Chicago Tribune: While the tax package that Congress passed New Year’s Day will protect 99 percent of Americans from an income tax increase, most of them will still end up paying more federal taxes in 2013.
Washington Post: U.S. markets surged more than 2 percent Wednesday morning, hours after Congress approved a plan to avoid the “fiscal cliff” by raising taxes on American’s wealthiest households.
AP: Hostess expects to sell of its snack cakes and bread brands like Twinkies and Wonder Bread to separate buyers.
AP: The Philadelphia Mint is testing a variety of recipes to make coins more cheaply without altering quality, durability, size or appearance.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Pet owners are spending more to indulge their pets during the holidays.
New York Times: President Obama will nominate Senator John Kerry as secretary of state, succeeding Hillary Clinton.
Nike’s second-quarter profits are up, and the company is back on track in China, according to CEO Mark Parker.
Federal unemployment benefits will run out for 25,000 Oregonians by the end of the year.
Private check collection agencies are sending letters with county district attorneys’ letterheads to scare Oregonians into paying for bounced check fees.
Pfizer will pay $1 million to Oregon and run national advertising to correct prior ad campaigns that allegedly misrepresented products.