Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says allowing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to return to their old operating ways is not an option.

The government estimates it will spend $6.5 million by the end of January in salaries and other administrative costs for the $700 billion financial rescue program.

President-elect Barack Obama is promising that his economic stimulus plan won’t include money for politicians’ pet projects and will include provisions aimed at ensuring his administration is open and accountable to taxpayers and Congress.

Ford Motor Co. says its U.S. sales plummeted 32 percent in December as buyers continued to steer clear of showrooms due to economic uncertainty.

The bad economy has been both good and bad for Charleston Crime Stoppers. The Post and Courier of Charleston reports that the number of tips are up as people seek out the $100 to $1,000 rewards offered for information on crimes.

Beneath the glowing red Coca-Cola headquarters sign, case worker Hylda Jackson bargains with one of Atlanta’s homeless. Jackson wants to know if Harry Byrd would like his own apartment. If he says no, he’ll remain among the 750,000 homeless sprinkled across the nation’s streets and shelters each night.

Long lines are returning to some South Carolina gas stations. Gas prices are back in the news, but not in a way we’ve seen it in a long time. WJBF News Channel 6’s Barclay Bishop has more.

The Treasury Department says it has provided an additional $4.7 billion to 92 banks as part of the government’s $700 billion rescue of the financial system.

There’s a lot of debate about whether it should be done, but the President’s loan plan is good news for the auto industry…and for plants that supply parts for those cars. Bridgestone Firestone’s Aiken County plant supplies tires to two of the “Big 3” auto companies. Count on Joy Howe to find out what the news means for them.

At a time when other states are clamoring for cash, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is saying no thanks.

Some South Carolina lawmakers will go without travel and expense payments for additional weeks next year because of the state’s budget troubles.

The Federal Reserve has cut its target for a key interest rate to the lowest level on record and pledged to use “all available tools” to combat a severe financial crisis and prolonged recession.

U.S. households, hit by declining home values and stock market losses, cut back on their debt levels for the first time on record.

Senate Republicans say they have grave concerns about the agreement between congressional Democrats and the Bush White House to speed billions of dollars to struggling U.S. automakers.

Officials say that congressional Democrats leaders and the White House have finalized a deal to spend $15 billion on emergency loans for struggling U.S. automakers.