Millions will have to repay part of tax credit

WASHINGTON - More than 15 million taxpayers could unexpectedly owe taxes when they file their federal returns next spring because the government was too generous with their new Making Work Pay tax credit.

Frank floats loan plan for unemployed homeowners AP Photo pursuing

Frank floats loan plan for jobless homeowners

FALL RIVER (AP) - Rep. Barney Frank is floating a proposal to use the interest the government collects from the TARP bailout to give loans to unemployed homeowners struggling to pay the mortage.

Henderson: GM to start repaying aid by year-end

WASHINGTON - General Motors Co. will begin paying back $6.7 billion in U.S. government loans by the end of 2009 and could pay off that full amount as early as 2010, five years ahead of schedule, CEO Fritz Henderson said Monday.

Fed cracks down on gift card abuses

WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve on Monday proposed new rules to protect consumers from unexpected costs or restrictions on gift cards.

More than 95 percent of Americans have received or purchased gift cards, the Fed said.

Daimler head: Years for US market to fully rebound

NEW YORK (AP) - The battered U.S. auto market will eventually see sales return to levels posted before the economic meltdown, but not for at least another two to three years, the chairman of German automaker Daimler AG said Thursday.

Cell tower company proposes gamble to city of Northampton

NORTHAMPTON - A company that leases land at the Glendale Road landfill for a cell phone tower has offered to buy out its 20-year lease for a one-time payment of $509,000, rather than making annual payments for the next decade. In exchange, American Tower is asking for a lifetime lease on the land. The contract with the company runs through 2020.

Amherst grant-seeking targets redevelopment of brownfields

AMHERST - Grants to assist the town and developers in finding ways to reuse abandoned commercial and industrial sites are being sought as part of a renewed focus on brownfields.