News

Ammonia Leak At Chicken Plant Puts 120 In Hospital

August 24, 2010 4:41 am | by Melissa Nelson, Associated Press Writer | Comments

THEODORE, Ala. (AP) — An ammonia leak at a coastal Alabama chicken distribution plant sent more than 120 people to the hospital on Monday, including four patients in intensive care, and forced residents to hide in their homes while warning sirens blared. At least 29 people were admitted to Mobile-area hospitals, including the four in intensive care.

CSB Slams Xcel For 'Troubling' Handling Of Safety

August 24, 2010 4:39 am | by P. Solomon Banda, Associated Press Writer | Comments

DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Chemical Safety Board slammed Xcel Energy Inc. on Monday for the company's handling of the aftermath of a tunnel fire that killed five workers at a hydroelectric plant, as well as for a host of "troubling episodes." The board cited the electric and gas utility's failure to cooperate in the agency's probe, and said that investigators had to turn to the the U.

Biden: U.S. Automakers Will Thrive Despite Economy

August 24, 2010 4:38 am | by John Seewer, Associated Press Writer | Comments

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden said Monday that U.S. automakers will thrive in the coming years despite the economic challenges still facing the industry. Addressing auto workers, Biden painted a rosy picture of an industry that only a year ago was facing questions about whether it could survive and still is struggling to sell cars and other vehicles.

Stock Market Rises On Corporate Matchmaking

August 23, 2010 4:58 am | by Stephen Bernard, AP Business Writer | Comments

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose modestly Monday as investors tentatively moved back into the market after a fresh round of merger and acquisition activity. There are no major economic reports due out Monday that could provide insight into the pace of recovery, so traders are turning their attention to corporate news.

HP Outbids Dell For Online Storage Company

August 23, 2010 4:41 am | Comments

PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) — Hewlett-Packard Co. is bidding $1.5 billion for data storage provider 3Par Inc., just a week after rival Dell Inc. agreed to acquire the company for $1.13 billion. HP and Dell have been looking to expand beyond personal computers over the past few years in a search for bigger profits.

Taiwanese CEO Barred From Leaving U.S. During Probe

August 23, 2010 4:39 am | Comments

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The chief executive of a leading Taiwanese LCD screen maker has been barred from leaving the U.S. during a U.S. Justice Department probe into alleged price-fixing, the company said. Hsinchu-based AU Optronics Corp. said in a statement filed Saturday with Taiwan's Stock Exchange that a U.

Paper Mill Closure Hurts Countless Small Businesses

August 23, 2010 4:38 am | by Allison T. Williams, Associated Press Writer | Comments

ISLE OF WIGHT, Va. (AP) — By 6:15 a.m. most days, Fred's Restaurant once hopped with International Paper workers stopping for a cup of coffee or breakfast before heading on to work the day shift at the paper mill. "People used to sit in the parking lot and wait for me to unlock the doors at 6 a.

When Manufacturing Leaves, Workers Take Up Trucking

August 23, 2010 4:35 am | by Dave Flessner, Associated Press Writer | Comments

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — After 25 years with General Motors, Renee Pipkins lost her job as an automotive engineer in Michigan last year and decided to hit the road literally. She and her husband, a retired GM millwright, are taking on new careers as truck drivers, where they see more job security.

FDA: A 'Preventative Approach' Needed To Stop Egg Fiasco

August 23, 2010 4:34 am | Comments

WASHINGTON (AP) — Food and Drug Administration chief Margaret Hamburg said Monday her agency is limited by law to a mostly reactive stance on food safety and argued that it needs a more "preventive approach." Giving a series of network interviews in the wake of the egg and salmonella breakout, Hamburg said the FDA is taking the issue "very, very seriously.

Escape Could Be Months Away For 33 Chilean Gold Miners

August 23, 2010 4:30 am | by Mauricio Cuevas, Associated Press Writer | Comments

COPIAPO, Chile (AP) — For 33 men found alive after 17 days trapped deep in a copper and gold mine, the toughest challenge now may be preserving their sanity during the months it may take to carve a tunnel big enough for them to get out. For their families above ground on Monday, euphoria and and more anxiety meant for a sleepless night at the realization that the miners may be stuck until Christmas.

Dell Income Rises 16 Percent, Still Disappointing

August 20, 2010 4:56 am | by Jessica Mintz, AP Technology Writer | Comments

SEATTLE (AP) — PC maker Dell Inc. said Thursday its net income improved 16 percent in the fiscal second quarter as businesses replaced aging technology, though a key profit measure fell. The majority of Dell's revenue comes from selling technology to other companies, so its results offer a gauge of the economic recovery in the form of business spending on technology.

Investors Ready To Take Big Risks On GM IPO

August 20, 2010 4:36 am | by Bernard Condon, AP Business Writer | Comments

NEW YORK (AP) — Would you buy stock in a company that has hemorrhaged tens of billions of dollars for years and run through three bosses in quick succession just because it's turned a profit for a few months? That is essentially what General Motors will ask investors to do when it takes itself public again with one of the largest initial stock offerings ever.

Montana Takes Dubious Title Of 'Deadliest Place To Work'

August 20, 2010 4:27 am | by Mead Gruver, Associated Press Writer | Comments

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming no longer is the nation's deadliest place to work, a dubious distinction that now belongs to Montana. The number of workers killed on the job in Montana increased from 40 in 2008 to 50 in 2009, according to figures released Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Pratt & Whitney Announces Layoffs, Might Be In Contempt

August 20, 2010 4:26 am | by Stephen Singer, AP Business Writer | Comments

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Jet engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney said Thursday that declining work is forcing it to lay off about a quarter of its hourly labor force at a repair plant, prompting the workers' union to question whether the company is violating a federal court order barring it from moving jobs out of the state.

CAT CEO: No Double-Dip Recession, Get Ready For Growth

August 20, 2010 4:25 am | by Josh Funk, AP Business Writer | Comments

Caterpillar Inc. officials said Thursday they don't expect a double-dip recession because the world's central banks haven't made major errors and the economy has been improving throughout 2010, especially in the developing world. New CEO Doug Oberhelman and other executives met with analysts in New York and discussed the opportunities ahead for the world's largest maker of construction and mining equipment.