AP - A plan to give troubled U.S. automakers billions of dollars in government-backed loans is on life support, leaving the fate of hundreds of thousands of workers and Detroit's once-venerable car companies hanging in the balance.

AP - President-elect Barack Obama has started his Cabinet selections by naming several Washington insiders to top posts. Now, he may be reaching out to outsiders, including Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, who reportedly is the lead choice as secretary of the Homeland Security Department.

AP - U.S. stocks looked to extend their losses at the open Thursday as investors found little relief from worries about the fate of Detroit's three automakers and broader fears about the struggling economy.