percent

Ford posts gain, warning

United Airlines raises U.S. fares

Mortgages top 6 percent

April 24

Dental gold rush

Fruit growers feel the cold

Boeing reports soaring earnings

Frontier cutting routes

Workshop covers sales tax 'streamlining'

Boeing profit report boosts Wall Street

Costco, Sam's limit rice buys

Court split on plea to stop takeover

April 23

No relief at pump in sight

White House seeks higher fuel economy standards

Stressful summer air travel predicted

Justice Department to appeal Sterling ruling

In brief: BofA building dims lights for Earth Day

Dow dips as investors study earnings

Yahoo posts higher profit

House panel criticizes FDA on foreign inspections

April 22

Arts organizations feel economic slide too

Earth- friendly business hailed

GU, Whitworth students win business plan awards

Stocks end mixed after early drop

Wal-Mart remains No. 1 in Fortune 500 ranking

April 21

Cart shark: As profits fall, hackers work harder

Incoming message alerts are easy to set up on Outlook

Deep Rock Drive puts out live virtual concerts

Candidates running with new media

Free tool sorts illegal phishing from real messages

Gardenfork.tv offers down-home tips for the home

At Baseball Almanac, diamonds are forever

Video challenge: Snowcat got your tongue?

Jargon 2.0: Bleg

April 20

Back to basics

Growing demand for scotch spurs boost in investment

Tight credit makes FHA a bigger player

Week in review

Investing abroad losing its luster

Business Beat

Week ahead

Degrees of difficulty

More car buyers stalled

JetBlue Airways expansion could hit turbulence

How to deal with a volatile market

April 19

Direction needed

Overseas business providing buffer

BlueRay sued for financial data

Downtown fair-trade shop closing

Facebook taps users' talent

Studios have high hopes for Middle East theme parks

Citigroup, Google news helps buoy investors

Citigroup moves reflect harsh credit environment

April 18

Potlatch considers splitting up

Sallie Mae losing money on student loans

Here's the dirt: Buyer plans housing revamp

Google's Q1 profits up 31 percent

Mixed earnings results put brakes on rally

30-year rate on mortgages unchanged

April 17

Rise in inflation driven by higher energy prices

A personalized message

Mortgage fraud cases on the rise

Missing the tax filing deadline still leaves options

Business in brief: Hecla buys Alaska mine

eBay beats profit predictions

Earnings reports boost Wall Street

United raises fuel surcharge on all routes

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