Alabama

Federal tax giveaways to industries have received much criticism, but the relocation incentives offered by states may be the most counterproductive of all corporate subsidies.

You might think that with the economy on its slow climb back to health, Americans would have gotten a little bit happier in 2011. In fact, they got a bit more miserable. And some states have more reasons to be down in the dumps than others.

Jefferson County, Alabama's, sewer debt crisis is coming to a close. Commissioners voted Friday on a deal framework that will let it restructure and partially write off $3.14 billion debt, saving the county from filing for Chapter 9 in what would have been the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.

As you hit the road for your final road trip of the summer, consider driving to one of the 10 states with the lowest prices on gas. Turns out, those sunny states also offer bountiful vacation options for the budget-conscious family.

Investors and officials in Jefferson County, Ala., are trying to negotiate a deal to avoid bankruptcy by Thursday's deadline. If they're unsuccessful, the county could end up with the largest Chapter 9 filing in U.S. history, which could rattle the $2.9 trillion municipal bond market.

Last month, 27 states lost jobs, while 10 states and Washington, D.C., had no rate change from July, according to the report. Overall unemployment was down slightly from the 9.7% rate in August 2009, the BLS said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into potential steering problems in some 2011 Hyundai Sonatas. The probe is based on two incidents that the company reported through the government's "Early Warning Reporting" system, CNN said. In one of these cases, a universal...

The decline in property values could total $3 billion over five years, Bloomberg reported, citing real estate data company CoreLogic. The BP oil spill could wipe out the premium that buyers normally pay to be near the ocean.

A consortium of 11 Gulf Coast tourist destinations in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida has requested a grant from BP to fund a marketing campaign aimed at luring vacationers back. While the group hopes to entice tourists to the region, it will also need to be honest about the current state of the area's beaches.

If you're due a state tax refund this year, you should probably prepare to wait awhile for that check to arrive. Four cash-strapped states, including Alabama, Hawaii, New York and North Carolina are planning to delay refund payments this year in order to cover budgetary shortfalls. And it's...