Reuters: U.S.

Obama says stimulus plan to kick in later this year

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:13:38 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said Saturday more time was needed for his $787 billion stimulus package to work, predicting the spending would have a bigger impact on the economy later this year.

Taliban pushed back, long way to go: Obama

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:09:47 -0400

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. and allied troops have pushed back Taliban insurgents in a major offensive in Afghanistan but there is still a long way to go, U.S. President Barack Obama said on Saturday.

Obama: Tough talks ahead as health reform advances

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:55:40 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House leaders worked on Friday to stem a Democratic rebellion over healthcare reform and President Barack Obama predicted tough negotiations ahead as lawmakers announced plans to move forward with the bill.

Americans swap homes for hotels as recession bites

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:28:17 -0400

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Some Americans are swapping homes for motels as the ranks of the homeless swell during the recession, crowding out shelters and forcing cities and states across the country to find new types of housing.

Ex KBR Iraq worker held on sexual assault charge

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:13:47 -0400

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A former employee of military contractor KBR Inc has been arrested in Texas and charged with sexually assaulting a woman at an airbase in Iraq, federal prosecutors said on Friday.

IOUs shore up California's cash

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:53:25 -0400

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California has enough cash to pay its top bills, including payments to bondholders, through September thanks to IOUs it has been issuing, but it may not be able to make payments in October due to the state's budget crisis, the state controller's office said on Friday.

Waning U.S. consumer mood raises recovery questions

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:19:19 -0400

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumers' moods soured in early July on persistent worries about jobs, a survey showed on Friday, offering little hope their spending will help the sputtering economic recovery.

U.S. retailers continue struggle with employee theft

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:32:05 -0400

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Walking the pharmacy aisle of a Target Corp discount store, shoppers can't miss the many anti-shoplifting measures: locked display cases, alarm cords around boxes of expensive merchandise, display hangers with locks on the end.

Potato famine disease striking home gardens in U.S.

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 09:13:31 -0400

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Late blight, which caused the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s and 1850s, is killing potato and tomato plants in home gardens from Maine to Ohio and threatening commercial and organic farms, U.S. plant scientists said on Friday.

Feeder fund assets frozen in Petters Ponzi case

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:32:08 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal judge froze the assets of a hedge fund manager accused of acting as a $2 billion feeder fund for a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme operated by Minnesota businessman Thomas Petters, federal regulators said on Friday.