Government And Institutions

Most Asian stock markets rose Wednesday as investors anticipated European policymakers would soon unleash more stimulus while Chinese shares extended their rebound following a steep plunge at the start of the week.

Authorities scrambled to decontaminate a water system serving 6,000 eastern Montana residents after a cancer-causing component of oil was found downstream of a Yellowstone River pipeline spill.

The Internal Revenue Service has auctioned off for $1.3 million the deferred compensation agreement that was part of Darryl Strawberry's 1985-90 contact with the New York Mets.

House Speaker Mark Eves and other Democratic lawmakers launched a "jobs tour" on Wednesday at Pratt & Whitney's manufacturing facility, part of an effort to promote proposals for an economic boost.

Lawyers for U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson sought on Wednesday to revive the Wisconsin Republican's challenge to the federal health care overhaul, arguing before an appellate panel that he was indeed harmed by executive rules associated with the legislation.

Lower gas prices have had an added bonus in Minnesota beyond fatter wallets: Train traffic is leveling off, giving regulators space to refocus on safety issues, a state railroad official told lawmakers Wednesday.

A Republican-led House committee passed legislation over Democratic objections Wednesday aimed at securing the U.S. border with Mexico within five years.

Here are details from the $141.6 billion state budget proposal announced Wednesday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo: TAXES: — Small-business tax cut would reduce rate for 42,000 businesses from 6.5 percent to 2.5 percent over three years.

The government is pushing the poultry industry to make their chicken and turkey a little safer with new standards aimed at reducing the number of cases of foodborne illness by 50,000 a year.

Gov. Nikki Haley will use part of her State of the State address Wednesday to promote South Carolina's anti-union reputation and try to kill efforts to unionize Boeing's North Charleston plant.

More than 80 state lawmakers have joined a long list of advocates urging New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to include a big boost in spending among any education proposals he lays out in his combined budget and State of the State address.

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

Democratic and Republican plans to help Atlantic City recover from its eight-year losing streak are clashing as Gov. Chris Christie will convene a third summit on the struggling resort's future.

Big bang or disappointment? Markets are waiting to see just how much financial firepower the European Central Bank will unleash Thursday, when it is expected to announce large-scale purchases of government bonds with newly printed money to stimulate a sluggish economy.

The city is hoping for both a short-term and long-term economic boost from the upcoming 2015 NHL All-Star weekend.

Asian stock markets meandered Thursday ahead of a well telegraphed announcement later in the day of additional European Central Bank stimulus.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson's campaign promise to reduce income taxes for thousands of middle-class residents advanced to a Senate vote Wednesday, after lawmakers amended the proposal to repeal a $21 million capital gains tax cut approved two years ago.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon plans to propose a $50 million increase in basic school aid during Wednesday's State of the State address, but some education groups already have concerns that it won't be enough to avoid potential cuts.

Wal-Mart is launching a service allowing customers to pick up their tax refunds in cash at its stores.

Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills were mixed in Tuesday's auction with rates on three-month bills unchanged while rates on six-month bills dipped to the lowest level since late November.