washington state

Common sense suggests that as home prices decline, the property taxes based on their valuations ought to as well. But property taxes nationally are clicking higher. Why is this occurring? Several factors are at work -- and they bode ill for state budgets.

Rent-A-Center, the national furniture, electronics and appliance rental chain, has settled charges that the company charged outrageous fees in addition to harassing and threatening customers to collect owed money. Washington state's attorney general filed a complaint in July showing the absurdly...

New Jersey often plays second fiddle to neighboring New York, but a new survey of the 50 U.S. states shows the Garden State bested New York in having the least favorable tax climate for business. It's the second consecutive year New Jersey has finished dead last, according to the 2010 State...

Accusing Rent-A-Center of using collection tactics and charging fees just this side of a loan shark, Washington state is asking a judge to declare the practices illegal and halt them. The allegations are another black eye to the business of renting furniture, electronics and appliances to those...

Several American cities are left almost deserted after being hit hard from the current recession. The bankruptcies of U.S. automakers have caused many residents of Detroit, MI to venture elsewhere in hopes of re-launching their careers. The vision of a "fresh start" is common talk among many...

The Washington State Department of Transportation is making it easy for job seekers there to find jobs being funded through the federal stimulus project.The department's Website has lists of projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which became law on Feb. 17 as a way...

In a sparsely furnished cubicle somewhere, a telephone rings. A woman's concerned voice on the phone pleads to a specialist for assistance. She needs to know if her child will succumb to poisoning after eating a large volume of toothpaste. She is calmed by the helpful person who answered the phone,...