US fails to protect child workers: Human Rights Watch

NEW YORK – The US is failing to protect hundreds of thousands of children engaged in often gruelling and dangerous farm work, Human Rights Watch has said.

Human Rights Watch called on Congress to amend a federal law that permits children under age 18 to work for hire in agriculture at far younger ages, …. Source article  : US fails to protect child workers: Human Rights Watch.

Venezuela’s annual inflation rate surpasses 30 percent; prices jump 5.2 percent in April

Venezuela annual inflation rate hits 30 percent

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela’s annual inflation rate has surpassed 30 percent after consumer prices surged in April.
The Central Bank and National Statistics Institute on Friday reported a 5.2 percent increase in consumer prices during April, driving up the annual rate to 30.4 percent.
President Hugo Chavez’s government has been struggling …. Source  : Venezuela’s annual inflation rate surpasses 30 percent; prices jump 5.2 percent in April.

Effort in Kansas Senate aimed at reviving racing becomes mired in dispute over smoking ban

Kan. Senate work on gambling mired in smoking fuss

TOPEKA, Kan. – An effort in the Kansas Senate to revive the state’s dog- and horse-racing industry became mired Friday night in a contentious debate over banning smoking in state-owned casinos.
The Senate spent five hours debating a bill designed to make slot machines more profitable for the [..] Read the original article: here.

Big 2 in Britain’s inconclusive election woo third party as market’s press for quick result

Big parties woo kingmaker in Britain’s election

LONDON – Britain’s inconclusive election turned into high political drama Friday, with the Conservatives and Labour Party wooing a potential ally as the markets pressed for results and a public accustomed to clearer outcomes watched transfixed.
Conservative leader David Cameron, ahead but shy of a majority, seized the initiative with … Read more >>.

Head of Chicago area’s rail system kills self by stepping in front of train, officials say

Ill. rail chief dies in apparent suicide by train

CHICAGO – Authorities say the executive director of the Chicago area’s Metra commuter rail service has died of an apparent suicide after he stepped into the path of one of his agency’s trains.
Phil Pagano was under investigation into allegations that he received an unapproved $56,000 bonus. McHenry …. Source  : Head of Chicago area’s rail system kills self by stepping in front of train, officials say.

Resurgence of market’s fear gauge suggests volatility likely to linger

Warning from Wall Street’s fear gauge: Buckle up

BOSTON – Expect stock market volatility to stick around at least another month. Investors can say goodbye to calm they recently began to enjoy.
That’s the message from the market’s fear gauge, formally known as the Chicago Board of Options Exchange’s Volatility Index.
The VIX surged again Friday, to post … Read : Resurgence of market’s fear gauge suggests volatility likely to linger.

Regulators shut down banks in Fla., Minn., Ariz., Calif.; brings total failures to 68 in 2010

FDIC shuts banks in Fla., Minn., Ariz., Calif.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Regulators on Friday shut down banks in Florida, Minnesota, Arizona and California, bringing the number of U.S. bank failures to 68 this year.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took over The Bank of Bonifay, based in Bonifay, Fla., which had $242.9 million in assets and $230.2 …. Source article  : Regulators shut down banks in Fla., Minn., Ariz., Calif.; brings total failures to 68 in 2010.

Big 5 Sporting Goods shares fall in Friday trading despite posting strong 1st-quarter results

Big 5 Sporting Goods stock falls despite strong 1Q

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Shares of Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. fell sharply Friday despite reporting an 82 percent jump in first-quarter profit that beat Wall Street expectations.
The discount retailer late Thursday posted net income for the three months ended April 1 of $5 million, or 23 … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Big 5 Sporting Goods shares fall in Friday trading despite posting strong 1st-quarter results.

Summary Box: Treasurys ease on stronger economic data; Greek debt crisis fuels volatile trade

Summary Box: Bond prices ease in bumpy trading

TURNAROUND: Interest rates edged higher in the bond market Friday as positive jobs data raised expectations about the U.S. economy. Greece’s debt crisis fuels volatile trading.
ECONOMIC NEWS: The Labor Department reported that employers added 290,000 jobs in April, far more than economists expected. The jobless rate rose to …. Source article  : Summary Box: Treasurys ease on stronger economic data; Greek debt crisis fuels volatile trade.

Ill. Democrats fumble for budget plan that can pass as they try to address deficit and adjourn

Ill. Dems fumble for budget plan that can pass

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Democratic leaders struggled to put together a mix of budget maneuvers Friday that would close a $13 billion deficit, or at least disguise it, and still attract enough votes to pass.
Gov. Pat Quinn huddled for hours with House Democrats but emerged without any breakthrough. …. Original source  : Ill. Democrats fumble for budget plan that can pass as they try to address deficit and adjourn.

Regulators shut down banks in Florida, Minnesota; brings total failures to 66 this year

Regulators close banks in Florida, Minnesota

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Regulators on Friday shut down banks in Florida and Minnesota, bringing the number of U.S. bank failures this year to 66.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took over The Bank of Bonifay, based in Bonifay, Fla., which had $242.9 million in assets and $230.2 million in deposits as … Read more »».

3 critically ill in E. coli outbreak of strain; FDA investigating Ariz. lettuce farm

FDA investigating E. coli at Ariz. lettuce farm

WASHINGTON – Lettuce grown in Yuma, Ariz. may be the source of a widespread E. coli outbreak in romaine lettuce that has sickened at least 19 people and prompted a recall in 23 states.
Federal investigators are looking at a farm in Yuma as a possible source for the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Auto parts supplier Visteon proposes new reorganization plan

Visteon proposes new reorganization plan
DOVER, Del. – Auto parts supplier Visteon has agreed to give senior noteholders control of the company if they can raise more than $1 billion to pay off secured lenders.

A revised bankruptcy reorganization plan filed in Delaware calls for a $300 million purchase commitment and a $950 million stock rights offering …. Source  : Auto parts supplier Visteon proposes new reorganization plan.

Companies crank up hiring by most in 4 years, boosting recovery, but unemployment rate rises

Burst of hiring aids recovery, but long slog ahead

WASHINGTON – The economy got what it needed in April: A burst of hiring that added a net 290,000 jobs, the biggest monthly total in four years. It showed employers are gaining confidence as the recovery takes deeper root.
But people who had given up on finding jobs …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Companies crank up hiring by most in 4 years, boosting recovery, but unemployment rate rises.

Territorial Savings Bank had net income of $1.4 million in first quarter

Territorial Savings Bank posts profit
HONOLULU – The holding company parent of Territorial Savings Bank has announced net income of $1.5 million, or 13 cents per share, for the three months ended March 31.

Territorial Bancorp Inc. said Friday that was down from $2.7 million for the same quarter last year.
The company says this year’s earnings were … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Territorial Savings Bank had net income of $1.4 million in first quarter.

Stymied by $13 billion deficit, Illinois Democrats miss self-imposed budget deadline

Ill. Democrats miss self-imposed budget deadline

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Democratic legislative leaders missed their self-imposed deadline for passing a new budget Friday and sent lawmakers home until they can figure out a solution to the state’s $13 billion deficit.
“Our business is not finished,” House Speaker Michael Madigan told lawmakers before adjournment. “When we are prepared to …. Original article  : Stymied by $13 billion deficit, Illinois Democrats miss self-imposed budget deadline.

Regulators, market officials sift through trades for cause of record Wall Street plunge

Regulators search for clues to market plunge

NEW YORK – Regulators and Wall Street officials went through millions of trades one by one Friday and canceled thousands as they sought to explain a record plunge in the stock market, undo damage and keep it from happening again.
It wasn’t clear how long the laborious process would take … Read more : Regulators, market officials sift through trades for cause of record Wall Street plunge.

Consumer borrowing unexpectedly rises in March, only the second increase in last 14 months

Consumer borrowing posts unexpected rise in March

WASHINGTON – Consumer borrowing posted an unexpected increase in March, only the second gain in the last 14 months. It could be a sign that households are feeling more confident about boosting spending, a key development needed to support a sustained economic recovery.
The Federal Reserve reported Friday that consumer … Read : Consumer borrowing unexpectedly rises in March, only the second increase in last 14 months.

Las Vegas jury orders drug companies to pay $500M in punitive damages in hepatitis C case

Jury awards $500M punitive damages in hep C case

LAS VEGAS – A jury in Las Vegas ordered two drug companies to pay a combined $500 million in punitive damages in the first of hundreds of civil cases stemming from a hepatitis C outbreak two years ago.
The Clark County District Court jury on Friday ordered Teva …. Read the original article  : Las Vegas jury orders drug companies to pay $500M in punitive damages in hepatitis C case.

Another wild ride: Stocks stumble again, a day after Dow’s biggest plunge, as Europe weighs

Stocks slide anew, but it’s still not a correction

NEW YORK – The stock market’s wild ride may not be over yet.
The Dow Jones industrials whipsawed again Friday, a day after their largest one-day plunge. The average was down as much as 279 points in the morning, went briefly into the black around lunchtime, then ended … Read more : Another wild ride: Stocks stumble again, a day after Dow’s biggest plunge, as Europe weighs.