Government And Institutions

A federal appeals court has revived a constitutional challenge to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the federal office created to protect consumers in financial dealings with banks, lenders and credit card companies.

A Cook County judge has thrown out a 2014 law aimed at reducing multibillion-dollar shortfalls in two Chicago pension funds.

Gov. Sam Brownback expects to outline spending cuts next week to help prevent Kansas from having a deficit within the next year, his top spokeswoman said Friday, as his office announced expanded duties for his top budget adviser.

Would a reduction from five health insurance giants to three trigger a flashing light for regulators concerned about industry competition? That's how many big companies could remain after the proposed combinations of Anthem with Cigna and Aetna with Humana, and experts say it would at a minimum bring close scrutiny of the deals.

Anthem is buying rival Cigna in a deal valued at $54.2 billion that will create the nation's largest health insurer by enrollment, covering about 53 million patients in the U.S.

Momentum is building for a $15-an-hour minimum wage in Connecticut, at least for some workers, given the formation of a new low-wage worker advisory panel and this week's recommendation to raise pay for fast-food workers in neighboring New York, according to some state lawmakers and activists.

Looking at the big picture, the financial health of Social Security and Medicare doesn't appear to have worsened.

A Senate panel has voted to make it easier for businesses that legally produce and sell marijuana to do business with banks and other financial services providers.

UPPAbaby is recalling 71,000 strollers and seats because of a choking hazard, saying children could bite off a piece of the stroller's foam crossbar, according to federal regulators.

The government's biggest small business loan program is on hold after running out of money.

Puerto Rico's power company has rejected a new proposal from a bondholders group that calls for an $8.1 billion debt exchange amid growing concerns the public agency could be the first one in the U.S. territory to go bankrupt.

As President Barack Obama returns to Africa this week, his signature program to help the continent double its access to electricity is in jeopardy, undermined by Congress' refusal to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank.

As President Barack Obama returns to Africa this week, his major initiative to help the continent double access to electricity is in jeopardy, undermined by Congress.

Greece's radical left-led government emerged bloodied but alive early Thursday from a key vote in parliament, which overwhelmingly approved new creditor-demanded reforms despite a revolt among hardliners in the main coalition partner.

Lax oversight at the IRS increases the risk that political and religious groups could be unfairly targeted for audits, government investigators say in a report that raises concerns about an IRS division that has been under scrutiny for singling out conservative organizations.

Figures on government spending and debt (last six digits are eliminated).

The European Union has opened an antitrust case against six major U.S. movie studios for preventing British satellite broadcaster Sky from showing their products outside the U.K. and Ireland.

General Motors Co. is looking past last year's safety recalls of 36 million vehicles worldwide as recall costs continue to shrink.

The Labor Department reports on the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits last week at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Thursday.

States could no longer require labels on genetically modified foods under legislation the House is considering.