U.S. auto sales struggled to gain ground in November and big improvements aren’t expected until people stop worrying about losing their jobs.

Michael Jackson’s stunning death made him the Internet’s biggest star this year. The quest to find out what happened to Jackson in his final hours on June 25 and celebrate his legacy elevated the late entertainer to the top of the Internet’s search charts for 2009.

WASHINGTON—-While most of the country sits down to bountiful holiday meals, many older Americans with low or limited incomes face far less abundant tables. BenefitsCheckUp®, a free online screening tool developed by the National Council on Aging , can help seniors and their families find benefits programs that ensure they don’t go hungry.

The infectious bacterial disease brucellosis has been found in a beef cow in eastern Idaho, and state agriculture officials are scrambling to see if the infection is isolated or if it has spread to other herds.

NEW YORK—-Fitch rates Hillsborough County, Florida’s general obligation bonds, series 2009A and 2009B ‘AA+’. Series 2009A will be tax-exempt while the county will decide whether to issue series 2009B as tax-exempt bonds or Build America Bonds at the time of issuance.

As unemployment spikes, the cost of compassion is going up too. By as much as $100 billion. That’s the potential price of a push by Democrats in Congress to continue providing extra help to the jobless beyond the core 26-week unemployment insurance package provided under permanent law.

North Korea has revalued its currency for the first time in a half century, reportedly triggering chaos in the impoverished nation by moving to assert state control over a growing market economy.

PHILADELPHIA—-Market Street in University City is getting a facelift. Work began in November on a project to revitalize the streetscape on Market from 34th to 41st Streets. The University City Science Center is overseeing the project which is expected to take seven months to complete.

U.S. stocks climbed on Tuesday as a weak dollar boosted natural resource companies’ shares and housing data reassured investors about the recovery.

Regional Federal Reserve banks favored keeping interest rates low in November because of the risk an economic pickup might falter on weakening consumer spending.