Wash Post Business

A Fight for Ordinary Peace

Rajiv Chandrasekaran — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

NAWA, Afghanistan -- Most of the mud-brick stalls that line the street in this sweltering town on the Helmand River closed down a year ago when Taliban fighters began swaggering through the bazaar, levying taxes on merchants and seeding the roads with homemade bombs. Shopkeepers placed their ware...

Va. Gubernatorial Candidates Keep Low Profiles

Anita Kumar — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

RICHMOND -- The two candidates running for governor of Virginia have spent the first month of their race all but absent from the campaign trail, an unusual strategy at this point in any election but especially so for a tossup contest with national implications.

Book Review: 'Belching Out the Devil' by Mark Thomas

Post — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

As journalism, "Belching Out the Devil" does for soda what Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation" did for the hamburger.

Everyday Life Can Be an Economic Indicator

Candice Lee Jones — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Everyone is scrambling to get their fingers on the pulse of the economy. When will it turn around? Have we seen the worst? The answers may not be as elusive as you might think. You'll find clues in everyday life to help determine where the economy really stands:

Jackson's Other Legacy: A Savvy Estate Plan

Jane Bennett Clark — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

For a guy who squandered millions, Michael Jackson did something surprisingly sensible before his death: He set up a smart estate plan.

Stimulus Funds and a New Tax Benefit Help Smooth the Bike Ride to Work

Louis Jones — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The federal government just made it easier for you to ride your bike to work.

With Bankruptcy Behind It, GM Focuses on a Culture Change

Peter Whoriskey — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

General Motors emerged from bankruptcy yesterday, with chief executive Fritz Henderson promising that the fallen corporate giant will be revived and that "business as usual is over."

Despite Washington's Enthusiasm, Recession and Regulations Slow Wind Projects

Jonathan Starkey — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The Obama administration has made offshore wind energy a priority and an important part of its plans to create jobs and combat climate change, but even such favorable political breezes have not been strong enough to propel the nation's first projects.

White House Eyes Bank Bailout Funds to Aid Small Businesses

David Cho — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The Obama administration is developing an initiative to take money from the $700 billion rescue program for the banking system and make it available to millions of small businesses, which officials say are essential to any economic recovery because they employ so many people, according to sources...

AIG, U.S. Talks Focus on $250 Million in Bonuses for 2010

Brady Dennis — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

American International Group's recent discussions with President Obama's compensation czar have centered on whether the company should pay about $250 million in promised bonuses that come due during the next nine months.

Lori Montgomery — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:30:01 EDT

House Democrats agreed today to raise taxes on the wealthy to pay for a sweeping expansion of the nation's health-care system, proposing a surtax on the highest earners that could send the top federal tax rate toward 45 percent.

AIG in Talks With U.S. Over Another $250 Million in Bonuses

Brady Dennis — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:24:00 EDT

AIG, U.S. Focus on Bonuses For 2010

Brady Dennis — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:23:01 EDT

Democrats Agree on Tax Hike to Fund Health Care

Lori Montgomery — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

House Democrats agreed yesterday to raise taxes on the wealthy to pay for a sweeping expansion of the nation's health-care system, proposing a surtax on the highest earners that could send the top federal tax rate toward 45 percent.

Geithner Touts Plan to Rein In Derivatives

Zachary A. Goldfarb — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner urged lawmakers yesterday to pass the Obama administration's plan to regulate derivatives, the exotic financial instruments that exacerbated the financial crisis.

AIG in Talks With U.S. Over Another $250 Million in Bonuses

Brady Dennis — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:15:57 EDT

Putting Minority Investing Habits In Context

Michelle Singletary — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

For more than a decade, Chicago-based Ariel Investments has examined the investing habits of African Americans. The company has made it part of its mission to increase minority participation in the stock market and 401(k) plans so minority investors will have a secure retirement.

Rosetta Stone Suing Google Over Advertisers' Trademark Use

Cecilia Kang — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Rosetta Stone, the Arlington language-learning software firm, said yesterday it has filed a lawsuit against Google for trademark infringement, alleging the Internet search giant allowed other companies to use Rosetta Stone's trademark brand for online advertisements without permission.

Marriott to Maintain Benefits for Full-Timers

V. Dion Haynes — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Marriott International yesterday said it will allow full-time workers relegated to part-time status to keep their health benefits, a move aimed at easing the pain for employees affected by the recession.

Laundry That Fits Apartments

Ted Knutson — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

For anyone renting or buying an apartment on a budget, real estate is all about compromise. To afford a better neighborhood, the things that get sacrificed often are non-essential amenities such as a fireplace, a balcony or an in-unit washer and dryer.

Coming Up Short, More And More

Renae Merle — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

More than two years into the housing crisis, lenders are beginning to allow more troubled homeowners to unload their homes for less than they owe.

G-8 Nations Promise $20 Billion in Food Aid for Poor Countries

Michael A. Fletcher — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

L'AQUILA, Italy, July 10 -- Wrapping up a three-day summit, leaders of the world's major economies pledged Friday to raise $20 billion to fund food and agricultural aid for the world's poorest countries over the next three years, and President Obama said that despite steps forward on economic,...

Stocks Wrap Up Week With Another Loss

Renae Merle — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:42:01 EDT

Stocks languished today, leaving Wall Street with another weekly loss as investors wait for signs an economic recovery will materialize this year.

Bank Repayments to U.S. Government May Shortchange Taxpayers, Report Says

Amit R. Paley — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The banks participating in the federal bailout program could end up repaying the government as much as $2.1 billion less than taxpayers are entitled to under a plan being implementing by the Obama administration, according to a new congressional oversight report.

Falling Number of New Households Could Prolong Recession

Annys Shin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The number of people setting up their own households has fallen to some of the lowest levels in a generation, a trend that threatens to prolong the recession.

AIG Seeks Federal Blessing for Another Round of Bonuses

Brady Dennis and David Cho — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

American International Group is preparing to pay millions of dollars more in bonuses to several dozen top corporate executives after an earlier round of payments four months ago set off a national furor.

An Ugly Time for Fashion as Spinoff Chains Struggle

Ylan Q. Mui — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Opening more stores wasn't enough for retailers during boom times. They wanted to create new forms of life.

Reports Leave Economic Picture as Clear as Mud

Post — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Investors looking for clear signs the economy is beginning to stabilize yesterday instead found more ambiguity in various economic reports. That, along with a slump in crude oil prices, left stocks flat, with the Dow Jones industrial average squeezing out a gain of just 0.2 percent to close at 81...

Director of SEC Inspections Office Resigns

Zachary A. Goldfarb — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A senior Securities and Exchange Commission official who oversaw an office that conducted key probes of Bernard L. Madoff's business is resigning, following a period when the agency reevaluated how it conducts oversight of brokers and investment advisers.

Treasury Dials Back Plan to Aid Banks

David Cho and Binyamin Appelbaum — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The Obama administration's program to help relieve banks of their toxic securities, once touted by officials as critical to reviving the financial system, was instead unveiled yesterday as a modest safety net aimed at preventing the banking sector from suffering a relapse.

Ritz Camera Warns of Possible Liquidation

V. Dion Haynes and Emma L. Carew — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Ritz Camera, the ubiquitous national photo chain that got its start as an Atlantic City portrait studio 91 years ago, said yesterday it is unable to raise the cash it needs to operate through the summer.

High-Priced F-22 Fighter Has Major Shortcomings

R. Jeffrey Smith — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The United States' top fighter jet, the Lockheed Martin F-22, has recently required more than 30 hours of maintenance for every hour in the skies, pushing its hourly cost of flying to more than $44,000, a far higher figure than for the warplane it replaces, confidential Pentagon test results show.

Nations Agree To Curb Emissions

Michael A. Fletcher and David A. Fahrenthold — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

L'AQUILA, Italy, July 9 -- Leaders of the world's major economies on Thursday formally embraced limiting the rise in the Earth's average temperatures but declined to set numerical targets for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.

White House Prods Banks to Back Mortgage Program

Renae Merle — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The Obama administration yesterday scolded the heads of the country's largest banks, urging them to move faster and do more to help millions of distressed homeowners under a federal foreclosure prevention program.

Congress Targets Wealthiest Earners for Health Reform Funds

Shailagh Murray — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

House and Senate negotiators are looking to wealthy individuals to pay much of the $1 trillion price tag for their plan to reform health care, though they are struggling to agree on the most viable option for obtaining that new revenue.

Fed Role Protecting Consumers Debated

Neil Irwin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Some economists with ties to the Federal Reserve are recommending that the central bank be stripped of its powers to protect consumers, in contrast to the positions of Chairman Ben S. Bernanke and other Fed leaders.

MCR's New Owner Seeks Broader Contracting Portfolio

Terri Rupar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A Chicago investment firm has made its first move into the government contracting business, taking a majority stake in McLean-based MCR.

In Argentina, Sanford Sought Light Agenda

Carol D. Leonnig and Philip Rucker — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford used a team of state employees and U.S. Embassy officials to set up trade-related meetings for him in Buenos Aires in June 2008, but he repeatedly emphasized his desire to keep a "low-key" and light schedule during his three days there.

Electronics Retailer Fills Hole Left By Circuit City

Emma L. Carew — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:04:02 EDT

With Circuit City's closed doors paving the way for growth, electronics retailer hhgregg announced Thursday it would move up its timetable for new stores opening in the Mid-Atlantic region, including the Washington area.

Electronics Retailer HHGregg Speeds Opening of Area Stores

Emma L. Carew — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:15:00 EDT

Electronics retailer HHGregg said today that it would bump up its timetable to open stores in the mid-Atlantic region, which includes the Washington area.

In Ohio, Biden Defends Stimulus Package

Peter Slevin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

CINCINNATI, July 9 -- In a campaign-style speech designed to seize the initiative from Republican critics and reassure voters that the White House has a plan to rescue the lagging economy, Vice President Biden forcefully defended the administration's economic recovery package on Thursday and asked...

Markets Flat on Better-Than-Expected Jobless Claims

Renae Merle — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:56:00 EDT

Stocks made modest gains today, including a rally in energy and financial shares, after a better-than-expected labor report.

South Korean Web Sites Disrupted in Third Round of Attacks

Blaine Harden — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

TOKYO, July 9 -- South Korea was bombarded Thursday with a third wave of cyberattacks, which disrupted and in some cases halted access to government, banking and media Web sites.

Study: Many Payday Borrowers Need Additional Loan

Post — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:41:00 EDT

A majority of borrowers who take out payday loans have to seek a new loan shortly after paying back the original debt because repayment left them with inadequate funds for other needs, a new study by the Center for Responsible Lending has found.

In the Chevy Malibu, GM's Pride and Its Challenge

Peter Whoriskey — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

When General Motors executives are asked whether the company can really be revived after bankruptcy, they'll quickly point to the Chevrolet Malibu, and it's easy to see why.

Power of Stimulus Slow to Take Hold

Lori Montgomery — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Five months after Congress approved a massive package of spending and tax cuts aimed at reviving an ailing economy, the jobless rate is still climbing and the White House is scrambling to reassure an anxious public that President Obama's prescription for economic recovery is on the right track.

Treaty Conveys Little Power to Break Swiss Bank Secrecy

David S. Hilzenrath — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A new treaty touted as helping U.S. law enforcement crack Swiss bank secrecy may do little to help authorities achieve a prime objective: exposing tax evaders.

Pickens Calls Off Plans For Vast Texas Wind Farm

Steven Mufson — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

T. Boone Pickens has temporarily shelved plans to build the world's biggest wind farm in the Texas Panhandle because of tight credit markets and low natural gas prices, and his company Mesa Power is looking for other projects that could use the $2 billion worth of wind turbines already on order.

For Barry, a Familiar Script Takes an Unfamiliar Twist

Nikita Stewart, Tim Craig and Dagny Salas — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

It started with an arrest, as it often does. There was a woman involved, as there usually is. And there were the denials, controversial behavior by the police and extraordinary news conferences that feed a local media obsessed with Marion Barry. Within his inner circle, there were the normal effo...

Discord on Health Care Dulls Luster Of New Pacts

Ceci Connolly and Michael D. Shear — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The Obama administration, hoping to boost its health-care reform effort with financial concessions from the hospital and pharmaceutical industries, is instead confronting deep dissension on several fronts within Democratic ranks and possible defections among key constituencies.

Probe Finds VA Offices Vulnerable to Fraud

Steve Vogel — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

An investigation in the wake of a major fraud case involving the Department of Veterans Affairs regional office in Louisville has found that other VA offices around the country suffer security shortfalls that leave them vulnerable to the same type of alleged fraud.

Free Resources

Post — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Several Web sites let you download a free template for a letter of instruction or detailed information about what the letter should include. Tailor it to your specific situation.

The Color of Money: Jackson's Death Reminds Us to Be Prepared

Michelle Singletary — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The death of Michael Jackson, and the initial confusion over his will, got me to thinking: My husband and I are long overdue for updating ours.

Treasury Works on 'Plan C' To Fend Off Lingering Threats

David Cho and Binyamin Appelbaum — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

As the financial system tries to right itself after its near-collapse last fall, the Treasury Department has assembled a team to examine what could yet bring it down and has identified several trouble spots that could threaten the still-fragile lending industry.

Doubts About Economy Leave Stocks Flat

Renae Merle — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:04:54 EDT

A mixed report on the state of the global recession and falling oil prices weighed on stocks today, leaving major U.S. indexes mostly flat at the end of trading.

U.S., South Korea Targeted in Swarm of Internet Attacks

Ellen Nakashima, Brian Krebs and Blaine Harden — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

U.S. and South Korean authorities yesterday were investigating the source of attacks on at least 35 government and commercial Web sites in the two countries, officials said.

Obama Revives Bush Idea of Using E-Verify to Catch Illegal Contract Workers

Spencer S. Hsu — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

President Obama will abandon a controversial immigration crackdown, sought by his predecessor, to pressure U.S. companies to fire 9 million workers with suspect Social Security numbers, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced yesterday.

'Virtual Assistants' Find Demand for Services in Tight Labor Market

Emma L. Carew — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Michael Hanik used to have 12 employees, a warehouse and trucks to run his medical devices catalogue company.

A 'New' GM Will Have Work Cut Out for It

Steven Mufson and Tomoeh Murakami Tse — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The new General Motors hoping to emerge from bankruptcy this week will find itself mired in a weak car market, besieged by competitors vying to eat up its dwindling market share and pressed to change its corporate culture, all under the eyes of a strange new government ownership structure.

Traffic Eases Nationwide, but Not in Washington Area

Ashley Halsey III — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Although traffic has lightened up a tad in almost every other major metropolitan area in the nation, the misery index in the Washington area has increased, according to the annual national traffic study released today by the Texas Transportation Institute.

Ex-Head of Defense Firm With Murtha Ties Will Plead Guilty to Bribery

Carol D. Leonnig — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A former executive of a Pennsylvania defense firm with close ties to Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) has agreed to plead guilty to taking bribes from a partner defense company and is cooperating in a federal investigation of Pentagon contracting, records show.

Overhaul of Food Safety Rules in the Works

Jane Black and Ed O'Keefe — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The Obama administration took its first step yesterday toward overhauling food safety regulations that have been blamed for a steady stream of food recalls and related illnesses.

CFTC Floats Rules Aimed at Speculation

Zachary A. Goldfarb — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission will consider new measures to curb speculation in the markets for energy and other commodities, the agency is set to announce today.

Venture Capitalists, Start-Ups at Odds Over Who Should Get Funds

Kim Hart — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Executives from small technology firms descended on the halls of Capitol Hill yesterday to protest a proposed change to the federal Small Business Innovation Research Program.

Lobbying Battle Begins Over Creating Consumer Financial Protection Agency

Brady Dennis — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Business and trade-group lobbyists are beating a path to Capitol Hill this week for the first major battle over the Obama administration's efforts to overhaul the financial regulatory system.

Local Office Vacancies Soar, Driving Down Rent

V. Dion Haynes — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Declining demand from companies seeking new space forces building owners to push down rents to fill empty space.

Cabinet Members Push Climate Bill on the Hill

Paul Kane — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:15:55 EDT

A quartet of Obama administration officials launched a new effort to sell landmark climate change legislation on Capitol Hill, telling a Senate committee today that the goal was not limited to simply curbing greenhouse gases but also to creating a boom in alternative energy jobs.

Stocks Fall As Investors Await Earnings Reports

Emma L. Carew — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:20:54 EDT

Stocks slumped today as investors awaited company reports on second-quarter earnings.

Internal Review Launched on Post Salon Proposal

Paul Farhi — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:54:58 EDT

The Washington Post yesterday initiated internal reviews to ensure that its business practices do not compromise its journalistic ethics when the newspaper organizes conferences or private events funded by sponsors.

World Powers Are Likely to Complain That U.S. Climate Bill Is Not Enough

David A. Fahrenthold — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:07:59 EDT

At a pair of international summits dealing with climate change this week, President Obama will be able to point to something no previous president has: a House-approved bill that could cap U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

Internal Review Launched on Post Salon Proposal

Paul Farhi — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:55:58 EDT

Sen. Kohl Demands Investigation of Wireless Carriers

Cecilia Kang — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A senior senator yesterday demanded a federal probe of alleged anti-competitive practices in the wireless industry, escalating recent congressional concern that too much power is concentrating in the hands of a few carriers.

Hospitals Reach Deal With Administration

Ceci Connolly and Michael D. Shear — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The nation's hospitals agreed last night to contribute $155 billion over 10 years toward the cost of insuring the 47 million Americans without health coverage, according to two industry sources.

On Health Care, Obama Battles History and Human Nature

Geoff Colvin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The latest polling data look great for President Obama: The numbers show that Americans love national health care. But if history and polling trends are any guide, however, that will change.

Donation to Charity Might Change South Korean President's Image

Blaine Harden — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

TOKYO, July 6 -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has good reason not to be in a charitable mood.

States Straining To Repair Budgets

Peter Slevin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

CHICAGO, July 6 -- Illinois has stopped paying $1,655 a funeral to bury the indigent dead. California is issuing IOUs in place of tax refunds. Ohio's rainy-day fund has dwindled from nearly $1 billion to exactly 89 cents.

Senators' Disparate Interests Could Transform Climate Legislation

Paul Kane — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

President Obama's climate-change legislation begins a daunting march through the Senate this week, with supporters acknowledging they are as many as 15 votes shy of victory and well aware that deals to attract more votes could erode the bill's environment-friendly objectives.

What About GM's Brands?

Post — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

General Motors has several deals in the works as it tries to shed some of its brands to focus on Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC. The automaker had previously decided to shut down Pontiac.

Defense Secretary, Architect of U.S. Involvement in Vietnam Robert McNamara Dies

Thomas W. Lippman — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Robert S. McNamara, 93, the former secretary of defense whose record as a leading executive of industry and chieftain of foreign financial aid was all but erased from public memory by his reputation as the primary architect of U.S. involvement in the war in Vietnam, died yesterday at his home in...

Harriet Kassman's D.C. Boutique Is Closing

Emma L. Carew — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

With fewer galas and more customers cutting back, the shop in the upscale Mazza Gallerie in Northwest Washington, a fixture in Washington's social circles is closing after 30 years.

Former Lawmakers and Congressional Staffers Hired to Lobby on Health Care

Dan Eggen and Kimberly Kindy — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The nation's largest insurers, hospitals and medical groups have hired more than 350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress in hopes of influencing their old bosses and colleagues, according to an analysis of lobbying disclosures and other records.

Start-Ups Say Innovation Doesn't Grow on Trees

Kim Hart — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Biotechnology start-ups have long relied on grants from the National Institutes of Health to fund research-and-developmentast but a last minute change in the legislation exempted the agency from the requirement to reserve a portion of the money for small businesses.

Researchers: Social Security Numbers Can Be Guessed

Brian Krebs — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:05:00 EDT

Researchers have found that it is possible to guess many -- if not all -- of the nine digits in an individual's Social Security number using publicly available information, a finding they say compromises the security of one of the most widely used consumer identifiers in the United States.

Stocks Post Small Gains After Three-Week Slump

Ylan Q. Mui — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:17:00 EDT

Stock markets eked out a gain today following a three-week slump.

Midyear Lull: Time to Reflect On the Figures

Post — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

This should be a quiet week for economic news, after two that were anything but. No major data are to be released, and top Federal Reserve officials have nothing on their public calendars.

South Korean President Donates Personal Fortune

Blaine Harden — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:28:57 EDT

TOKYO, July 6 -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has good reason not to be in a charitable mood.

D.C. Portraitist Breaks the Starving-Artist Mold

Thomas Heath — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Annette Polan of Northwest Washington is no struggling artist. Last year, the 60-something pocketed a cool $200,000 for painting people's portraits.

California's Broke. Should You Invest in It?

Jane Bryant Quinn — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Time for some California dreaming: Will the state plug its budget gap, and are its bonds worth a gamble?

There Are Plenty of Ways to Shine, Even on the Bottom of the Totem Pole

Lily Garcia — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Q About a year ago, I burned out at my high-stress, high-salary job and switched to a low-key public-sector position in the same field. I perform well at the new job but am not sure how to advance my career or grow professionally. I am not interested in a return to the people management, budget woes...

The Big Money: New Help on Student Loans

Amanda Becker — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

If you've got a diploma hanging on your wall, chances are it didn't come cheap.

Electric Rates Still a Contentious Issue as O'Malley Looks to Reelection

Lisa Rein — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

As rallying cries go, it was a Democratic candidate's dream: Martin O'Malley, the big-city mayor fighting for working families, would stop a 72 percent jump in utility rates for customers around Baltimore and some of the Washington suburbs. As governor of Maryland, he said in his 2006 campaign, h...

Report Faults Performance Bonuses for Contractors

Steve Vogel — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Federal agencies have awarded billions in bonuses to contractors regardless of whether the work was deemed satisfactory, according to a Government Accountability Office report released last week.

Bill Would Compromise Offices, 5 Inspectors General SayBill Would Compromise Ability to Investigate, 5 IGs Say

Ed O'Keefe — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Inspectors general at five financial regulatory agencies are objecting to legislation that would elevate their positions to the presidential-appointment level, arguing that the move would compromise their ability to conduct independent investigations.

Compromise Is Key to Health-Care Legislation

Shailagh Murray and Lori Montgomery — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

For the next five weeks, Congress will attempt the daunting feat of turning a mishmash of half-written proposals into health-care reform legislation that can pass the House and the Senate before the August recess.

U.S. Misread Scale of Honduran Rift

William Booth and Juan Forero — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, July 4 -- Although the U.S. government knew for months that Honduras was on the brink of political chaos, officials say they underestimated how fearful the Honduran elite and the military were of ousted President Manuel Zelaya and his ally President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela.

Post Publisher Says Rushed Planning Led to Inaccurate Flier on Policy Dinners

Paul Farhi — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Washington Post publisher Katharine Weymouth said yesterday that a hasty time frame, haphazard planning and miscommunication led to the release of a promotional flier that inaccurately described the newspaper's plans for a series of sponsored "salons" with influential insiders.

Fairfax County Ponders What It Wants to Be

Sandhya Somashekhar and Amy Gardner — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Fairfax County has long been viewed as the ultimate burb, where Washington goes to walk the dog and water the lawn. But the more residents look around, the more they see what many have tried to avoid: high-rise offices, blight, crime and housing that's more likely to have a balcony than a back yard.

Wife's Guilty Plea to Bribery Raises Question of What Rep. Conyers Knew

Carrie Johnson and Alice Crites — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

In the snow-covered parking lot of a McDonald's in Detroit two years ago, City Council member Monica Conyers met with a waste-management consultant who slipped her an envelope stuffed with as much as $3,000 in cash.

Wife's Guilty Plea to Bribery Raises Question of What Rep. Conyers Knew

Carrie Johnson and Alice Crites — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Kia's Sedan Delivers Serious Quality and Value

Warren Brown — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

To understand the future of the automobile industry, you must understand the success of Wal-Mart, the world's largest retail organization.

The Color of Money: Asset Allocation Made Simple

Michelle Singletary — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Worried about how you had allocated your contributions? Review your 401(k) portfolio.

Hard Times Spark Slew of Scams

Laura Cohn — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The sagging economy has inspired a number of scams -- from mortgage schemes to work-at-home ploys to tax and stimulus frauds.

Ask Kim: How Much Long-Term Care Coverage?

Kimberly Lankford — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Q How long is the average stay at a nursing home and at an assisted-living facility? That information would help me determine how much risk to take in my investments and how much insurance coverage I'll need.

Before You Mail In That Old Ring . . .

Candice Lee Jones — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

If you have gold chains in your dresser drawers, those commercials offering to take jewelry off your hands in exchange for "cold hard cash" might sound mighty tempting. Cash4Gold.com even ran a Super Bowl ad featuring Ed McMahon.