Feds OK breakup to cut power costs in Ark., Miss. AP (November 19, 2009) LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Federal regulators Thursday authorized Entergy Corp.'s utilities in Mississippi and Arkansas to leave a multistate agreement, a move expected to eventually save money for electric customers in Arkansas.
W.Va. consumer advocate, staff oppose phone deal AP (November 17, 2009) CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Some key state regulatory officials are opposing Frontier Communications Corp.'s plan to buy Verizon's wire line business in West Virginia and 13 other states.
VA sec'y promises timely response to war illness AP (November 11, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Veterans Secretary Eric Shinseki says he's working to improve the agency's ability to cope with increasing numbers of troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with mental health problems.
Calif. AG's office: Press aide taped 6 interviews AP (November 10, 2009) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A report by California Attorney General Jerry Brown's office says a spokesman secretly recorded phone calls with five reporters, even though he was explicitly warned not to do so.
Thousands rally to protest health care bill AP (November 05, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Chanting "Kill the bill," thousands of conservatives rallied at the Capitol on Thursday against the Democrats' health care overhaul plan, labeling it a government takeover of the nation's medical system.
CVS says it is subject of FTC investigation AP (November 05, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - The Federal Trade Commission is investigating some of CVS Caremark Corp.'s business practices, the company said Thursday.
Wyo. sets wildlife guidelines for wind developers AP (November 05, 2009) CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has released recommendations for protecting wildlife during wind energy development, including restrictions in sage grouse habitat and in big game winter range and migration corridors.
Fannie Mae seeks $15 bln in US aid after 3Q loss AP (November 05, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Fannie Mae is asking for an additional $15 billion in government aid after posting another big loss in the third quarter as the taxpayer bill from the housing market bust keeps rising.
House panel votes to give SEC more money, power AP (November 04, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The House Financial Services Committee voted Wednesday to give federal regulators more power and money to police major players in the stock market, four months after Bernard Madoff was sentenced for the biggest investment scam in history.
Google's 3Q lobbying costs eclipse $1 million AP (November 04, 2009) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Google Inc.'s quarterly lobbying expenses eclipsed $1 million for the first time during the summer as the company tried to build on its dominance of Internet search and expand into other markets.
FDA panel has questions about Zimmer spine implant AP (November 04, 2009) GAITHERSBURG, Md. (AP) - Federal health officials say there are lingering questions about whether an implant from Zimmer Holdings Inc. is safe and effective for treating a painful spinal condition.
FAA chief: Pilots must refocus on professionalism AP (November 04, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's top aviation official says the Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot Minneapolis are part of a larger problem of professionalism among commercial airline pilots.
USDA announces $17M for new farmers, ranchers AP (November 03, 2009) ELGIN, Minn. (AP) - A federal Agriculture Department official in southeastern Minnesota is announcing $17 million in grants to address the needs of beginning farmers and ranchers.
RI hospital fined $150,000 in wrong-site surgery AP (November 03, 2009) PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island's largest hospital was fined $150,000 and ordered to take the extraordinary step of installing video cameras in all its operating rooms after it had its fifth wrong-site surgery since 2007, state health officials said Monday.
Firms that donate to Inouye receive his earmarks AP (November 02, 2009) HONOLULU (AP) - A team led by a small Hawaii company was competing to design a new generation of military transport ships when Navy officials dropped it from contention in late 2007. The reason: the team's entry didn't meet the Navy's criteria.
GAO: Full recoup of gov't auto investment unlikely AP (November 02, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Government investigators say the U.S. government is unlikely to recover all of its investment in General Motors or Chrysler because the companies' value would need to "grow substantially above what they have been in the past."
Cheney FBI interview: 72 instances of can't recall AP (November 02, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald famously declared in the Valerie Plame affair that "there is a cloud over the vice president." Last week's release of an FBI interview summary of Dick Cheney's answers in the criminal investigation underscores why Fitzgerald felt that way.
US: Mass. can't force gay marriage benefits AP (October 30, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - States that allow gay marriage can't force the federal government to provide benefits to those couples, the Obama administration argued Friday in court papers in a lawsuit by Massachusetts.
California Rep. Waters is under investigation AP (October 29, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The House ethics committee said Thursday it's investigating whether California Rep. Maxine Waters used her influence to help a bank in which her husband owned stock - and whether the couple benefited as a result.
Alabama doctor confirmed as US surgeon general AP (October 29, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate on Thursday confirmed Dr. Regina Benjamin to be the U.S. surgeon general, elevating a well-known Alabama family physician to be the nation's top doctor.
Obama says Dover visit was 'a sobering reminder' AP (October 29, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says his middle-of-the-night visit to greet the remains of fallen U.S. soldiers is "a sobering reminder" of the sacrifices of war.