Microsoft offering nearly 24,000 vouchers for computer skills training to NC residents. Microsoft Corp. is giving away nearly 24,000 vouchers to North Carolina residents who want to improve their computer skills so they can improve their lot in the work force.

New York (Reuters) - Sales of existing U.S. homes likely rose for second consecutive month in October, reaching their highest level since July 2007, according to a Reuters poll, as buyers scrambled to take advantage of greater affordability and a first-time home buyer tax credit.

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Reuters) - Ricky Williams scored three touchdowns to lead the Miami Dolphins to a 24-17 win over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday.

Manning's TD pass with 13 seconds left gives Colts 35-34 win after Patriots' 4th-down gamble. With his team trailing by six points and approaching the 2-minute warning, Peyton Manning was on the sideline getting ready to lead the Indianapolis Colts' offense back onto the field.

Shontaye Edwards spends her day in a gray cubicle at a Bank of America call center in this Dallas suburb. On the other end of the phone line are homeowners ? tense, exasperated and looking for help.

The good news for Boston College football fans is that the Eagles' 14-10 win over Virginia Saturday guaranteed them a winning season and kept their hopes alive for winning a third consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Division title. The bad news is that Clemson beat North Carolina State, 43-23, and needs only to beat Virginia at home next Saturday to clinch the title. Even if Clemson should lose that game, BC would have to beat North Carolina and Maryland the next two weeks to win the division. With those factors at work, BC's chances of making it to the ACC championship game in Tampa Dec. 5 seem slim at best. But that does not preclude a 9-3 season, which should earn first-year coach Frank Spaziani some (maybe a lot of) Coach of the Year votes. But where will BC play its 11th straight bowl game? Yesterday, Spaziani, not surprisingly, only wanted to focus on the task at hand - finding a way to beat surging North Carolina (7-3). ``We certainly had a lot more mistakes than we n

Warriors grant Stephen Jackson his 'Golden' ticket out of town in deal with Bobcats. Stephen Jackson wanted out of Golden State so badly for so long. When the team finally called to tell him he'd been traded, he already knew.

House panel examining Bank of America bailout, Merrill takeover; company officials testifying. A House oversight panel is examining the $45 billion federal bailout of Bank of America Corp. and its shotgun acquisition of Merrill Lynch & Co. last year at the height of the financial crisis.

House Dems: government didn't force Bank of America to take over Merrill, GOP claims cover-up. A senior House Democrat says the government didn't force Bank of America to take over Merrill Lynch, but a bank board member said much pressure was applied and Republicans charged that a committee inquiry was covering up the role of an Obama administration official.

Federal appeals court: Seattle biotech can pursue $23 million claim against former consultant. Seattle biotechnology firm Cell Therapeutics Inc. can pursue claims for nearly $23 million against a former consultant, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.

Women's clothing retailer Cato Corp. says 3rd-qtr profit more than triples on higher sales. Cato Corp., which sells low-priced women's clothes at stores in the southern U.S., said Thursday its profit more than tripled in the third quarter as its sales rose.

Citigroup appoints Bodurtha to head North America investments group at Citi Private Bank unit. Citigroup Inc. said Thursday it named a former Merrill Lynch executive, Steve Bodurtha, as managing director and head of investments for Citi Private Bank in North America.

THE INFLUENCE GAME: Mystery group run by NC law firm fans opposition around US to health bill. One operative tried to enlist trade groups in Maine to oppose government-run health coverage. Another helped a member of a Las Vegas conservative group appear on local talk radio to criticize the proposal. A third persuaded a Louisiana activist to post an opinion piece on a conservative blog.

EDITOR'S NOTE ? An occasional look at how influence is exercised in Washington.

Tebow hurt, 'Canes and 'Noles lose ... a tough Saturday for the Sunshine State's big 3 teams. Florida's Tim Tebow got knocked woozy. Miami and Florida State simply got knocked over.

Halloween-themed attractions at amusement parks. Eighty-one percent of amusement parks will hold Halloween or fall-themed events this year, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

Ex-CEO of Pa. soft-drink-maker Le-Nature's, 4 others accused of $806 million bank fraud. A federal grand jury accused the former chief executive officer of a defunct soft-drink-maker and four others connected to the company of perpetrating an $806 million bank fraud, much of which went to the ex-CEO and his family.

FairPoint says it hopes to restructure debt but still may have to file for Chapter 11. Troubled phone company FairPoint Communications Inc. said Monday that it's in talks with some of its lenders in hopes of restructuring its debt, but still may be forced to file for bankruptcy protection.

Hartford Financial names former Bank of America executive Liam McGee as chairman and CEO. Life insurer The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. on Tuesday named Liam E. McGee, the former head of consumer banking at Bank of America, as its new chairman and CEO.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hartford Financial Services Group Inc <HIG.N> named a former Bank of America Corp <BAC.N> executive to be its new CEO, and he already has plans to introduce enhanced risk management after record losses at the 199-year-old insurer.