The El Segundo toymaker agreed to pony up $2.3 million in civil penalties for violating a federal lead paint ban that resulted in a massive recall of its Chinese-made products.

Have those nasty speculators returned? Given still-sluggish demand, there's no market-related reason why crude prices should be increasing this much this fast.

L.A. County is taking a potentially huge hit from all the cutbacks being contemplated by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky is ticked off about it.

There's even talk, according to the WSJ, about the Apple CEO making an appearance at the annual software developers' conference next week in SF,

C'mon, it's a Friday, end of a tough week - aren't you tempted to click on 90 seconds of the old "Love Boat" theme? And then did into a fun summer read?

Economists not encouraged on jobs, Countrywide defendants deny wrongdoing, Penske to buy Saturn brand, and gas prices shoot up.

May's unemployment rate shot up to 9.4 percent, which is on the high end of what analysts had been expecting, but the pace of job losses fell sharply.

As expected, the SEC filed a civil fraud lawsuit today against Countrywide Financial CEO Angelo Mozilo. A news conference is scheduled for this afternoon in Washington.

Look who is getting the last laugh in the product-promotion game. Hint: It's not Nike, which gambled big on a Kobe-LeBron matchup.

Perhaps it's not a meltdown on the order of Citizens Band radios, but only 10 percent of users account for 90 percent of all Twitter messages. That's a problem.

Extra fares are extra fares - and more seats that an airline is able to jam into a plane mean fewer planes are needed to meet demand.

Sluggish retail sales, more layoffs at THR, high court hears arguments in Taster's Choice case, and the Palm Pre receives good notices.

The DirectTV CEO gets the nod as deputy chairman, president and COO of News Corp.

The bond market has been pretty okay with the California's budget disaster, figuring that the state would be good for its obligations. But traders may be getting antsy.

Job losses slowing, SEC charges against Mozilo are near, Starbucks wins tip dispute, and proposal to restrict health insurers.

This was way past my bedtime, but his long-distance run from NY to Universal City is now on Hulu.

The Milken Institute's list of top technology centers cites the area's still-formidable aerospace presence, along with the growing tech-related influences in Hollywood.

The governor talked about the need to transform state government, though he didn't offer many specifics other than the slash-and-burn approach now being utilized.

NYT reports that the maker of obscenely large SUVs is being purchased by Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company, based in Chengdu.

Governor to address legislature, gas prices might be close to peaking out, Americans have been saving more, and Michael Moore on GM bankruptcy.

Announcement comes tomorrow, according to the WSJ, citing sources, but buyer's name will not be released.

Right before the closing bell, the Dow was up more than 220 points, to over 8700. Boeing and United Technologies were among the manufacturers that did especially well.

When more Porsches are sold in the L.A. area than Buick and Pontiacs combined, well, you can see the problem.

Chase Carey could become No. 2 at News Corp., videogame show opens in L.A., Live Nation discounts its tickets, and head of OC Register parent heading to Playboy.

Replacing the once-powerhouse corporations on the Dow Jones Industrial Average are Travelers Cos. and Cisco Systems Inc.

Here are the basics: $82.29 billion in assets and $172.81 billion in debt. Top creditors include Wilmington Trust, which represents bondholders, and the unions.