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• Small Lenders Ride US Mortgage Wave

  

  Scores of independent mortgage lenders and community banks are winning business from banks such as Citigroup or Bank of America that have retrenched after the financial crisis.

• ANALYSIS-Small lenders ride US mortgage wave as big banks cut back

  Feb 4- Guaranteed Rate, Inc, a home loan company, opened shop in 2000 in Chicago with a single office. Most of that growth has come in the last two years and Chief Executive Victor Ciardelli said in an interview he is not planning to slow down.

• UPDATE 2-Boeing 787 investigation making progress -US NTSB

  WASHINGTON, Feb 1- U.S. officials on Friday said they are making progress in their investigation of a battery fire on a Boeing Co 787 Dreamliner in Boston this month, as the grounding of Boeing's entire fleet Of 787 s stretched into a third week.

• UPDATE 1-Alaska Airlines pilot passes out midair, co-pilot lands plane

  SEATTLE, Feb 1- A Seattle- bound Alaska Airlines flight made an emergency landing in Oregon after its veteran pilot passed out in the passenger cabin, in the second such fainting spell involving the U.S. carrier in 10 days, the airline said on Friday.

• UPDATE 1-Marathon Petroleum closes BP Texas City refinery deal

  *Marathon now owner of refinery with deadly past under BP. HOUSTON, Feb 1- Marathon Petroleum Corp on Friday closed its $2.4 billion acquisition of BP Plc's Texas City, Texas, refinery, both companies said.

• Chu praises Gregoire, possible choice for Obama energy team

  Chu lauded Gregoire, a Democrat who served as governor of Washington state from 2005 until mid-January and is long-time backer of President Barack Obama.

• Alaska Airlines pilot passes out midair, co-pilot lands plane

  SEATTLE, Feb 1- A Seattle- bound Alaska Airlines flight made an emergency landing in Oregon after its veteran pilot passed out in the passenger cabin, in the second such fainting spell involving the U.S. carrier in 10 days, the airline said on Friday.

• Abortion insurance bill creates Wash. state debate

  OLYMPIA, Wash.-- Abortion rights supporters and opponents packed a Washington state House hearing Thursday and debated a measure that would require insurers to pay for the procedure.

• Australia protests to Japan about whaling ship

  CANBERRA, Australia-- A support vessel for the Japanese whaling fleet is sailing in Australian waters in pursuit of anti-whaling activists, Australia said after protesting to the Tokyo government.

• Beef Price Spike Makes $1 Burger Harder to Stomach

  

  McDonald's popular $1 McDouble cheeseburger, which has lured customers to the Golden Arches since 2008, is getting hard to sustain as rising beef prices threaten the company's profit margin.

• Report warns of US state inactivity on consumer health reforms

  WASHINGTON, Feb 1- Only 11 of the 50 U.S. states have moved to implement new consumer safeguards under President Barack Obama's healthcare law, raising questions about how major health insurance reforms will be enforced, a report released on Friday says.

• INSIGHT-Revived search for a TB vaccine may be about to pay off

  CHICAGO, Feb 1- After nearly 100 years, researchers could be on the verge of finding a vaccine that would eradicate tuberculosis infections, a scourge that kills 1.4 million people a year. "In my own personal view, I will consider this to be a landmark or a watershed," said Peggy Johnston, senior program officer at the Bill& Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle.

• ANALYSIS-Beef price spike makes $1 McDouble harder to stomach

  *McDouble price above $1 in LA, Manhattan and Chicago McDonald's promoting $1 Grilled Onion Cheddar Burger. Feb 1- McDonald's popular $1 McDouble cheeseburger, which has lured customers to the Golden Arches since 2008, is getting hard to sustain as rising beef prices threaten the company's profit margin.

• Wash. bills would ban chemicals in baby products

  SEATTLE-- Maia Driver recently decided to return a pink cushion she bought for her daughter after learning the foam in it was likely treated with chemicals intended to prevent fires but that were also potentially harmful. Sharon Nelson, D- Maury Island, sponsor of Senate Bill 5181. Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D- Sequim, is sponsoring the companion House Bill 1294..

• Wash. lawmakers weigh training wage for employees

  OLYMPIA, Wash.-- Washington state has the highest state minimum wage in the nation, but a new bill being considered by lawmakers would allow some employers to pay a lower "training wage" to new employees for a certain period of time. Washington state's minimum wage increased by 15 cents this month to $9.19 per hour.

• Damage assessment continues on Shell drill vessel

  ANCHORAGE, Alaska-- The united command overseeing the salvage of the Royal Dutch Shell PLC drill barge says the vessel's damage poses no threat to its stability while it's anchored off an Alaska island.

• Wash. Senate delays workers' compensation vote

  OLYMPIA, Wash.-- The Washington state Senate on Wednesday passed its first bills of the 2013 legislative session, but put off a vote on a set of contentious measures intended to save businesses money by changing workers' compensation rules.

• Paccar 4Q results beat analysts' expectations

  BELLEVUE, Wash.-- Truck maker Paccar's fourth-quarter net income fell 23 percent, as revenue weakened. The Bellevue, Wash., company earned $253.5 million, or 72 cents per share, for the three months ended Dec. 31. For the year Paccar Inc. made $1.11 billion, or $3.12 per share compared with $1.04 billion, or $2.86 per share, in 2011..

• Amazon shares hit record high after 4Q report

  NEW YORK-- Shares of Amazon.com Inc. briefly hit their highest level ever on Wednesday after the world's biggest online retailer impressed investors with strengthening profit margins in its fourth-quarter earnings report.

• Help Wanted: Washington Weed Czar 

  

  Washington State's liquor control board is seeking a marijuana consultant to help forge ahead regulation for its newly legalized substance. Steve Fox, director of government relations with the Marijuana Policy Project, offers insight.