In the News ...

Oil climbs to near $68, new high for the year Oil prices rose to near $68 a barrel Monday, hitting a new high for the year as world stock markets rallied and investors banked on hopes that the global recession is easing.

Stocks open higher on more signs of recovery Stocks are starting June with a gain, as upbeat data on overseas manufacturing and U.S. consumer spending added to hopes for a global economic recovery.

General Motors to close or idle 12 more plants General Motors Corp. says it will permanently close nine more plants and idle three others to trim production and labor costs under bankruptcy protection.Assembly plants in Pontiac, Mich., and Wilmington, Del., will close this year, while plants in Spring Hill, Tenn., and Orion, Mich., will shut down production but remain on standby.

Nutritionist Charged in Fraud Case A Silver Spring nutritionist who was convicted of Medicaid fraud last year has now been charged with mortgage fraud.

Mom finds abducted son on Facebook A British woman has been reunited with her son, who was abducted by his father 27 years ago, thanks to the social networking Web site Facebook.

Judge OKs Chrysler-Fiat Deal Judge OKs Chrysler-Fiat Deal Chrysler LLC has told a bankruptcy court it plans to eliminate 789 of its dealers - or about 25 percent of them - across the country as part of its restructuring process.