LIUYANG, China -- Chen Tiezhong will likely spend the Fourth of July worrying about the future of his sprawling fireworks factory. China, where fireworks were invented, is running short of ports from which to ship the dangerous cargoes abroad. ... - By WI

Toyota Motor Corp. will start producing the hybrid Prius in the U.S. for the first time as the Japanese automaker adjusts its U.S. manufacturing operations to meet customer demands for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The company said Thursday

On the Democratic side, there's a lawyer, a retired educator, an engineer and a sales representative. The Republican side features a computer network engineer, a teacher and a senior citizens group-home operator.

St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko said she will again propose the administrative unification of the city and the Leningrad Oblast that surrounds it in coming weeks.

COLUMBIA CITY – Installing environmentally friendly lighting can help companies save money and retain jobs, lighting companies said during an energy-efficient lighting demonstration in Columbia City on Thursday.