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American Airlines says no to porn
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Mike Benbow
Business editor Mike Benbow's insights into all things business.
•Latest: Pork made bailout bill passable but not palatable
Steve Tytler
Steve Tytler answers your questions about real estate.
•Latest: Mortgage business is alive and well
 
WEEK IN REVIEW
Tuesday
Does Countrywide owe you mortgage help?
Gregoire plans $240 million in cost-cutting
Arlington fashion statement helps fight cancer
Monday


Green thumbs in Marysville
Snohomish County schools that aren't up to stan...
Richard Larsen, longtime public servant, dies a...
Sunday


Recycling a house: Everett home goes to make ne...
A year after plane crash, pain still fresh for ...
The flight of the great pumpkin
Saturday


Will the bailout help?
Comcast Arena -- 5 years later
County to pay $1 million in slaying
Friday


Young couple leave Everett for worldwide trip
1 in 5 Snohomish County mobile homes could be u...
Cascade High class grades the debaters
Thursday


Victims of Snohomish fire sought a fresh start
Craigslist ad linked to Brinks heist in Monroe
County financial report worsens
Wednesday


Fire too fast to save four in Snohomish
Robber may have fled by floating
Assisted suicide foes find ally in Martin Sheen
 

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CONTACT THE HERALD
Mike Benbow, Business Editor
benbow@heraldnet.com
 
Published: Saturday, July 26, 2008

XM, Sirius satellite radio merger approved

Federal regulators have approved the merger of the nation's only two satellite radio operators, ending a 16-month-long drama closely watched by Washington and Wall Street. Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.'s $3.3 billion buyout of rival XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. means 18 million-plus subscribers will be able to receive programming from both services. Executives say it will mean cost cuts that will lead to a first-ever profit for the industry.

Orders for durable goods rise again

The U.S. Commerce Department had two bites of good news about the economy Friday. It reported that a second straight double-digit increase in orders for defense capital goods pushed total orders for big-ticket manufactured products up by 0.8 percent in June, the strongest gain in four months. In a second report, Commerce said sales of new homes dropped 0.6 percent in June, less than half the expected decline.

GE will reorganize to improve earnings

General Electric Co., which owns businesses ranging from light bulbs to NBC television, will restructure into four businesses from six, a move that Chief Executive Officer Jeff Immelt says will focus the company on growth. Immelt has been under pressure to shake up GE since it announced disappointing first-quarter earnings. The move follows GE's plan to consider spinning off its iconic lighting and appliance businesses.

Toyota boosts price of Prius by $500

Toyota Motor Corp. is raising the U.S. suggested retail price of its Prius hybrid by $500 for the 2009 model. The new price is a 2.2 percent increase from the current models. Prices will range from $22,000 for the standard Prius to $24,270 for a touring model, the company's U.S. sales unit said. Bill Kwong, a Toyota spokesman, said the growing cost of commodities is the reason for the increase.

Analyst downgrades debt of big airlines

Standard & Poors has downgraded the debt of some of the nation's largest carriers, saying high fuel prices are likely to cause heavy losses this year at American, United and Northwest airlines. S&P airline analyst Philip Baggaley said that in general, carriers face "a bit greater risk of liquidation" but added, "We think the airlines we've reviewed here are large and viable airlines."

Chains spar over 'Real Deal'

Stop & Shop, the largest supermarket chain in New England, claims in a federal lawsuit that rival Whole Foods violated its trademark and stole its marketing campaign. Stop & Shop claimed in the suit that just weeks after it launched its "Real Deal" ads, Whole Foods began using the phrase "The Real Deal."

From Herald news services

1. Does Countrywide owe you mortgage help?
2. Edmonds neighbors pitch fit over new metal pole
3. Boeing keeps pressure on Machinists
4. McNerney: Strikes hurt Boeing's standing
5. Arlington fashion statement helps fight cancer
6. Seahawks' team leaders bring calming voice
7. New warning on microwaving frozen meals
8. Dog wakes man, saving both from fire in travel trailer
9. Granite Falls police stop driver, find pipe bomb inside car
10. Boeing’s Carson: ‘job stability cannot be protected by words on paper’
Enterprise Newspaper Snohomish County Business Journal
Young versus younger in the 21st
Forgotten time capsule discovered
Edmonds-Woodway pulls away in second half
A long-awaited opening
Going for Brooke
Bringing South Africa to the world
Shoreline resident writes new song for the UW
Crosswalk deemed unsafe will close
Legislature candidates debate at Shoreline CC
The Enterprise Online Newspaper

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