AP National Business

By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose Thursday to send Wall Street to its highest level in nearly eight weeks following reports suggesting the economy and corporate profits may be doing better than feared. The S&P 500 climbed 1.1% to clinch its highest finish since Dec. 2. The Dow Jones

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Bed Bath & Beyond says it’s in default on its loans and doesn’t have sufficient funds to repay what it owes. The home goods chain based in Union, New Jersey, said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Thursday that the default would force the

By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — A proposed settlement between New Jersey and the current owner of a notoriously polluted industrial site is drawing fire from residents of Toms River, where memories of children getting cancer at elevated rates are still a fresh source of pain. The state and Germany-based BASF

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Thursday: Tesla Inc., up $15.84 to $160.27. The electric vehicle maker’s profits surged in the fourth-quarter, beating Wall Street forecasts. Chevron Corp., up $8.71 to $187.79. The energy company raised its dividend and announced a $75 billion stock buyback program. Lam Research

By COLLEEN SLEVIN Associated Press DENVER (AP) — The Colorado baker who won a partial U.S. Supreme Court victory after refusing to make a gay couple’s wedding cake because of his Christian faith lost an appeal Thursday in his latest legal fight, involving his rejection of a request for a birthday cake celebrating a gender

By DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines Writer FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Boeing has pleaded not guilty to a criminal charge in a case revolving around two crashes of Boeing 737 Max planes. A federal judge in Texas took Boeing’s plea Thursday. The judge is considering whether to appoint a special monitor to examine safety issues

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — HarperCollins Publishers and the union representing some 250 striking employees have agreed to enter into federal mediation, the first sign of a possible settlement since the work stoppage began in early November. HarperCollins and the UAW have disagreed on union protections, workplace diversity and wages,

By JIM HEINTZ and DASHA LITVINOVA Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — An independent news website that has been critical of Russia’s military action in Ukraine has been declared “undesirable” by the government. Thursday’s announcement effectively outlaws Meduza’s operation within the country as part of the Kremlin’s latest crackdown on dissent. Founded in 2014 and based

By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer DETROIT (AP) — A federal grand jury in Los Angeles is gathering evidence in a criminal investigation of Goodyear recreational vehicle tires that the government blames for crashes that killed eight people and injured dozens of others. The grand jury has subpoenaed Arizona lawyer David Kurtz seeking all documents

By MIKE CORDER Associated Press THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — International Criminal Court judges have cleared the way for the court’s prosecution office to resume its investigation into the so-called war on drugs in the Philippines. Prosecutor Karim Khan asked judges for permission last year to reactivate his investigation into alleged crimes against humanity between

By JONEL ALECCIA AP Health Writer The Food and Drug Administration says there are too many unknowns about CBD products to regulate them as foods or supplements. The FDA said Congress needs to create new rules for the massive and growing market. FDA officials said Thursday that the marijuana-derived compound poses risks to people and

By STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Biden administration has moved to protect the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota from future mining. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland signed an order Thursday closing over 350 square miles of the Superior National Forest to mineral leasing for 20 years. Haaland

By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME and GERALD IMRAY Associated Press PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen watched Ford cars and pickup trucks being assembled at a plant in South Africa and cited it as an example of cooperation between Washington and Africa as she begins the Biden administration’s big push to reengage with

By The Associated Press Shares of Chevron climbed Thursday after the oil company announced that it would repurchase $75 billion of its stock, one of the largest-ever stock buyback plans. The company’s board also approved an increase of about 6% in its quarterly dividend, to $1.51 per share. Chevron Corp. said the buyback is effective

By THOMAS ADAMSON AP Fashion Writer PARIS (AP) — The experimentalism and audacity of 1980s club kids inspired Valentino in one of the last high-octane shows of this Paris Fashion Week couture season. Thousands of fans lined the Pont Alexandre III bridge on a chilly Wednesday night to scream as their idols arrived and departed.

By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer DETROIT (AP) — A federal grand jury in Los Angeles is gathering evidence in a criminal investigation of Goodyear recreational vehicle tires that the government blames for crashes that killed eight people and injured dozens of others. The grand jury has subpoenaed Arizona lawyer David Kurtz seeking all documents

By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer Tyson Foods Chief Financial Officer John R. Tyson __ a great-grandson of the company’s founder __ has settled public intoxication and criminal trespassing charges filed against him. Tyson pleaded guilty to both misdemeanors in a district court in Fayetteville, Arkansas, this week. He also agreed to pay $300 in

By ERIC TUCKER and FRANK BAJAK Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland and other U.S. officials say the FBI and international partners have at least temporarily disrupted the network of a prolific ransomware gang they infiltrated last year. And as a result they have saved victims, including hospitals and school districts, a

By MATT OTT AP Business Writer The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate fell to its lowest level in more than four months, giving some relief to homebuyers faced with higher prices for just about everything, including homes. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average on the benchmark 30-year rate inched down to 6.13%