WASHINGTON, May 21- Top Internal Revenue Service officials told Congress on Tuesday they were unaware of the agency's targeting of conservative groups for extra tax scrutiny until recently and did not deliberately mislead lawmakers last year when they did not reveal the practice.
But he vetoed some sections, including a proposal to spend $81 million planning a replacement bridge that would extend Interstate 5 over the Columbia River.
PORTLAND, Ore.-- Umpqua Holdings is raising its quarterly dividend by 50 percent to 15 cents per share and also plans to pay a special dividend.
*Yahoo's board approves $1.1 bln Tumblr acquisition. *Actavis to acquire Warner Chilcott in stock-for-stock deal. Deals including Yahoo's $1.1 billion bid for Tumblr indicate that companies continue to search for growth through acquisitions, a bullish sign for stocks.
CHICAGO-- United States Cellular Corp., the sixth-largest cellphone carrier in the country, on Friday closed on the sale of some of its Midwestern markets to No. 3 Sprint Nextel Corp. and announced that it's handing over the proceeds to shareholders through a special dividend.
SALEM, Ore.-- A slow, steady economic recovery means Oregon's treasury will take in more money than previously expected, economists said Thursday, but the news did little to thaw an impasse over pension cuts and tax increases. House Speaker Tina Kotek and Senate President Peter Courtney, both Democrats, quickly backed the governor's plan.
SALEM, Ore.-- The Oregon Legislature has passed a bill barring bosses from demanding employees or job applicants turn over their Facebook passwords and other social media login information. In a 56 -3 vote on Thursday, the Oregon House sent the bill to the governor's desk.
PORTLAND, Ore, May 16- The U.S. "It will take further gains to convince me that the' substantial improvement' test for ending our asset purchases has been met," John Williams, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, said in remarks prepared for delivery to a luncheon sponsored by the Portland Business Journal.
HONOLULU-- The latest version of the U.S. Senate immigration reform bill restores Medicaid eligibility to migrants from three Pacific island nations in Micronesia. In exchange, the U.S. military controls extensive strategic land and water in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and China.
CONVERSE COUNTY, Wyo.-- Wind farms in this corner of Wyoming have killed more than four dozen golden eagles since 2009, one of the deadliest places in the country of its kind.
After years of planning, New York City transportation officials offered the bikes for a media test run on a warm, sunny Sunday in Brooklyn. More than 9,000 people who have signed up for bike-sharing will be able to ride on May 27 _ Memorial Day, when streets are quieter _ and the program will open to anyone starting June 2.
SALEM, Ore.-- Discussions about funding for schools, safety-net programs and all the other functions of state government in Oregon will take a big step forward this week. Economists are scheduled to tell the Oregon Legislature on Thursday how much money they expect the state to collect over the next two years.
HONOLULU-- Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced a pilot project Thursday to address homelessness by providing housing for people within their own neighborhoods. Other states that have invested in the strategy include Oregon and Kansas.
*U.S. dollar climbs above 100 yen. *Gold off 1 percent as U.S. jobless data, strong dollar weigh. NEW YORK, May 9- The U.S. dollar broke through 100 yen on Thursday, its highest level against the currency in over four years, while stocks in major markets slipped from recent record levels.
NEW YORK, May 9- Brent crude edged up in volatilite trade on Thursday, and U.S. crude settled slightly down, as investors weighed Middle East tensions against weak demand and high inventories. Brent crude for June rallied just before the close of the trading session to end 13 cents higher at $104.47 per barrel, up more than $1 from a session low of $103.45.
NEW YORK, May 9- Brent crude edged lower on Thursday for a third straight day as tensions in the Middle East receded, leaving rising global fuel supplies and faltering demand to weigh on prices.
PORTLAND, Ore.-- Precision Castparts rocketed to an all-time high in trading Thursday after breezing past Wall Street profit expectations for the fourth quarter. Net income jumped 23 percent to $414.2 million, or $2.82 per share, up from $336.1 million, or $2.30 per share a year earlier.
GRANTS PASS, Ore.-- With drought looming, the state of Oregon is preparing for the likelihood it will have to shut off irrigation access for many of the 200 cattle ranchers and hay farmers in the upper Klamath Basin as the Klamath Tribes take control of senior water rights in the region for the first time in a century.
PROVIDENCE, R.I.-- Rhode Island lawmakers reviewed legislation Tuesday that would allow immigrants to obtain driver's licenses regardless of their legal status _ but the controversial idea has already run into opposition from law enforcement, anti-illegal immigration groups and the ACLU.
PORTLAND, Ore.-- The U.S. Coast Guard has cited the owner of a protest boat that violated a 200- yard safety zone at the Port of Kalama, Wash.. Protest boats have taken to the Columbia River because of a contract dispute between grain terminal operators and the International Longshore& Warehouse Union.