Top Updates: Week of feb 22nd, 2010

Obama's $1.5 billion financing plan would help struggling homeowners in 5 states
By Michael D. Shear and Renae Merle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, February 20, 2010
LAS VEGAS -- President Obama unveiled a $1.5 billion program to aid the states hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis, a small but targeted effort to address a housing problem that continues to resist government solutions.

Va. House, Senate pass competing budgets to close deficit
By Rosalind S. Helderman and Fredrick Kunkle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 22, 2010
RICHMOND -- Budget writers in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates adopted competing plans Sunday to shrink government services in the face of a $4 billion budget shortfall.

White House crafts jobs bill, a year into stimulus effort
By Neil Irwin, Lori Montgomery and Alec MacGillis
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The giant economic stimulus package enacted a year ago has helped stabilize the economy but has not made much of a dent in the nation's vast unemployment.

Manufacturing, housing growth up in January, Federal Reserve says
By Zachary A. Goldfarb
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Economic growth continued in January as manufacturing and housing activity ramped up, according to data released Wednesday, but top Federal Reserve officials projected at their meeting last month that high unemployment will persist.

Administration pushed to expand foreclosure-prevention program
By Renae Merle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Obama administration is facing increasing pressure from lawmakers and housing advocates to retool its troubled mortgage relief program a year after its debut as the housing crisis continues to deepen and spreads to more creditworthy borrowers.

Metro area counties, cities receive high health ranking despite poor air quality
By Lena H. Sun
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Fairfax, Arlington and Loudoun are the healthiest counties in Virginia, and Howard, Montgomery and Frederick top the list in Maryland, according to a set of reports to be released Wednesday. The reports rank U.S. counties and cities based on how long people live and how healthy they are.