Obama signs bill assisting homebuyers and jobless
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama signed a $24 billion economic stimulus bill into law Friday, giving tax incentives to prospective homebuyers and additional jobless benefits to those idled by the business slump. The bill-signing came a day after the House, displaying rare bipartisan agreement over the troubling employment picture nationally, voted 403-12 to pass the measure. The Senate had approved it unanimously on Wednesday. The White House said that the law, which also includes tax cuts for struggling businesses, builds on provisions in the $787 billion stimulus package enacted last February to avert an economic meltdown. ‘‘The need for such a measure was made clear by the jobs report that we received this morning,’’ Obama said, citing Friday’s government report the jobless rate hit 10.2 percent last month, the highest since 1983.
» Full StoryBill will help Hawaii’s unemployed
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Congressman Neil Abercrombie estimates close to 47,000 island residents will benefit from a measure passed by the Congress this week and signed by President Barack Obmama on Friday.
» Full Story$22M promised in TV newsroom merger
HONOLULU — Raycom Media Inc. has promised to pay $22 million to MCG Capital Corp.
» Full StoryBusiness / In Brief
Hawaiian installing blended winglets
HONOLULU — Hawaiian Airlines has announced the installation of blended winglets on the first of its Boeing 767-300 jets.
Isle bankruptcy filings still high but rate slows
The number of Hawaii bankruptcies remains relatively high, though the rate of increase is slowing.
» Full StoryBusiness / In Brief
Existing housing sales increase on Oahu
HONOLULU — The Honolulu Board of Realtors reports sales of existing single-family homes and condominiums on Oahu were robust last month, while prices were down.





