WASHINGTON — The Postal Service has narrowed the number of offices facing possible closure to 41. » Full Story

DETROIT — The Cash for Clunkers program boosted sales at Ford, Toyota and Honda in August as consumers snapped up their fuel-efficient offerings, but rivals Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors Co. » Full Story

WASHINGTON — Household income in the U.S. is essentially stagnant, raising doubts about whether consumers already hurt by job losses can sustain an economic recovery. » Full Story

WASHINGTON — Further evidence the recession is ending came in a report Thursday confirming that the economy shrank at an annual rate of just 1 percent in the spring. » Full Story

WASHINGTON — Sales of new homes surged 9.6 percent in July, another sign the housing market is climbing back from the historic bottom it reached early this year. » Full Story

WASHINGTON — Consumer sentiment rose more than expected in August and expectations hit the highest level since the recession began, indications that Americans’ pessimism about the economy may be... » Full Story

WASHINGTON — The number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly for the second straight week, a sign that jobs remain scarce even as other data show the U.S. » Full Story

WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood assured car dealers Wednesday that they will be reimbursed for the money they have fronted to customers buying cars under the Cash for Clunkers... » Full Story

A fixture on the landscape in Laurel for more than four decades is gone as the co-op elevator in the southern Marshall County town is being torn down. » Full Story

With three months until the anticipated opening of the renovated Orpheum Theater in downtown Marshalltown, project committee members have some big decisions to make. » Full Story