DC

U.S. economic confidence fell slightly in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year. But consumers in the District of Columbia and states such as Maryland, Virginia, Utah and Massachusetts kept their confidence up. Here's why.

Verizon Communications Inc. has agreed to give the District of Columbia 2,500 calling cards to end an investigation by the D.C. attorney general's office into unused balances on calling cards bought by consumers. Verizon declined to comment on the settlement.

Since the fall of 2008, the big banks have spent $600 million on lobbying and related political activities. More and more, influence in Washington is an essential contributor to profits.

Mother Nature's fury this winter has left a path of fiscal destruction that will linger far after the record-breaking snowfall starts to melt -- and she's not done yet. But for some businesses, blizzards mean opportunity.

The comic book industry may not able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but it has withstood the worst economic decline since the Great Depression fairly well. According to industry estimates, sales to specialty retailers rose 1% to $324.66 million between January and September. Experts say...