AP National Business

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) — A federal judge has approved a revised settlement with U.S. Steel, more than four years after one of the steelmaker’s Indiana plants discharged wastewater containing a potentially carcinogenic chemical into a Lake Michigan tributary. Tuesday’s decision granted the state and federal governments’ request to approve a revision of the consent decree,

The Associated Press Stocks recovered from an afternoon stumble and ended with modest gains Thursday, enough to mark more record highs for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 added 0.3% while the Nasdaq managed a gain of 0.1%. Small-company stocks far outpaced the rest of the market, a sign that investors are

Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Thursday: Baxter, Signet Jewelers rise; Chewy, Five Below fall.

NEW YORK (AP) — Cunard Line is pushing back the return of the Queen Mary 2, which has already been idled for 18 months because of the pandemic. Cunard said Thursday it is canceling the ship’s first four scheduled cruises, which included two trips across the Atlantic. Instead, the ship will make two short round

The Associated Press The government’s road safety agency reported Thursday that U.S. traffic deaths in the first quarter of 2021 rose by 10.5% over last year, even as driving has declined. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s estimated that 8,730 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes from January through April, compared with the 7,900

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration says Virgin Galactic can’t launch anyone into space again until an investigation is complete into founder Richard Branson’s off-course flight in July. Thursday’s ban came as Virgin Galactic announced plans to launch three Italian researchers to the edge of space

By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press GENEVA (AP) — An intergovernmental conference has taken early steps toward drawing up an agreement to curb plastic pollution and marine litter around the world. The pollution can choke off sea life, harm food safety and coastal tourism and contribute to climate change. A draft resolution was presented by Peru

By JOHN MARSHALL Associated Press The auto industry has raced ahead on an electric wave with more manufacturers joining the race seemingly every day. The boating industry has sputtered far behind, bogged down by low-horsepower engines and batteries that take up nearly half the boat. That’s in the process of changing. Bolstered by new technology,

By TALI ARBEL AP Technology Writer Locast, a service that streamed local TV for free in about three dozen U.S. cities, is suspending operations after losses in court against the broadcast industry. The owners of the country’s major broadcast TV networks — ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox — had sued Locast in 2019, saying it

The Associated Press McLEAN, Va. (AP) — The average long-term mortgage rate was unchanged from last week as the economy continues to show encouraging signs even as hospitalizations from the delta variant of the coronavirus remain elevated. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate for a 30-year mortgage held at 2.87% as

By TOM KRISHER Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — The global shortage of computer chips is getting worse, forcing automakers to temporarily close factories including those that build popular pickup trucks. General Motors announced Thursday that it would pause production at eight of its 15 North American assembly plants during the next two weeks, including two

By LEANNE ITALIE AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Joan MacDonald’s health was in shambles at age 71. She was overweight and on numerous medications with high cholesterol, rising blood pressure and kidney trouble. Her daughter, a fitness coach, warned that she’d wind up an invalid if she didn’t turn things around. She did,

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s state communications watchdog has warned Apple and Google that they could face fines if they fail to remove an app created by allies of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny from their stores. The agency warned Apple and Google Thursday that their failure to remove Navalny’s

By JOHN SEEWER and GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press A landmark settlement in the nation’s opioid epidemic is forcing the owners of OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to give up the company and pay out $4.5 billion. But many families of those who died from overdoses say it’s not enough. They’re upset that the Sackler family behind

By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Sustainable investing has gone way past fad to become one of the steadiest forces on Wall Street. For every month over the two years through July, investors have sent at least $1.5 billion into funds that call themselves socially reponsible or that use environmental, social

By The Associated Press DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Medical products company Baxter International said Thursday it will acquire medical technology firm Hillrom for $10.5 billion in cash. Baxter will also absorb Hillrom’s debt and cash, bringing the total value of the deal to $12.4 billion. Baxter will pay Hillrom shareholders $156 per share, a 26%

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A growing number of companies big and small are now dropping requirements that made it harder to hire, from minimum education levels to amount of experience. Drug store chain CVS announced earlier in August it would no longer require a minimum high school degree to

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer The U.S. trade deficit narrowed slightly to $70.1 billion in July as economic recovery overseas helped boost American exports while imports declined. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that the trade deficit fell 4.3% in July after surging to $73.2 billion in June. The trade deficit represents the gap between