Government And Institutions

The State of Washington has reached a $63 million agreement with nine LCD manufacturers accused of fixing prices for products ranging from flat-screen televisions to computers and cellphones, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced on Friday.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (SHOO'-mur) has accused House Speaker John Boehner (BAY'-nur) of "massive ignorance" about rail safety and wants Congress to pay for rail infrastructure improvements after Amtrak's deadly derailment.

When I realized I was paying off six different credit cards and not getting anywhere, I decided to consolidate my debt, like millions of other Americans.

New Jersey's two U.S. senators renewed the call Friday for long-term funding for rail improvements they said are desperately needed to ensure safety and economic competitiveness.

A northeastern Pennsylvania judge has ruled that more than 2,000 people can take the owners of 16 McDonald's restaurants to court over their practice of paying employees with fee-laden debit cards.

Facing opposition from key Senate Democrats, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker again appealed to the Legislature to support key elements of his proposed overhaul of the struggling Boston-area transit system, warning that "marginal changes" would do little to improve it.

When running for office, future Gov. Bruce Rauner regularly pledged to bring unprecedented transparency to state government as part of the Republican's campaign to turn around the Illinois economy.

Foreign holdings of U.S. debt rose in March as China ramped up its purchases and displaced Japan as the leading owner of U.S. Treasury securities.

Michigan tax revenues are projected to be $365 million higher over two years than previously estimated, mostly because of economic growth — prompting key lawmakers to suggest Friday that much or all of the surplus money go toward fixing bumpy roads.

Fitch Ratings is the latest agency to weigh in on Chicago's credit worthiness, setting the city's debt rating above the junk status given by Moody's Investors Service.

Siding with one of the largest fruit farms in the nation, a California appeals court ruled unconstitutional a state law that labor activists say is key to helping farm workers improve their working conditions.

Beset by power plant closures and changes in how they pay royalties, coal mines are facing a new obstacle — a review of how coal extracted and burned will impact the air and global warming.

Minnesota's legislative leaders announced late Friday that they were closing in on a sweeping deal for a new two-year budget that pumps more than $400 million into public schools and preserves a health care program for the working poor, but likely leaves a transportation funding plan and a package of tax cuts until next year.

Shares of Avon were halted three times in volatile trading after a regulatory filing announcing an $8 billion takeover bid for company came under scrutiny.

Oklahoma legislative committees Thursday approved separate $25 million bond proposals to complete the unfinished American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City and build the proposed Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture in Tulsa.

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

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau opened a public inquiry Thursday into student loan servicing practices that it says can make paying back loans "stressful or harmful." Private and federal student loan debt totals more than $1.2 trillion.

The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits ticked lower last week, pushing down the four-week average of applications to its lowest level since April 2000.

A law banning price-fixing for contact lenses that took effect this week in Utah is a setback for the nation's largest manufacturers that could have ripple effects across the country amid an increasingly bitter fight with discount retailers.

The Treasury Department will release its report on the federal budget for April at 2 p.m. Eastern Tuesday.