• 118 Freightliner workers say 'Yes' to S. Carolina
Turns out that plenty of Freightliner employees apparently have concluded that life in South Carolina might not be too bad after all.

• 2007 growth in overseas sales
narrows the U.S. trade deficit The U.S. trade deficit shrank in 2007 for the first time in five years, buoyed by a surge in exports that has helped domestic businesses stay afloat as the domestic economy flags.

• A suit fit for a superhero
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will enter Sunday's Daytona 500 as the favorite, decked in a new, white-and-green racing suit -- but not the one its designers at Adidas America in Portland first drew up.

• Bill adds safeguards against foreclosure
The Oregon House on Thursday endorsed reforms to help homeowners fend off what state officials worry may be a wave of foreclosures in the next year.

• Democrats want more economic aid
WASHINGTON -- Senate Democrats promised Thursday to follow the just-enacted economic stimulus bill with steps to boost the slumping housing market and forestall home foreclosures.

• Governor ups ante against LNG sites
Gov. Ted Kulongoski insisted Thursday that federal regulators halt all reviews of proposals to build liquefied-natural-gas terminals in Oregon until they study all alternatives for supplying natural gas to the region.

• LNG foes angry with bureaucracy
ASTORIA -- Opponents of a liquefied natural gas terminal near Astoria complained at a public hearing about the number of state and federal agencies involved in the project, saying none has responsibility for a complete project review.

• Mortgage lending reform bill hits roadblock
Sen. Ben Westlund's bill to reform mortgage lending in Oregon has stalled in the Legislature, but House leaders say they'll introduce a similar proposal Monday to try to salvage something.

• News highlights
NEWS UPDATE: AIRLINE CONSOLIDATION

• Pharmacy benefits manager settles claims
Pharmacy benefits manager Caremark has agreed to a $38.5 million settlement to resolve claims filed by 38 states, including Oregon and Washington, that it was being deceptive when it encouraged patients to switch prescription drugs under the guise of saving money.

• Recall highlights
The following product recalls have been announced:

• Slow growth, rate cuts forecast
WASHINGTON -- The economy is likely to improve in the second half of the year after a slow start, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Thursday. But he also signaled that the central bank is open to further interest rate cuts because of the risk that the situation will get worse.