Transportation

The new Republican-led Congress convenes Tuesday with GOP leaders eager to get President Barack Obama's signature on some bills and to confront him with others.

In the first Republican-dominated Congress to confront President Barack Obama, GOP leaders will focus on bolstering the economy and cutting the budget — and oh yes, avoiding self-inflicted calamities that make voters wonder if the party can govern competently.

When American freight trains delivered cargo after World War II, the steam-belching beasts commonly had seven people aboard — an engineer, a conductor, up to four brakemen and a fireman.

Illinois farm groups are looking to Cuba as a growing market for corn, soybeans, pork and other products the state produces, and they see the state's access to rail and river transportation as an advantage to trade with the Caribbean island nation of 11 million consumers.

Michigan voters would be asked to approve a 1 percentage point hike in the 6 percent state sales tax as part of an estimated $1.6 billion road and school funding deal announced Thursday by Gov. Rick Snyder and legislative leaders.

Daimler AG says it's booking a 600 million-euro ($748 million) charge related to European Union antitrust proceedings against commercial vehicle makers.

Gov. Rick Snyder and legislative leaders meet Wednesday to continue negotiating a potential tax increase to improve Michigan's roads, as chances rise that no deal will be struck before lawmakers adjourn for the year.

Overlooking the State Route 520 floating bridge project, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday unveiled a proposal he said would address the state's most pressing transportation needs — fixing bridges and roads and boosting the ferry system while cleaning the air and water.

The price of oil has fallen by nearly half in just six months, a surprising and steep plunge that has consumers cheering, producers howling and economists wringing their hands over whether this is a good or bad thing.

Wisconsin's most powerful business lobbying group is calling on the Legislature to pass a right-to-work law, something Republican Gov. Scott Walker has repeatedly said distracts from his agenda.

Korean Air found itself in the spotlight this week when the chairman's daughter, an executive at the carrier, forced a crew member to leave the plane after she was served snack nuts improperly.

The Supreme Court seems divided on whether Amtrak was allowed to help craft federal regulations over the use of railroad tracks.

Puerto Rico's governor said late Sunday that lawmakers have reached a last-minute agreement on a proposed oil tax increase and that public transportation will not be paralyzed as previously planned.

South Dakota farmers are nearing the end of a record corn harvest this week, but they have serious concerns about grain prices, storage options and rail congestion heading into spring.

Puerto Rico's government is preparing to paralyze public transportation across the U.S. territory following a legislative impasse over a proposed oil tax increase meant to strengthen a debt-ridden transportation agency amid growing bankruptcy concerns.

A Washoe County District Court judge granted the state's request late Tuesday for a court order blocking the ride-sharing company Uber Technologies from operating unregulated in Nevada, saying Uber's refusal to comply with the necessary state licensing requirements could put the public's safety at risk.

Indiana Supreme Court justices quizzed lawyers in a case over school busing fees Monday about the limit of the state's constitutional guarantee of a free public education.

Asian stocks rose Monday after China's surprise interest rate cut as investors looked ahead to European inflation data due out this week and OPEC meeting to discuss oil production levels.

Federal regulators studying a deadly New York derailment are considering proposals and recommendations following five accidents related to the Metro-North Railroad.

The city of Rockford is considering a publicly funded partnership with Uber, the company whose GPS-based smartphone app connects people with the nearest taxi or rideshare car at the click of a button.