News

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/05/thursday_biz_roundup_xx.html

Here's a roundup of the morning's news -- and the weekend's top stories -- from The Oregonian's business desk:

Stocks: The stock market extended its sharp slide Thursday after disappointing employment news added to investors' already bleak view of the world economy.

Mortgage fraud: A growing federal crackdown on mortgage fraud continued Wednesday when a grand jury leveled fraud and conspiracy charges against six in the Portland area.

Intel: The chipmaker received a message in the politics of social media Wednesday when activists opposed to minerals mining in the Congo inundated Intel's Facebook page.

Sunwest: Sunwest Management notified the state Wednesday that it will begin to lay off the bulk of its headquarters staff in Salem, about 150 total, beginning in July.

LNG: The state senate's Republic leader wants fellow legislators to press for more information on whether Brent Foster, a Department of Justice attorney who resigned in April after misrepresenting his role in a criminal environmental case, also actively worked to derail a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal on the lower Columbia River.

National Guard: Veterans are suing KBR over their alleged exposure to a cancer-causing chemical.

Beer: Portland State has added its name and logo to a beer from Rogue Ales.

Embezzlement: A former tire company bookkeeper has been sentenced to 9 1/2 years in prison for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Banking: Umpqua Bank opens another "neighborhood store" in Sellwood.