Surging oil prices drove the U.S. trade deficit further into the red in March, according to government data released Wednesday May 11, 2011.

The trade balance, which measures the difference between the nation's imports and exports, burgeoned to a $48.2 billion deficit in March from $45.4 billion in February, the Commerce Department said.

Economists were expecting the deficit to grow due to rising commodity prices, but the gap came in even deeper than the $47.7 billion they had expected. Read more »

The head of Chevron Corp.'s division that was created to run its recently acquired Marcellus shale natural gas interests in Pennsylvania said Fayette County is at the center of its long-term business plans and local hiring will gradually increase in the coming years.

Bruce Niemeyer, vice president of Chevron's Appalachian and Michigan Strategic Business Unit in Moon Township, discussed the corporation's plans to grow its Marcellus business and other industry developments at a Fayette Chamber of Commerce. Read more »

Oil prices rose above $113 a barrel Thursday April 28, 2011 in Asia to the highest since 2008 as a weakening U.S. dollar made commodities such as crude cheaper for investors with other currencies.

Benchmark crude for June delivery was up 51 cents at $113.27 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude reached $113.70 earlier in the session, the highest since September 2008.

The contract rose 55 cents to settle at $112.76 on Wednesday. Read more »

Macomb farmer Michael J. Vandenberg has asked St. Lawrence County for what he thinks he needs to keep his farm sustainable for the long term.

"I want to repurchase mineral rights that are owned by the county," Mr. Vandenberg told legislators Monday April 25, 2011. "The only reason I want the mineral rights back is to protect what's on the surface."

Mr. Vandenberg said he has artesian wells and valuable trees that he would not want disturbed if exploration of the mineral rights under his 99 acres was ever done. Read more »