Treasury Delay on Bank Home-Equity Debt Imperils Housing Pickup (Bloomberg)

Jan. 19 (Bloomberg) — The U.S. Treasury Department has failed to win agreements to get struggling borrowers’ home- equity debt reworked, among the biggest roadblocks to reducing foreclosures that may reach a record 3 million this year.

Treasury Delay on Bank Home-Equity Debt Imperils Housing Pickup (Bloomberg)

Jan. 19 (Bloomberg) — The U.S. Treasury Department has failed to win agreements to get struggling borrowers’ home- equity debt reworked, among the biggest roadblocks to reducing foreclosures that may reach a record 3 million this year.

Local News : Secession? Houston wants out; Wasilla pondering – Frontiersman (Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman)

WASILLA — Rumors are flying about a possible secession attempt in the borough’s northern reaches. Bill Gamble, chief of the West Lakes Fire Department, said he spoke to Houston Mayor Roger Purcell at a meeting Thursday regarding consolidation of ambulance services in their neck of the borough.

Debt-managing agencies must register (Salem Statesman Journal)

The Legislature completed action Tuesday on a bill requiring debt-management agencies to register with the state Department of Consumer and Business Services.

EU ministers vow debt curb, broach bank supervision (Reuters) (Yahoo!7 World News)

LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) – EU finance ministers were set on Tuesday to renew commitments to post-recession debt reduction but without tying themselves for now to a starting date.