Democratic senators are taking aim at insurance industry executive pay as they jockey for advantage in a rare weekend session to debate President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

President Barack Obama on Saturday sought to reassure Americans frustrated by high unemployment that he’s concentrating on jobs, while defending his administration’s efforts to strengthen the economy on several fronts.

Two years of steep job cuts all but ended last month, unexpectedly pulling down the unemployment rate and raising hopes for a lasting economic recovery.

Two years of steep job cuts all but ended last month, unexpectedly pulling down the unemployment rate and raising hopes for a lasting economic recovery.

PLEASANTON, Calif.—-In cooperation with Beef Packers, Inc.’s recall of 22,000 pounds of fresh ground beef that may be linked to an outbreak of Salmonella, Safeway Inc. is recalling fresh ground beef products with “Sell By” dates of September 28 through October 11, 2009.

Regulators on Friday shut down Ohio’s AmTrust Bank, the fourth-largest bank to fail this year. They also closed five others, bringing to 130 the number of U.S. banks to be brought down so far in 2009 by recession and mountains of bad debt.

The federal government has awarded nearly $18 million to build a refinery in Alpena that will produce biofuels. The U.S. Energy Department on Friday announced the grant to American Process Inc.

Investors grew more confident about the economy but also worried that a brighter employment picture will mean rising interest rates.

Prominent Kansas Democrats rallied Friday behind their presumed nominee for governor despite his recent settling of a lawsuit that led a top aide for the leading Republican hopeful to label him “a fraud.”