AP - Democratic leaders in Congress sidetracked legislation to bail out the auto industry Thursday and demanded the Big Three develop a plan assuring the money would make them economically viable. Until they show us the plan, we cannot show them the money, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said at a hastily called news conference in [...]

Continue reading " Dems delay auto bailout vote, seek plan from Big 3 (AP) "

AP - Jarred by new jobless alarms, Congress hurriedly approved legislation Thursday to keep unemployment checks flowing through the December holidays and into the new year for a million or more laid-off Americans whose benefits were running out.

Continue reading " Congress extends jobless benefits through December (AP) "

AP - Stocks have plunged again to levels not seen in more than five years as hopes fade that lawmakers will soon put together an aid package for U.S. automakers.

Continue reading " Stocks tumble to 5-year lows, led by financials (AP) "

AP - Making John A. Junior Gotti stand trial on racketeering charges in Tampa instead of New York would be like cutting off the supplies he needs to fight the fight, his attorney told a federal judge Thursday. Charles Carnesi, attorney for the New York Mafia scion, argued that a Tampa trial would be a [...]

Continue reading " Attorney: Tampa trial puts Gotti at a disadvantage (AP) "

AP - Law enforcement authorities arrested an 81-year-old man who illegally sold powerful prescription pain relievers. The arrest followed a raid on a home Monday by the Alaska Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Enforcement.

Continue reading " Octogenarian charged with dealing pain pills (AP) "

AP - Friction keeps obstructing The View. While she never mentioned Rosie O’Donnell by name, it was clear who Barbara Walters was referring to when she opened Thursday’s show by complaining about some people who have done this show who criticize the daytime gabfest after leaving.

Continue reading " Walters on flak from ’some people’: ‘I resent it’ (AP) "

AP - Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage has apologized to a fan whom he sent a profane e-mail to following Monday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills.

Continue reading " Browns GM Savage apologizes for e-mail expletive (AP) "

Reuters - Senate and House Democratic leaders at a news conference:

Continue reading " Democrats set December 2 deadline for automakers’ to offer plan (Reuters) "

Reuters - The number of American workers on the unemployment rolls surged to the highest in a quarter century and a regional manufacturing gauge slumped as U.S. economic misery intensified.

Continue reading " Jobs data miserable, regional factories slump (Reuters) "

Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama is considering Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano to be U.S. Homeland Security secretary, heading a sprawling agency formed to bolster civil defense in the wake of the September 11 attacks, a senior Democrat said.

Continue reading " Obama eyes Arizona governor for Homeland Security (Reuters) "