Stock futures are extending their gains as news of an improving job market and strong consumer spending provided reassurance that the economy is recovering.

The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week to the lowest level in over a year.

Consumers got back in the buying mood in October as their incomes grew modestly, an encouraging sign for the budding economic recovery.

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said Tuesday that if elected governor, her education plan would focus on bringing more technology to the classroom, recruiting and retaining teachers, lowering the high school dropout rate and helping school districts find ways to save money.

WATERBURY, Vt.—-Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. today issued the following statement regarding the determination by the Board of Directors of Diedrich Coffee, Inc. that GMCR’s revised $32.00 per share all-cash proposal constitutes a superior proposal, as defined in the existing merger agreement between Diedrich and Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc. , to Peet’s November 22, 2009 cash and stock proposal:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it aims to stop agricultural runoff in 41 watersheds in 12 states from ending up in the Mississippi River.

Dubai’s government says it has raised $5 billion by selling bonds to two banks controlled by neighboring Abu Dhabi as the debt-saddled emirate looks to boost businesses hammered by the global economic meltdown.

Germany on Wednesday extended until the end of 2010 a program that allows companies to put workers on short work hours in an effort to avoid layoffs — an arrangement credited with keeping unemployment down over recent months.