General Motors Corp., pounded by declining sales and rising health care costs, said it will cut 3... GM to slash jobs...

General Motors Corp., pounded by declining sales and rising health care costs, said it will cut 30,000 North American manufacturing jobs and close 12 facilities by 2008. The job cuts represent 27 percent of GM’s hourly jobs and about 17 percent of its overall North American work force of 173,000.

Top executives of Community Medical Center Healthcare System in Scranton and Wyoming Valley Health Care System announced they are exploring a strategic partnership to share their resources and enhance their care.

The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade organization, raised its growth forecast for the Christmas season to 6 percent from its September forecast of 5 percent.

Plans by a New Jersey developer to build a 25-story hotel and slots casino in the Monroe County village of Pocono Manor aren’t going over well with everyone. Nine Tobyhanna Township residents spoke out against the project at a meeting.

The number of new people signing up for jobless benefits last week rose sharply, suggesting that the labor market is still trying to gain traction after being knocked by a trio of Gulf Coast hurricanes.

The Labor Department reported that new applications for unemployment insurance jumped by a seasonally adjusted 30,000 to 335,000 for the week ending Nov. 19. In the prior week, new filings for jobless benefits registered a large decline.

Cameron Moore will step down as head of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance at the end of the year, leaving behind an economic development group considered more focused and effective, but dogged by an employment lawsuit and personnel complaints.

US Airways Group Inc. said its acquisition by America West - he cornerstone of its bankruptcy exit - will face "significant challenges" and the combined company may not perform as expected.

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