The Christian Science Monitor - Michael Rady worked at the docks for 15 years to pay off the mortgage on his Cleveland home.

AP - Republicans in the Virginia House of Delegates forced a unanimous vote Thursday that killed former Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine's proposed income tax increase and the two-year budget it was intended to support.

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AP - Rates for 30-year home loans fell to a shade below 5 percent this week but remained above last month's record lows.

AP - Anyone in Utah who earns more than $250,000 a year would pay higher income taxes under a proposal being sponsored by a Democratic state lawmaker.

AP - The student lender best known as Sallie Mae reversed its year-ago loss and posted a fourth-quarter profit Wednesday, partly as a result of higher revenue from interest and fees.

AP - For some small business owners, income tax filing season feels like a slow-motion train wreck.

Reuters - In a sign that the U.S. banking sector's problems are far from over, lenders including Bank of America Corp reported falling bond trading revenue and mortgage lending weakness in the fourth quarter.

Reuters - U.S. housing starts unexpectedly fell last month as unusually cold weather hampered construction, but a jump in building permits to a 14-month high indicated the housing market recovery was intact.