Shoppers who endured long lines and sometimes-frigid temperatures spent only slightly more during their Black Friday shopping sprees than they did last year, according to data released Saturday by a research firm. At the same time, their pajama-clad…

BlackFriday – Ethnicity – African – Business – African-American

View original post here:
Black Friday store spending edges up; online soars

A Boston woman says she was forced to split her time between helping her daughter deliver a baby at home and cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Patricia McCalop was in the middle of preparing the meal when Africa McCalop suddenly went into labor two weeks early….

Thanksgiving – Boston – Holidays – Children and Youth – Home

See the original post:
Boston woman delivers grandchild on Thanksgiving

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Black Friday sales rose just 0.5 percent to $10.66 billion after rising 3 percent in 2008, ShopperTrak said on Saturday, a rise that may disappoint investors who had expected retailers to see a bigger boost this year.

Read the original post:
Black Friday sales up 0.5 percent: ShopperTrak

Canada has concluded negotiations on a nuclear cooperation agreement with India to sell nuclear technology and materials to the energy-starved South Asian nation, Canada’s prime minister said Saturday. Conservative leader Stephen Harper said the agreement…

Stephen Harper – India – South Asia – Canada – India Canada

Here is the original post:
Canada close to nuclear deal with India

Maybe you’ve been reading the health care bill in your spare time. Then perhaps you can answer this question: If Congress makes history and puts a bill on President Barack Obama’s desk by Christmas, how long before the uninsured get medical coverage? If you…

Barack Obama – Health care – United States Congress – Uninsured in the United States – United States

More:
Understanding the pros and cons of health overhaul

Shoppers spent only slightly more in stores this Black Friday than they did last year, according to data released Saturday by a national research firm. Preliminary sales data from ShopperTrak RCT Corp. show shoppers spent $10.66 billion when they hit the…

BlackFriday – Ethnicity – African – Business – African-American

Originally posted here:
Report: Black Friday store spending up 0.5 percent

The economy has taken a toll on a New York tradition: the “Sidewalk Santas” who collected money for the poor on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. The 107-year-old program has gone online for the second year in a row. The nonprofit Volunteers of America-Greater New…

NewYork – New York City – Fifth Avenue – United States – Society and Culture

More:
NYC’s ‘Sidewalk Santas’ sidelined due to economy

The sign over the main gate at Minot Air Force Base brags, “Only the Best Come North.” It’s been a questionable claim over the past two years at the North Dakota base following a rash of nuclear-related screwups that spurred no mushroom clouds but embarrassed…

Minot Air Force Base – North Dakota – Air force – United States – Military

Read the rest here:
New commanders at embattled ND base vow perfection

A research firm says shoppers spent only slightly more in stores this Black Friday than they did last year. Fresh signs of much stronger online sales during the traditional holiday shopping kickoff mean more might have shopped from home. Preliminary sales…

BlackFriday – Ethnicity – African – Business – African-American

See the original post:
Black Friday spending up 0.5 percent, report says

Saddam Hussein was telling the truth, this time. The United States just didn’t believe him. So it took the most powerful military in the world 18 years to find the remains of the only U.S. Navy pilot shot down in an aerial battle in the 1991 Gulf War. Michael…

United States – Saddam Hussein – Iraq – Middle East – Society and Culture

See the original post:
Saddam was telling truth in missing Gulf War pilot

APControversy has surrounded Jet Set Sports owner Sead Dizdarevic since the Salt Lake Olympic bid. Dizdarevic has used his powerful personal connections with the Olympic elite to gain a lock on Olympic ticket and travel-package sales in North America and…

Read the original:
Far Hills travel broker dominates the Olympic ticket game

Part of a fireworks display in suburban Pittsburgh misfired into a group of onlookers and exploded, slightly injuring nine people. The mishap occurred in Etna on Friday night as the town held its annual holiday celebration. Etna Fire Chief Greg Porter says…

Fireworks – Technology – Pyrotechnics – Pittsburgh – Mount Etna

See more here:
9 injured during fireworks mishap near Pittsburgh

The chairman of the Federal Reserve is concerned that congressional efforts at financial reform could weaken the central bank’s ability to handle future crises and may politicize monetary policy. Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke made the comments in an Op-Ed…

Ben Bernanke – Central bank – Federal Reserve System – Chairman of the Federal Reserve – Monetary policy

Here is the original post:
Bernanke makes case for strong Fed role on banks

General Motors Co. says production at a stamping plant in Ohio is expected to end Jan. 29. The Detroit-based company announced in May that it would shutter the Mansfield/Ontario Metal Center plant. Since then, about 600 workers have retired or taken buyouts…

GeneralMotors – Ohio – Detroit – United States – Makes and Models

Excerpt from:
GM says production at Ohio plant to end Jan. 29

Shoppers returned to malls Saturday as observers began reviewing early reports showing just how much consumers spent during their Black Friday shopping sprees. The weekend’s first definitive spending data for the day after Thanksgiving wasn’t expected until…

BlackFriday – Ethnicity – African – Business – African-American

See the original post here:
Early indicators of Black Friday sales promising