91ÊÓƵ

Click here to write a Letter to the Editor. he U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 3.1% in the first quarter, down from a revised fourth-quarter rate of 3.8%, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

The number of U.S. workers filing for initial unemployment benefits rose by 21,000 in the week ended April 23, reversing three straight weeks of declines, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Target Logistics Inc. reported net income for its fiscal third quarter ended March 31 was $264,894 or 1 cent per share, compared with $114,981 or 1 cent a year earlier.

Short-rail line RailAmerica Inc. reported first-quarter earnings of $6.2 million or 16 cents a share, up from $1.3 million or 4 cents a year ago.

Truck maker Paccar Inc. increased the company’s regular quarterly cash dividend 5% to 21 cents a share, payable June 6 to stockholders of record as of May 19.

Patriot Transportation Holding Inc. said late Wednesday that net earnings for its second quarter ended March 31 were $1.5 million or 51 cents, compared with $6.9 million or $2.34 a year earlier.

Click here to write a Letter to the Editor. verall trucking freight volumes fell 3.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis to 111.6 in March, according to an American Trucking Associations index released Wednesday.

U.S. Reportedly Not Heeding 9/11 Commission Findings • Senate Approves Negroponte as Intelligence Chief • Worldwide Terrorist Attacks on Rise, Paper Says • DHS Awards $9.6 Mln. in Bus Security Grants

Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.A federal appeals court heard oral arguments Wednesday on a motion by CSX Transportation seeking to overturn a District of Columbia law restricting rail hazardous materials shipments in the capital.

Eastern freight railroad Norfolk Southern Corp. reported Tuesday it earned $194 million or 47 cents a share, a 23% rise from last year’s $158 million or 40 cents.