Deals of the Hour

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 / July 31, 2010, 10:39 am

BP hiring former FEMA head for Gulf

BILOXI, Miss. (AP) - BP says it's hiring a former Clinton-era emergency management official and his consulting firm to help with the recovery from the massive Gulf oil spill. Incoming BP CEO Bob Dudley is in Biloxi, Miss ... (Source: WTNH.com 2010-07-30T15:08:00Z)

Paper: No. 3 overall pick Gerald McCoy strikes contract with Buccaneers

Third overall pick Gerald McCoy reached a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, the St. Petersburg Times reported. The deal will allow McCoy, a defensive tackle, to report for the team's workout ... (Source: USA Today 2010-07-31T15:49:46Z)

Why is Iran still holding US hikers?

Accused of espionage and of crossing illegally into Iran, which says it has "evidence" of contact with US intelligence agencies, they have been in prison ever since. But the three friends say they were innocent hikers ... (Source: The Christian Science Monitor 2010-07-31T13:33:45Z)

Investors pay Disney $660M for Miramax

NEW YORK — The Walt Disney Co. is selling Miramax Films to a group of investors for $660 million, marking a new phase for a studio that helped push independent movies into the mainstream. The deal announced ... (Source: Modesto Bee 2010-07-31T07:00:03Z)

Terrell Owens, Bengals agree to deal

CINCINNATI - Receiver Terrell Owens agreed to a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday and will report to training camp in a couple of days, The Associated Press reported. The Bengals were his first ... (Source: Tampa Bay Online 2010-07-28T11:42:47Z)

Leaders of Syria, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon End Beirut Summit

The leaders of Syria, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon met in Beirut Friday on ways to defuse tensions surrounding a possible indictment of Hezbollah members for the 2005 assassination of Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri ... (Source: Voice of America 2010-07-31T10:27:38Z)

Buccaneers reach deals with first-round draft pick Gerald McCoy, left tackle Donald ...

TAMPA, Fla. The Buccaneers have agreed to terms on a five-year contract with first-round draft pick Gerald McCoy and also reached a six-year deal with restricted free agent left tackle Donald Penn. General ... (Source: FOX News 2010-07-31T16:11:14Z)

Syrian, Saudi leaders tackle tension in Lebanon

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Saudi King Abdullah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met Lebanon's rival leaders on Friday to stave off a crisis over a tribunal that may indict Hezbollah members in the killing of Lebanese ... (Source: YAHOO! 2010-07-31T07:43:00Z)

AP Source: Bengals reach contract deal with WR Terrell Owens, uniting him with Chad Ochocinco

The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to a contract with receiver Terrell Owens, who is expected to report to training camp in a couple of days, a person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press ... (Source: FOX News 2010-07-27T22:35:22Z)

Lawyers for Rep. Charles Rangel, House ethics committee reach plea deal; no committee ...

WASHINGTON (AP) — People familiar with the talks say representatives of New York Democrat Charles Rangel and lawyers for the House ethics committee have reached a plea deal in his ethics case. However ... (Source: Baltimore Sun 2010-07-29T20:02:40Z)

Padres acquire outfielder Ryan Ludwick in three-team deal involving Cleveland and St ...

Padres general manager Jed Hoyer wanted another outfield bat—and now he's getting a pretty good one. Hours before the non-waiver trade deadline Saturday, San Diego completed a three-team swap to land the St. Louis ... (Source: Examiner 2010-07-31T17:08:30Z)

Cardinals close on three-way deal for Jake Westbrook

The Cardinals, Indians and Padres have agreed on a three-team deal involving righthander Jake Westbrook and outfielder Ryan Ludwick, according to AOL Fanhouse. The deal is pending the union's approval ... (Source: Sporting News 2010-07-31T16:18:24Z)

Family of Iran Captive Speaks in Duluth

It has been one year since three American hikers were imprisoned in Iran. Saturday the family of Shane Bauer came to Duluth to ask for help and support from the community. They also came to once again cry out ... (Source: WDIO-TV 2010-07-31T17:08:30Z)

Witt to help with Gulf recovery for BP

BILOXI — BP announced Friday that it is hiring a former Clinton-era emergency management official and his consulting firm to help with the recovery from the Gulf oil spill. Incoming BP CEO Bob Dudley was in ... (Source: Arkansas Online 2010-07-30T15:36:38Z)

Disney sells Miramax for $66 million

The Walt Disney Co. is selling Miramax Films to a group of investors for $660 million, marking a new phase for a studio that helped launch the career of Quentin Tarantino and push independent movies into the mainstream ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-07-31T14:45:20Z)

Clinton renews appeal to Iran to free US hikers

A picture obtained from Iran's state-run English-language Press TV shows detained US hikers (from left) Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal in Tehran in May 2010. Amnesty International called on Iranian authorities ... (Source: AlterNet 2010-07-31T15:28:17Z)

Calls for Rep. Rangel to give up his seat in the House are on the rise

The calls for Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) to resign are piling up as the congressman's ethics trial threatens to loom large over campaign season. The tally of House Democrats calling on Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) to ... (Source: Thehill.com 2010-07-31T16:39:52Z)

BP hiring former FEMA head for Gulf recovery

BP says it's hiring a former Clinton-era emergency management official and his consulting firm to help with the recovery from the massive Gulf oil spill. Incoming BP CEO Bob Dudley is in Biloxi, Miss., to outline his ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-07-30T15:00:50Z)

Disney selling Miramax

The deal announced Friday ends speculation that founders Bob and Harvey Weinstein — who lent the names of their parents, Miriam and Max, to the company — could regain control of the studio they launched more than ... (Source: Daily Oklahoman 2010-07-31T04:58:21Z)

Roy Oswalt Traded to the Phillies

Roy Oswalt is officially on the move to Philadelphia. The former Houston Astros ace has been traded to the Phillies in exchange for starter J.A. Happ, and two prospects in shortstop Jonathan Villar and ... (Source: Associated Content 2010-07-31T16:32:43Z)

Bucs agree with McCoy, Penn

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to terms on a five-year contract with first-round draft pick Gerald McCoy and also reached a six-year deal with restricted free agent left tackle Donald Penn. (Source: ESPN.com 2010-07-31T16:25:33Z)

Second veteran Democrat faces ethics trial

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) --Rep. Maxine Waters of California could become the second Democrat to face an ethics trial in the fall after she reportedly declined to strike a deal with congressional investigators ... (Source: Marketwatch 2010-07-31T15:35:27Z)

Houston Astros Trade Roy Oswalt to Philadelphia Phillies: Fantasy Impact

In one of the most anticipated deals of the summer, the Houston Astros traded pitcher Roy Oswalt to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday in exchange for J.A. Happ and two minor league prospects. Oswalt will make his ... (Source: Bleacherreport.com 2010-07-30T19:40:01Z)

Report: St. Louis Cardinals Close to Acquiring Jake Westbrook From Cleveland Indians

After missing out on Roy Oswalt , it appears that the St. Louis Cardinals have worked out a plan B. According to Buster Olney , the Cardinals and Indians are " dotting i's and crossing t's " on a deal to bring ... (Source: NESN.com 2010-07-31T16:04:05Z)

Lawyers for Rep. Charles Rangel, House ethics committee reach deal, but panel itself ...

LARRY MARGASAK and LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writers WASHINGTON -- People familiar with the talks say representatives of New York Democrat Charles Rangel and lawyers for the House ethics committee have ... (Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer 2010-07-29T19:34:02Z)

Speculation in Lebanon on a deal over STL

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman(R) Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz (C) Syrian President Bashar al-Assad . Standing behind them are PM Saad Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri Hezbollah MP Nawaf al Mousawi ... (Source: Ya Libnan 2010-07-31T15:28:17Z)

AP Source: Bengals reach deal with former Cowboys WR Terrell Owens

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to a contract with receiver Terrell Owens, who is expected to report to training camp in a couple of days, a person familiar with the situation tells The ... (Source: Dallas Morning News 2010-07-27T23:04:00Z)

Paperwork nightmare for businesses? Congress at odds how to fix new law

Tucked into the new health care law is a requirement that could become a paperwork nightmare for nearly 40 million businesses. They must file tax forms for every vendor that sells them more than $600 in goods. WASHINGTON ... (Source: Grand Forks Herald 2010-07-31T14:23:52Z)

Roy Oswalt agrees to trade to Phillies

Roy Oswalt granted his own wish: He's now part of a pennant race. Miguel Tejada and Jorge Cantu joined the mix, too. The trade wheel of fortune kept spinning Thursday with veterans-for-prospects deals that ... (Source: Seattle Times 2010-07-30T04:16:36Z)

Obama hopes Rep. Rangel can leave "with dignity"

President Barack Obama called ethics charges against Representative Charles Rangel "very troubling" on Friday and said he hoped the lawmaker could end his career "with dignity." Democrats have urged the New York lawmaker ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-07-31T14:02:23Z)

Blog Archive