National Business - The Morning Sun

FILE - A "sold" is posted outside a single family home in a residential neighborhood, in Glenside, Pa., Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates jumped again this week, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, to their highest level in almost 14 years, certain to keep even more potential buyers out of a housing market that’s cooled considerably since the Federal Reserve began jacking up its benchmark borrowing rate. .(AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Long-term mortgage rates now at highest point since 2008

Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates jumped again this week to their highest level in almost 14 years, certain to keep even more potential buyers out of a housing market that’s cooled considerably … more

By MATT OTT | 9/8/22

FILE - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra, speaks from the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex in Washington, April 11, 2022, about medical debt during an event with Vice President Kamala Harris. Nursing homes and debt collectors are flouting a law that prohibits them from requiring friends and family of care home residents to shoulder the costs of the facilities, according to a federal report issued Thursday. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Feds try to stop unlawful nursing home debt collections

A federal report says nursing homes and debt collectors are flouting a law that prohibits them from requiring friends and family of care home residents to be responsible for costs of the facilities. … more

By FATIMA HUSSEIN | 9/8/22

A 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV 3LT is shown in Warren, Mich., Aug. 30, 2022. General Motors is preparing to roll out a $30,000 Chevy Equinox electric vehicle in the most popular part of the U.S. auto market. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Cheaper electric vehicles coming despite high battery costs

Auto companies are rolling out more affordable electric vehicles that should widen their appeal to a larger group of buyers. That's despite rising battery costs. The latest EV came Thursday from … more

By TOM KRISHER | 9/8/22

Jeep unveils its 1st electric SUVs for North America, Europe

Jeep will start selling two fully electric SUVs in North America and another one in Europe over the next two years. The new EVs are part of the Stellantis brand’s plans to convert half of its U.S. … more

9/8/22

FILE - Hiring sign is displayed at a restaurant in Highland Park, Ill., Thursday, July 14, 2022. Fewer Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week as the labor market continues to shine despite weakening elements of the U.S. economy. Applications for jobless aid for the week ending Aug. 27, fell by 5,000 to 232,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday, Sept. 1. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Fewer Americans apply for jobless aid last week

Fewer Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week as the labor market remains continues to remain strong despite decades high inflation. Applications for jobless aid for the week ending Sept. … more

By MATT OTT | 9/8/22

FILE - Solar panels are installed at a floating photovoltaic plant on a lake in Haltern, on Friday, April 1, 2022. Long periods of sunshine took solar power generation in Europe to a record high this summer, helping reduce the need for gas imports, according to a report Thursday. Energy think tank Ember said the European Union generated 12% of its electricity from solar power from May to August, up from 9% during the same period last year. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

Sunny summer sees Europe hit new solar power high

A new report says long periods of sunshine took solar power generation in Europe to a record high this summer that helped reduce the need for gas imports. Energy think tank Ember said Thursday that … more

9/8/22

A man walks over debris of a psychiatric hospital that was heavily damaged after a Russian attack in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Ukrainian forces retake Russian-held territory near Kharkiv

Ukrainian forces have retaken portions of Russian-held territory in the northeastern Kharkiv region. The advances come as Russian forces have reallocated to areas near the occupied city of Kherson in … more

By HANNA ARHIROVA | 9/8/22

In this photo provided by UK Parliament, Britain's new Prime Minister Liz Truss speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons in London, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. (Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament via AP)

UK's Truss to announce plan to tame soaring energy bills

British Prime Minister Liz Truss plans to announce how her new government aims to ease the burden of soaring energy bills that have left people and businesses across the U.K. facing a bleak winter. … more

By JILL LAWLESS | 9/8/22

FILE - The Liddell Power Station, left, and Bayswater Power Station, coal-powered thermal power station are pictured near Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley, Australia on Nov. 2, 2021. Australia's Senate has voted, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, to ensure the government's elevated target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by the end of the decade is enshrined in law. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)

Australia enshrines in law 43% greenhouse gas reduction aim

Australia’s Parliament has enshrined in law the government’s elevated target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by the end of the decade. The Senate passed legislation … more

9/8/22

FILE - Maintenance engineers check installations at a new solar park outside the northern Greek city of Kozani on June 3, 2022. A new report has found that clean energy now provides more employment than the fossil fuel industry, reflecting the shift that efforts to tackle climate change are having on the global jobs market. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, File)

Report: Clean energy jobs grow, but wages lag fossil sector

A new report has found that clean energy now provides more employment than the fossil fuel industry, reflecting the shift that efforts to tackle climate change are having on the global jobs market. … more

9/8/22

FILE - Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank smiles during a press conference following a meeting of the governing council in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, July 21, 2022. Europe is going to see higher interest rates. The European Central Bank's meeting Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022 is not about whether to raise rates, but by how much. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)

European Central Bank to join US Fed in outsized rate hikes

Europe is going to see higher interest rates. The European Central Bank's meeting Thursday is not about whether to raise rates, but by how much. Analysts say it will be between a half-point and … more

By DAVID McHUGH | 9/8/22

FILE - Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio is interviewed by The Associated Press on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Washington. De Cossio accused the Biden administration on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, of acting immorally, illegitimately and unfairly by keeping Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, claiming it has been a victim of state-sponsored terrorism by the United States for more than 60 years. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Cuba says US is acting immorally by keeping it on blacklist

Cuba’s deputy foreign minister is accusing the Biden administration of acting immorally and unfairly by keeping Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. President Joe Biden during his … more

By EDITH M. LEDERER | 9/8/22

Power transmission towers line a street in Redondo Beach, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. With record demand on power supplies across the West, California snapped its record energy use around 5 p.m. with 52,061 megawatts, far above the previous high of 50,270 megawatts set July 24, 2006. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

California avoids outages after day of grid-straining heat

California kept the lights on during extreme heat, as operators of the state’s electricity grid continued to warn that unprecedented demand on energy supplies could force them to periodically cut … more

By JOHN ANTCZAK and BRIAN MELLEY | 9/8/22

FILE - Ricky Martin poses for a portrait in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Jan. 27, 2020. Martin filed a lawsuit Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, against his nephew accusing him of extortion, malicious persecution, abuse of law and damages stemming from false allegations that attorneys say cost the artist millions of dollars in lost income. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti, File)

Ricky Martin sues nephew, alleges million-dollar losses

Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin has filed a lawsuit against his nephew accusing him of extortion, malicious persecution, abuse of law and damages stemming from false allegations that attorneys … more

By DÁNICA COTO | 9/7/22

In this photo released by the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United States congressional delegation pose for photos after arriving at Taoyuan airport near Taipei, Taiwan Wednesday, Sep. 7, 2022. The U.S. congressional delegation is visiting Taiwan as tensions remain high with China over its claims to the self-governed island. The photo shows, from left, Hawaii Democrat Kaiali'i Kahel, Republicans Andy Barr of Kentucky, Claudia Tenney of New York, Darrell Issa of California, Taiwan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang, Florida Democrat Stephanie Murphy, Republicans Scott Franklin of Florida, Joe Wilson of South Carolina and Kat Cammack of Florida. (Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs via AP)

Another US congressional delegation in Taiwan amid tensions

Another U.S. congressional delegation is visiting Taiwan as tensions remain high with China over its claims to the self-governed island. A steady stream of U.S. visitors have come to the island and … more

9/7/22

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, of Ky., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol,, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

GOP gives thumbs down to Biden's $47B emergency request

President Joe Biden’s request for $47 billion in emergency funding is getting a thumbs down from Republicans in Congress. GOP senators are skeptical of Biden's request for billions of dollars to … more

By KEVIN FREKING and LISA MASCARO | 9/7/22

FILE - The "Whaling Wall" mural is seen on the AES Power Generating Plant in Redondo Beach, Calif., on April 30, 2012. The plant is among the natural gas resources the state is relying on for power amid the unprecedented heat wave, but it has experienced some partial outages that limit its capacity. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Heat wave puts California in fossil fuel conundrum

A record heat wave put California in a fossil fuel conundrum: The state has had to rely more heavily on natural gas to produce electricity and avoid power outages while Democratic Gov. Gavin … more

By KATHLEEN RONAYNE | 9/7/22

FILE - Serena Williams, of the United States, returns a shot to Ajla Tomljanovic, of Australia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. It could have been just one night, but Williams' exit from tennis turned into a boon for ESPN. Williams' third-round defeat at the hands of Ajla Tomljanovic had the largest audience of any tennis match in ESPN's 43-year history, beating the 3.9 million who watched the 2012 Wimbledon men's final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Serena Williams' goodbye to U.S. Open a ratings boon to ESPN

It could have been just one night, but Serena Williams' exit from tennis turned into a boon for ESPN. The network had four prime-time nights of tennis last week, with the three Williams singles … more

By DAVID BAUDER | 9/7/22

FILE - This 2018 photo provided by Amylyx shows the company's co-founders Joshua Cohen, left, and Justin Klee in Cambridge, Mass. on Sept. 2, 2022. A closely watched experimental drug for Lou Gehrig’s disease is getting an unusual second look from U.S. regulators on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, amid intense pressure to approve the treatment for patients with the fatal illness. Patients and their families have rallied behind the drug from Amylyx Pharma, launching an aggressive lobbying campaign and enlisting members of Congress to push the Food and Drug Administration to grant approval. (Amylyx via AP, File)

ALS drug gets rare second review at high-stakes FDA meeting

The Food and Drug Administration is holding an unusual second meeting to review a closely watched drug for the illness known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Patients with the deadly neurological disease … more

By MATTHEW PERRONE | 9/7/22

FILE - A group of fired Starbucks employees celebrate the result of a vote to unionize one of the coffee company's locations on June 7, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. Starbucks says it will reinstate seven employees who were fired in February after leading an effort to unionize their Memphis store. The seven will get their jobs back after the Seattle-based coffee giant lost an appeal of a lower court’s order to reinstate them. Starbucks says the workers violated company policy by reopening the store after closing time and inviting a television crew inside. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz, File)

Starbucks loses appeal, will rehire 7 fired Memphis workers

Starbucks says it will reinstate seven employees who were fired in February after leading an effort to unionize their Memphis store. The seven will get their jobs back after the Seattle-based coffee … more

By DEE-ANN DURBIN | 9/7/22