For the first time in seven years, most U.S. homebuilders are optimistic about home sales, a sign that construction could help drive stronger economic growth in coming months.
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index released Monday leaped to 52 this month from 44 in May. It was the largest monthly increase since 2002.
7. Tennessee GOP supermajority struggles to find footing - Friday, June 14, 2013
NASHVILLE (AP) - Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam began the year by dismissing what he called misguided predictions that the new Republican supermajority in state government would devolve into infighting.
8. New labor chief says job searches should be easier - Friday, June 14, 2013
NASHVILLE (AP) — The state labor chief says cutting services at state jobless service centers shouldn't make it harder for out-of-work Tennesseans to find jobs.
According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press (http://bit.ly/13NyR50), Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips told the legislative Fiscal Review Committee last week that coming changes should make it easier to search for jobs.
9. Current, former officials back secret surveillance - Friday, June 14, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — Top officials from the Obama and Bush administrations say the government's newly exposed secret surveillance programs have been essential to disrupting terrorist plots and have not infringed on Americans' civil liberties.
10. World looks to Bernanke to clarify stimulus plans - Friday, June 14, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — Is the era of ultra-low interest rates nearing an end?
That's the question — and the fear — Chairman Ben Bernanke will face this week when he takes questions after a Federal Reserve policy meeting.
11. Cars from art deco period exhibited in Nashville - Friday, June 14, 2013
NASHVILLE (AP) - They are long, low, sleek and sexy.
Many of the cars at a new exhibit called "Sensuous Steel" are one of a kind. Others are or were owned by famous people. What binds them together is their art deco design and the venue where they are showcased: the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, which was built in 1933-34 as the city's main post office.
12. Mangled facts, secrecy brew confusion about NSA - Friday, June 14, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — Wondering what the U.S. government might know about your phone calls and online life? And whether all of this really helps find terrorists? Good luck finding solid answers.
Americans trying to wrap their minds around two giant surveillance programs are confronted with a mishmash of leaks, changing claims and secrecy. Members of Congress complain that their constituents are baffled — and many lawmakers admit they are, too.
13. Grocers allege potato group pumped up spud prices - Friday, June 14, 2013
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A battle between grocers and potato growers has been silently hitting shoppers' pocketbooks, according to a U.S. wholesaler accusing America's spud farmers of driving up prices while spying on farmers with satellites and aircraft fly-overs to enforce strict limits on how many tubers they can grow.
14. Lightweight Microsoft Office available on iPhone - Friday, June 14, 2013
NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft's Office software package is coming to the iPhone for the first time Friday, offering people the ability to read and edit their text documents, spreadsheets and slide presentations at the doctor's office or at a soccer game.
15. Coverage may be unaffordable for low-wage workers - Friday, June 14, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — It's called the Affordable Care Act, but President Barack Obama's health care law may turn out to be unaffordable for many low-wage workers, including employees at big chain restaurants, retail stores and hotels.
16. Oil price highest since January on Syria concerns - Friday, June 14, 2013
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil rose to the highest level since January amid concerns about a possible escalation in Syria's civil war.
Benchmark oil for July delivery rose $1.16 cents to close at $97.85 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil finished the week with a gain of $1.82 a barrel, or 1.9 percent.
17. US unemployment benefit applications fall to 334K - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits dropped 12,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 334,000, a decline that suggests steady job gains will endure.
The less volatile four-week average decreased 7,250 to 345,250, the Labor Department said Thursday. Both figures are roughly 7,000 higher than month-ago levels, which were the lowest in five years.
18. Census: Rural US loses population for first time - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rural America is losing population for the first time ever, largely because of waning interest among baby boomers in moving to far-flung locations for retirement and recreation, according to new census estimates.
19. Survey: Many Americans say 'Big Brother' is here - Friday, June 07, 2013
NEW YORK (AP) — There's little wonder why George Orwell's novel "1984" is seeing a resurgence in sales.
More than half of Americans polled in a survey released Thursday said they agreed with the statement "We are really in the era of Big Brother."
20. Unpaid internships in jeopardy after court ruling - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — Unpaid internships have long been a path of opportunity for students and recent grads looking to get a foot in the door in the entertainment, publishing and other prominent industries, even if it takes a generous subsidy from Mom and Dad.
21. Launch of US-EU trade talks may be hitting snag - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — One of the big goals of President Barack Obama's upcoming trip to Europe may be in jeopardy, with French objections threatening to hold up the launch of negotiations on a sweeping U.S.-European Union free trade pact.
22. RealtyTrac: Home repossessions rose in May - Friday, June 07, 2013
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lenders stepped up action last month against homeowners who had fallen behind on their mortgage payments, taking possession of more homes and initiating the foreclosure countdown clock on many others.
23. Honda recalling 18,000 cars to fix brakes - Friday, June 07, 2013
DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling more than 18,000 cars in the U.S. to fix problems with the brakes.
The recall affects more than 13,000 Acura RSX compact cars from 2006 and the Honda S2000 sports car from the 2006 and 2007 model years.
24. Southern Baptists address prisoners, trafficking - Friday, June 07, 2013
HOUSTON (AP) — The Southern Baptist Convention tackled topics at its annual meeting this week that seemed to show a concern for a broadening array of social issues, including human trafficking and the country's high rate of incarceration.
25. Discovering a new interest in Pinterest - Friday, June 14, 2013
Pinterest has been around a few years, and although it’s going full speed ahead, it’s not as popular as Facebook. A lot of people still don’t know what Pinterest is, and others have decided they don’t have time for another social media outlet.
26. More humorous quotes, some of which were accepted - Friday, June 14, 2013
Finishing what I started last week, here are more “humorous” quotes I came up with for use in a “new” puzzle game – and which the editors rejected. That I ultimately came up with 30 deemed acceptable now seems miraculous.
27. Speculating about the modern workplace - Friday, June 14, 2013
Anthropology is the study of humankind. Among other things, anthropologists try to figure out how groups of people have worked together throughout history in ways to increase the odds the group will survive and prosper.
28. Profitable websites begin with the right design elements - Friday, June 14, 2013
Every brand needs a Web presence to survive in the digital age, but how do you know that Web investment is actually performing?
The answer begins by shifting your focus from simply generating more traffic to generating more traffic that converts to actual business. Traffic that doesn’t convert has little value.
29. Officials explore options for Nashville congestion - Friday, June 07, 2013
NASHVILLE (AP) - A national traffic study shows congestion in Nashville has nearly doubled over the last three decades.
The 2012 Urban Mobility Report issued by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute says the congestion costs commuters money in lost time and extra fuel, as well as pollutes the region's air.
30. US budget deficit widens $139 billion in May - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government says the U.S. budget deficit widened in May by $139 billion, but the annual deficit stayed on track to finish below $1 trillion for the first time since 2008.
With the May increase, the deficit through the first eight months of this budget year totaled $626 billion. That's down $218 billion lower than the same period last year.
31. Jump in $1M-plus sales a good sign for market - Friday, June 14, 2013
The real estate market had an enemy of herculean strength in the Great Recession. One measure of how the market has recovered is the activity in the higher end, or properties that sell for $1 million or more.
32. New Myspace takes it back to the future - Friday, June 07, 2013
NASHVILLE (AP) - Tim and Chris Vanderhook think Myspace had it right - at one point. And they believe they've revived and improved that formula for success as the revamped first titan of social media debuts its latest incarnation.
33. Sales, demand up; Inventory problem remains - Friday, June 14, 2013
Too many buyers, not enough houses.
That’s how Realtors describe the Nashville region’s housing market, where many sellers are enjoying multiple offers and eager – or perhaps desperate – buyers are willing to pay more than the list price.
34. Getz: BRT plan would worsen West End traffic - Friday, June 14, 2013
The Metro Transit Authority’s plan for a bus rapid transit installation on Nashville’s East-West Corridor has two fundamental problems:
Removing two lanes from traffic dramatically increases congestion with adverse effects of residents and businesses.
35. Are we really that Amped? - Friday, June 14, 2013
For every person charged up over the arrival of The Amp, there seems to be another blowing a fuse over Nashville’s latest alternate transportation plan.
And despite Mayor Karl Dean’s steady public words of optimism about a 2016 launch, the skeptical continue to zap him with questions about funding, route location, ridership estimates and timing for the bus rapid transit project.
36. Hands-free texting still distracting for drivers - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — Using voice commands to send text messages and emails from behind the wheel, which is marketed as a safer alternative for drivers, actually is more distracting and dangerous than simply talking on a cellphone, a new AAA study found.
37. US: No plans to end broad surveillance program - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is weighing whether to charge a government contractor with leaking classified government secrets while it defends a much-criticized National Security Agency surveillance program as an indispensable tool for protecting Americans from terrorists.
38. Feds now back morning-after pills for all girls - Friday, June 07, 2013
NEW YORK (AP) — After setting off a storm of criticism from abortion rights groups upset that a Democratic president had sided with social conservatives, the Obama administration said it will comply with a judge's order to allow girls of any age to buy emergency contraception without prescriptions.
39. Senate passes farm bill, moving debate to House - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — The last time Congress passed a farm bill, Democrats had control of the House and the food stamp program was about half the size it is today.
That was five years ago.
Conservatives calling for an overhaul of the domestic food aid program will try to trim the nation's nearly $80 billion grocery bill when the House weighs in on farm legislation in a few weeks. The Senate overwhelmingly voted Monday to expand farm subsidies and make small cuts to food stamps in a five-year, half-trillion dollar measure. But passage in the House isn't expected to be so easy — or so bipartisan.
40. Apple revamps look of iPhone, iPad software - Friday, June 07, 2013
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple is throwing out most of the real-world graphical cues from its iPhone and iPad software, like the casino-green "felt" of its Game Center app, in what it calls the biggest update since the iPhone's launch in 2007.
41. S&P boosts outlook for US gov't's long-term debt - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — Standard & Poor's Ratings Services upgraded its outlook Monday for the U.S. government's long-term debt. S&P cited the government's strengthened finances, a recovering U.S. economy and some easing of Washington's political gridlock.
42. NSA contractor risks steep jail time for data leak - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — The man who gave classified documents to reporters, making public two sweeping U.S. surveillance programs and touching off a national debate on privacy versus security, has revealed his own identity. He risked decades in jail for the disclosures — if the U.S. can extradite him from Hong Kong where he says he has taken refuge.
43. McDonald's says cheap eats helped lift sales - Friday, June 07, 2013
NEW YORK (AP) — Cheap eats and new menu items helped McDonald's boost a key sales figure in May, bouncing back from a decline the previous month.
The world's biggest hamburger chain said Monday that global sales rose 2.6 percent at restaurants open at least a year, helped by an extra Friday in the month. In the U.S., the figure rose 2.4 percent, as the Dollar Menu and its new chicken wraps and egg white breakfast sandwiches lifted results.
44. A decade on, Southern Baptists adapt to new role - Friday, June 07, 2013
NASHVILLE (AP) — A decade ago, the Southern Baptist Convention was riding high. The president of the United States was a conservative evangelical Christian who personally addressed the group's annual meetings, either by satellite or video, at least four times in two terms, and SBC leaders were feeling their influence at the highest levels of government.
45. US consumer borrowing up $11.1 billion in April - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans borrowed more in April to attend college and buy cars and were a little less cautious with their credit cards than the previous month.
The Federal Reserve said Friday that consumer borrowing rose $11.1 billion in April from March to a seasonally adjusted $2.82 trillion. That's the 20th straight monthly gain and another record level.
46. Obama defends phone data collection program - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama vigorously defended sweeping secret surveillance into America's phone records and foreigners' Internet use, declaring "we have to make choices as a society."
47. US employers add 175K jobs, rate up to 7.6 pct. - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy added 175,000 jobs in May— a steady pace that shows strength in the face of tax increases and government spending cuts if not enough to reduce still-high unemployment.
48. US declassifies phone program details after uproar - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — Moving to tamp down a public uproar spurred by the disclosure of two secret surveillance programs, the nation's top intelligence official is declassifying key details about one of the programs while insisting the efforts were legal, limited in scope and necessary to detect terrorist threats.
49. Is Big Data turning government into 'Big Brother?' - Friday, June 07, 2013
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — With every phone call they make and every Web excursion they take, people are leaving a digital trail of revealing data that can be tracked by profit-seeking companies and terrorist-hunting government officials.
50. Wal-Mart plans $15B more in stock buybacks - Friday, June 07, 2013
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Wal-Mart's biggest news at its annual meeting on Friday was that the world's largest retailer will repurchase up to $15 billion of its shares at a time when the behemoth faces increased scrutiny from investors over its business overseas.
51. US gov't collecting huge number of phone records - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government is secretly collecting the telephone records of millions of U.S. customers of Verizon under a top-secret court order, according to the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The Obama administration is defending the National Security Agency's need to collect such records, but critics are calling it a huge over-reach.
52. IRS official: Lavish conference followed IRS rules - Friday, June 07, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — An Internal Revenue Service official at the center of the agency's latest scandal told lawmakers Thursday that an expensive conference held in 2010 conformed to existing rules, though he acknowledged it was not the best use of taxpayer money.
53. Oil rises above $96, tracking stock market - Friday, June 07, 2013
NEW YORK (AP) — The price of oil closed above $96 Friday, after the government said the economy added 175,000 jobs last month, a good sign for fuel demand.
Benchmark oil for July delivery gained $1.27, or 1.3 percent, to finish at $96.03 a barrel. Oil ended the week with a gain of 4.4 percent.
54. Nashville's WKRN part of media merger - Friday, June 07, 2013
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Broadcast companies Media General Inc. and New Young Broadcasting Holding Co. said Thursday that they are combining to create a company that will operate 30 TV stations in 27 markets including Nashville (WKRN, Channel 2), San Francisco and Richmond, Va.
55. Nashville's WKRN part of media merger - Friday, May 31, 2013
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Broadcast companies Media General Inc. and New Young Broadcasting Holding Co. said Thursday that they are combining to create a company that will operate 30 TV stations in 27 markets including Nashville (WKRN, Channel 2), San Francisco and Richmond, Va.
56. Average rate on 15-year US mortgage above 3 pct. - Friday, May 31, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — The average U.S. rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage rose above 3 percent this week for the first time in a year, while the rate on the 30-year fixed loan approached 4 percent.
57. Carrie Underwood takes video of year at CMT Awards - Friday, May 31, 2013
NASHVILLE (AP) - Carrie Underwood's awesome week got off to a roaring start at the CMT Music Awards.
Underwood won top honor video of the year Wednesday night for "Blown Away," capping the evening with an emotional tribute to Oklahoma tornado victims before taking the fan-voted award for the second year in a row. Miranda Lambert and Florida Georgia Line were the night's top winners with two awards apiece.
58. US unemployment benefit applications fall to 346K - Friday, May 31, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell 11,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 346,000, a level consistent with steady job growth.
The Labor Department said Thursday that applications dropped from 357,000 the previous week, which was revised up from an initially reported 354,000. The less volatile four-week average rose 4,500 to 352,500.
59. Horse slaughterhouse accuses USDA of IRS tactics - Friday, May 31, 2013
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A southeastern New Mexico company's plans to convert a cattle plant into a horse slaughterhouse has hit another roadblock, this time over an environmental dispute that the company's attorney blames on the Obama administration putting politics over policy.
60. IRS official: Lavish conference followed IRS rules - Friday, May 31, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — An Internal Revenue Service official at the center of the agency's latest scandal told lawmakers Thursday that an expensive conference held in 2010 conformed to existing rules, though he acknowledged it was not the best use of taxpayer money.
61. US gov't collecting huge number of phone records - Friday, May 31, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government is secretly collecting the telephone records of millions of U.S. customers of Verizon under a top-secret court order, according to the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The Obama administration is defending the National Security Agency's need to collect such records, but critics are calling it a huge over-reach.
62. US stocks turn lower in afternoon trading - Friday, May 31, 2013
NEW YORK (AP) — The stock market fell in afternoon trading Thursday, putting it in line for its first three-day loss this year.
The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 65 points to 14,895 as of 1:30 p.m., a drop of 0.4 percent. Chevron led the Dow lower, losing $2.29, or 2 percent, to $119.27.
63. Oil rises on positive reading on US job market - Friday, May 31, 2013
The price of oil rose to a high for the week after a positive reading on the U.S. job market.
By midday in New York, benchmark oil for July delivery was up $1.36 to $95.10 a barrel. Oil earlier rose as high as $95.32.
64. Tennessee colleges to see lowest tuition hike in years - Friday, May 31, 2013
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee college students will see a lower increase in tuition thanks to improved state funding.
The Tennessee Board of Regents Committee on Finance and Business Operations this week recommended increases of 3 percent for each of the state's 13 community colleges and 1.4 to 6 percent for the Regents' six universities.
65. Two stories, one great breakfast for grads - Friday, June 07, 2013
For the past few weeks, our family has been celebrating graduations: Kindergarten graduations, high school graduations and, this past Saturday evening, a college graduation.
Along with these graduations come the typical family get-together eating episodes. We have no problems with those. We have tasted a lot of tasty things, some new and some of the old standbys.
66. Gamer has little appreciation for great quotations - Friday, June 07, 2013
The posting sent to the members of the cruciverbal community read, “We’re looking for seasoned ... puzzle creators to help us build puzzles for our game, [which] uses a unique crossword-influenced style of word puzzle where the answers are hidden in ... famous quotations. We’re [a small outfit] and ... can’t create puzzles fast enough for the players.”
67. Playing it safe can be risky business - Friday, June 07, 2013
Ever since the Federal Reserve began its zero interest rate policies, investors have searched for higher yielding assets.
This makes sense. If you need income to run your household or make your pension distributions, you must locate investments that provide yield. If Treasury bonds will not, what will?
68. Gender matters in advertising - Friday, June 07, 2013
While the gender divide among men and women continues to narrow in regard to workforce equality, recent research from Nielsen NeuroFocus, reported by TechVibes, uncovers significant differences in the way men and women think and make purchase decisions. In fact, the mere manner in which the two genders process information is fundamentally different.
69. My kingdom for a house! Low supply hurts sales - Friday, June 07, 2013
The lack of inventory in the residential real estate market is driving many of the would-be buyers mad, forcing some to consider renting as an option. There, they find another obstacle: A roughly 2 percent vacancy rate.
70. Schools get in on LEED certification - Friday, June 07, 2013
An East Nashville middle school once marred by mold, asbestos and age is set to receive an almost full facelift that will add it to the list of Metro Nashville Public School’s “greenest” buildings.
71. Hit the Rhoades with solar-powered bike - Friday, June 07, 2013
If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly way to get around town, ride a bicycle.
Not everyone, of course, has the ability or desire to hit the open road alone on two wheels. But thanks to Hendersonville’s Rhoades Car International, anyone can enjoy riding without producing emissions.
72. Loans provide an incentive for businesses to save energy - Friday, June 07, 2013
Reducing energy usage can significantly reduce the cost of doing business.
Sounds good, but many companies feel overwhelmed and ill-equipped to make the often complicated – and sometimes costly – changes needed to redesign their energy consumption.
73. Cohousing a new twist on community living - Friday, June 07, 2013
Construction of Nashville’s first cohousing community is expected to begin at the end of the summer, adding yet another novelty to the increasingly fashionable Historic Germantown area.
A cohousing development consists of privately owned condominiums with green open spaces, a common house for get-togethers and neighborhood gatherings, and environmental sustainability as the mission for everyone involved.
74. Local designers meet demand for green goods - Friday, June 07, 2013
As a buyer for Whole Food’s Whole Body boutique in Green Hills, Marrion Mooney is having trouble keeping some items – organic cotton T-shirts, scarves made from natural fibers and dyes, and a line of cloth shoes – in stock.
75. Expect the unexpected at CMT Music Awards - Friday, May 31, 2013
NASHVILLE (AP) - Country music has been good to the rapper Nelly, and he's back in Music City because of it.
Nelly will perform the crossover hit "Cruise" with country duo Florida Georgia Line during the CMT Music Awards. The imaginary, but once impenetrable, lines between American music genres are blurring more each day, and Nelly's happy to serve as an eraser.
76. Dow drops 217 points to lowest level in a month - Friday, May 31, 2013
NEW YORK (AP) — A series of weak reports on the U.S. economy is sending the stock market sharply lower.
The Dow Jones industrial average plunged 217 points, its biggest drop in six weeks, to close at 14,960 Wednesday, a loss of 1.4 percent.
77. SEC to consider tougher rules for money funds - Friday, May 31, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — Investors could lose principal from money market investment funds that underperform under rules being proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. But the change would affect mainly institutional rather than individual investors.
78. Treasury to sell 30 million shares of GM stock - Friday, May 31, 2013
DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government plans to sell another 30 million shares of General Motors stock in a public offering on Thursday as it speeds up efforts to divest itself from a stake in the auto giant that it got in a bailout four years ago.
79. Oil price rises on drop in US supplies - Friday, May 31, 2013
NEW YORK (AP) — The price of oil rose Wednesday as a government report showed the nation's supplies of oil and gasoline declined last week.
Benchmark oil for July delivery was up 73 cents to $94.04 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
80. Memphis losing Delta hub - Friday, May 31, 2013
Memphis is losing its status as a passenger hub for Delta Air Lines.
Delta executives announced Tuesday the Atlanta-based airline will cut service to Memphis International Airport to approximately 60 daily flights starting in September, down from 92.
81. Chrysler refuses US request to recall vehicles - Friday, May 31, 2013
DETROIT (AP) — A defiant Chrysler is refusing to recall about 2.7 million Jeeps the government says are at risk of a fuel tank fire in a rear-end collision.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sent Chrysler a letter asking that the company voluntarily recall Jeep Grand Cherokees from 1993 through 2004 and Jeep Libertys from 2002 through 2007.
82. Ryman Hospitality lowers full-year forecast - Friday, May 31, 2013
NASHVILLE (AP) - Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc., owner of Gaylord Opryland and the Grand Ole Opry, is lowering a key full-year forecast partly because of slowing hotel bookings.
83. US trade deficit up 8.5 percent to $40.3 billion - Friday, May 31, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. trade deficit widened in April, as demand for foreign cars, cell phones and other imported goods outpaced growth in U.S. exports.
The Commerce Department said Tuesday that the trade gap rose 8.5 percent in April from March to $40.3 billion.
84. Top political appointees use secret email accounts - Friday, May 31, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — Some of President Barack Obama's political appointees, including the secretary for Health and Human Services, are using secret government email accounts they say are necessary to prevent their inboxes from being overwhelmed with unwanted messages, according to a review by The Associated Press.
85. US blames Apple for 2010 e-book price hike - Friday, May 31, 2013
NEW YORK (AP) — A U.S. government lawyer opened a civil trial by portraying Apple Inc. as a corporate bully that swaggered into the market for electronic books in 2010, forcing an end to price competition and costing consumers hundreds of millions of dollars.
86. Oil falls slightly, supply data eyed - Friday, May 31, 2013
NEW YORK (AP) — The price of oil fell slightly Tuesday as traders awaited the latest report on oil supplies and gasoline demand.
Benchmark oil for July delivery fell 14 cents to finish at $93.31 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
87. US auto sales roar back in May, led by pickups - Friday, May 31, 2013
DETROIT (AP) — Full-size pickups once again dominated U.S. auto sales in May, as small businesses — increasingly confident in the economy — raced to replace the aging pickups they held on to during the recession.
88. New technology aids impaired moviegoers - Friday, May 31, 2013
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Regal Entertainment Group is installing new equipment in its theaters that will help people with vision or hearing impairments enjoy the movies.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reports (http://bit.ly/13fHt43) that this summer Regal will begin providing eyeglasses that use holographic technology to project closed-captioning at about 6,000 screens across the country.
89. US manufacturing gauge sinks to June 2009 level - Friday, May 31, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — A measure of U.S. manufacturing fell in May to its lowest level since June 2009 as slumping overseas economies and weak business spending reduced new orders and production.
The Institute for Supply Management said Monday that its index of manufacturing activity fell to 49 last month from 50.7 in April. That's the lowest level in nearly four years and the first time the index has dipped below 50 since November. A reading under 50 indicates contraction.
90. Oil rises above $93 in European trade - Friday, May 31, 2013
NEW YORK (AP) — The price of oil rose above $93 a barrel on Monday at the start of a week that is jam-packed with economic data, culminating in Friday's U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for May.
By afternoon in New York, benchmark oil for July delivery was up $1.41 at $93.38 a barrel. On Friday, the Nymex contact fell $1.64 to close at $91.97.
91. US auto sales see big gains in May - Friday, May 31, 2013
DETROIT (AP) — Price cuts at Nissan and strong demand for pickup trucks helped U.S. auto sales rebound in May after a slight dip in April.
General Motors reported its strongest monthly sales since September of 2008. Chrysler, Ford, and Toyota also reported increases. Nissan Motor Co. notched its highest May sales ever after cutting prices on seven popular models early in the month. Only Volkswagen said sales fell compared with May of last year.
92. Private firm to benefit from state leases - Friday, May 31, 2013
NASHVILLE (AP) - A real estate services firm that recommended Tennessee government unload some state-owned office buildings will benefit financially as the state leases space in the private market.
93. Measure of US consumer confidence at six-year high - Friday, May 31, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — A measure of U.S. consumer confidence jumped to its highest level in almost six years in May, lifted by rising home prices and record stock market gains. Greater confidence could help revive spending in coming months.
94. OPEC keeps oil output target at 30 million barrels - Friday, May 31, 2013
VIENNA (AP) — OPEC oil ministers reached quick agreement Friday on keeping output targets steady but deferred solutions on how to deal with surging U.S. shale oil production and internal rivalries denting the organization's image of unity.
95. Social Security, Medicare still face big challenge - Friday, May 31, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — As the U.S. recovery slowly gathers steam, federal deficits are finally coming down from their nosebleed $1 trillion-plus heights. That will postpone until fall a new budget showdown between Congress and the White House — and also will probably delay the days of reckoning, feared by millions of aging Americans, when Social Security and Medicare could become insolvent.
96. Iran says sanctions not affecting oil production - Friday, May 31, 2013
VIENNA (AP) — Iran's oil minister shrugged off the effects of sanctions on its oil industry on Friday, claiming that a drop in crude exports was being made up for by international sales of gasoline and other refined products.
97. Stocks on track to close out May with gains - Friday, May 31, 2013
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are on track to close out the month with a strong gain, confounding the Wall Street adage of "Sell in May and go away."
The Dow Jones industrial average is on track to advance for a sixth straight month. The Standard & Poor's 500 index is set to gain for a seventh straight month, its longest winning streak since 2009.
98. Microsoft aims to simplify with Windows 8.1 - Friday, May 24, 2013
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Microsoft is trying to fix what it got wrong with its radical makeover of Windows. It's making the operating system easier to navigate and enabling users to set up the software so it starts in a more familiar format designed for personal computers.
99. US economy grew at modest 2.4 pct. rate in Q1 - Friday, May 24, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a modest 2.4 percent annual rate from January through March, slightly slower than initially estimated. Consumer spending was stronger than first thought, but businesses restocked more slowly and state and local government spending cuts were deeper.
100. AP sources: Obama to name ex-Bush aide to head FBI - Friday, May 24, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is prepared to nominate James Comey, a former Bush administration official with bipartisan credentials, as the next FBI director. In a possible warning sign, the top Republican on the Senate committee that would review the nomination said Comey would face questions about his ties to Wall Street.