Trying to find out what's the deal with the world, tracking what's on sale and who's talking about it on Twitter. Update hourly.

Deals of the Hour / June 30, 2010, 11:12 pm

NHL lacks LeBron, but still has plenty to offer in free-agent shopping season

NEW YORK - The names Ilya Kovalchuk, Dan Hamhuis and Evgeni Nabokov don't roll off the tongues of American sports fans quite like those of LeBron, D-Wade, and Dirk. Such is life in the world of the NHL, which is also ... (Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune 2010-07-01T05:12:28Z)

Death Sentence Voided for Killer of Police Officers

After the ruling, Mary Ann Andrews, the widow of Detective Rodney J. Andrews, said she was too upset to talk about the decision. Ronell Wilson, whose death sentence was thrown out by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York. The man, Ronell Wilson , now 28, was sentenced by a federal jury ... (Source: New York Times 2010-07-01T01:01:55Z)

CKX signs new deal for its new chief executive

CKX Inc., parent of "American Idol" producer 19 Entertainment, has signed its new chief executive, Michael Ferrel, to a contract that runs through 2013. Ferrel, who succeeded CKX founder and Chief Executive Robert F.X. Sillerman, has signed a deal with a minimum base salary of $1 million per year ... (Source: Los Angeles Times 2010-06-27T23:53:54Z)

Celebrate the Fourth with a flyover

Myrtle Beach -- A group of Columbia-area families who like to vacation on the Grand Strand hope they've ignited a new coastal tradition for Independence Day. With U.S. Department of Defense approval and help from Joint Base Charleston, also known as the Charleston Air Force Base, "Salute from the ... (Source: The Post and Courier 2010-07-01T04:00:53Z)

Deal between Steelers, OT Adams isn't imminent despite visit

An agreement between the Pittsburgh Steelers and free-agent offensive tackle Flozell Adams isn't imminent, a league source said Wednesday. Adams visited the Steelers on Tuesday and took a physical, but he doesn't have a ... (Source: NFL 2010-07-01T02:13:30Z)

House approves financial overhaul

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a massive restructuring to the nation's financial laws last night, but the Senate canceled plans to vote on the legislation this week after Senator Scott Brown said he was not ready to pledge support for the measure. The House ... (Source: Boston Globe 2010-07-01T05:33:56Z)

Rockets GM makes in-person pitch to Bosh just after midnight

HOUSTON -- Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey sure knows how to make a first impression. Morey met with coveted free agent Chris Bosh just after midnight Thursday, making a pitch to an available player at the ... (Source: CBS Sports 2010-07-01T05:55:25Z)

Death penalty overturned in 2 NYPD slayings

NEW YORK -- A federal appeals court has tossed out the death penalty given to the gunman who killed two New York undercover police officers. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that Ronell Wilson must be resentenced for killing the officers during a 2003 gun deal gone bad. Wilson ... (Source: Times Union 2010-06-30T15:29:16Z)

Rockets extend qualifying offers to Scola, Lowry

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Rockets have extended qualifying offers to restricted free agents Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola. By making the offers, the Rockets retain the right to match any offers that Lowry or Scola might ... (Source: FOX News 2010-07-01T02:27:49Z)

Elvis fans all shook up over photos

Elvis Presley archivists found three rare photos dating back more than 50 years that show the young singer greeting fans at the gates of Graceland. Negatives of the photos were discovered as archivists pored through a ... (Source: Belfast Telegraph 2010-07-01T05:33:56Z)

Amazon.com grabs discount website Woot.com

Amazon.com has snapped up Woot.com, a discount website. Financial terms were not disclosed. Amazon expects the deal to close by the end of September, company spokesman Craig Berman says. The 6-year-old Woot, based in ... (Source: USA Today 2010-06-30T22:31:36Z)

Brown cuts backroom deals he campaigned against

WASHINGTON—Republican Scott Brown owes his election in part to the public furor over the so-called Cornhusker Kickback, the backroom deal that Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska struck for his vote to pass the health care bill. Now he is following Nelson's example, winning concessions in the financial ... (Source: San Jose Mercury News 2010-06-30T23:36:01Z)

Defensive teams beware _ Spain has found its form

Spain (2-1-0) vs. Portugal (1-0-2), 2:30 p.m. Portugal escaped the group stage of the FIFA World Cup without allowing a goal, including a 0-0 tie against Brazil in the final match of the round. Portugal was rewarded with a round of 16 match against Spain, which will offer another huge test for ... (Source: Fresno Bee 2010-06-30T13:27:34Z)

Deal between Steelers, Adams does not appear imminent

There is nothing imminent with the Pittsburgh Steelers and free-agent offensive tackle Flozell Adams , according to a league source. Adams visited and took a physical in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, but does not have a deal ... (Source: NFL 2010-06-30T15:43:35Z)

With Purchase of Woot, a Daily Deal Site, Amazon Expands Its Inventory

Amazon.com, which sells millions of products, said Wednesday that it had agreed to buy Woot, a site that sells one item at a time. Woot is one of a cluster of unconventional shopping sites that have sprung up in the last ... (Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2010-07-01T06:02:34Z)

Evening Business Brief

It seems unfortunately appropriate. Stocks ended a miserable quarter with a decline. The Dow fell 96 points to 9.774. The S&P was down nearly 11 points to 1,031, while the Nasdaq dropped 26 points to 2,109. For the first time in six months, the government report to be released Friday will likely ... (Source: KELOLAND TV 2010-06-30T23:07:23Z)

LeBron-less NHL set to begin free-agent frenzy

NEW YORK -- The names Ilya Kovalchuk, Dan Hamhuis and Evgeni Nabokov don't roll off the tongues of American sports fans quite like those of LeBron, D-Wade, and Dirk. Such is life in the world of the NHL, which is also about to embark on a free-agent frenzy of its own, starting Thursday ... (Source: Forbes 2010-07-01T05:05:18Z)

BIZ BITS

Florida to get $200,000 in insurance settlement An Indiana insurance company will set up a $10 million fund to settle a multistate investigation into increases in policy costs. Florida will receive $200,000. Regulators from California, Florida, Iowa, Indiana and Texas investigated Conseco's handling ... (Source: Tampa Bay Online 2010-06-30T22:17:17Z)

Villa's fourth Cup goal sends Spain past Portugal

Cape Town, South Africa -- David Villa called it one of his best goals. He was talking about the timing but the effort was pretty nice, too. On a night when Portugal's defense fought off attack after attack, the Spanish ... (Source: Detroit News 2010-06-30T02:36:10Z)

Pennsylvania reaches budget deal with gas tax

Spending cuts include 11.7 percent for agriculture; 9.2 percent for environmental protection, and 9.1 percent for libraries. But lawmakers agreed a $250 million increase in the basic education subsidy that had been vigorously advocated by Rendell. Although revenue has been sharply lower than ... (Source: Town Hall 2010-06-28T23:59:52Z)

Governors ramp up lobbying for federal Medicaid dollars

As Congress continues to squabble over whether to provide additional Medicaid dollars to cash-strapped states, a dozen governors used the July 1 state budget deadline to make their case for the money. Their argument ... (Source: Stateline 2010-07-01T05:41:06Z)

Amazon to Acquire Deal-A-Day Pioneer Woot

Amazon has signed an agreement to purchase Woot.com for an undisclosed sum, according to a blog post by the latter company on Wednesday. The post stated that Woot will remain autonomous and will not be folded into the ... (Source: ClickZ 2010-07-01T02:06:21Z)

Scott Brown stymies Senate on reform

Boston Herald General Economics Reporter Jay Fitzgerald has been a journalist and blogger for years. He's now the general economics reporter for the Boston Herald . P resident Obama won't get to sign a giant financial overhaul bill before the Fourth of July like he wanted - thanks partly to Sen ... (Source: Boston Herald 2010-07-01T04:00:53Z)

Tuesday's WCup lookahead capsules

Soccer's Iberian heavyweights get their first look at each other as World Cup opponents on Tuesday. In a match better suited for the later rounds of the tournament, European champion Spain (ranked No. 2) and third-ranked Portugal face off in Cape Town (2:30 p.m. EDT). Spain has won 15 of their 32 ... (Source: Fresno Bee 2010-06-27T23:53:54Z)

Big day for free agents

T he names Ilya Kovalchuk, Dan Hamhuis and Evgeni Nabokov don't roll off the tongues of American sports fans quite like those of LeBron, D-Wade and Dirk. Such is life in the world of the NHL, which also is about to embark on a free agent frenzy of its own, starting today at noon ... (Source: Boston Herald 2010-07-01T05:12:28Z)

Rockets make qualifying offers to restricted Lowry, Scola

HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets have extended qualifying offers to restricted free agents Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola . By making the offers, the Rockets retain the right to match any offers that Lowry or Scola might ... (Source: CBS Sports 2010-07-01T05:41:06Z)

Death Sentence Overturned in Slaying of NYC Cops

(AP) A federal appeals court has tossed out the death penalty given to the gunman who killed two New York undercover police officers. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that Ronell Wilson must be resentenced for killing the officers during a 2003 gun deal gone bad. Wilson was the ... (Source: CBS News 2010-06-30T21:05:42Z)

Chris Scott expected to be out three months

Pittsburger Steelers rookie fifth-round offensive tackle Chris Scott (notes) is having surgery today to repair the damage to his his broken foot. Injured while training at the University of Tennessee, team officials ... (Source: YAHOO! 2010-06-30T18:49:41Z)

Talks focus on deal

Hours earlier, Paterson had traveled to Washington D.C. with a group of other governors to meet with members of Congress and push for the Medicaid funding, which was originally slated to be augmented this year as part of the stimulus plan. Congress has been wavering on the extra Medicaid funds ... (Source: Times Union 2010-07-01T04:58:09Z)

Three unseen photographs of Elvis Presley discovered

In this 1957 photo provided by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Elvis Presley greets fans at the gates of Graceland in Memphis Photo: AP Elvis Presley archivists have found three rare photos dating back to 1957 that show the ... (Source: Daily Telegraph 2010-07-01T05:55:25Z)

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