walletpop.com : Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project is at it again. The non-profit, which works to revitalize parks and public spaces throughout New York City, built a community garden in one of New York’s toughest neighborhoods, in the Bronx. Read the whole story: walletpop.com


 
 With the stock market rallying for nearly eight months, it might be easy to overlook the opportunities in the credit markets, according to Kristin Ceva, head of global fixed-income investing at Payden & Rygel. “From a fixed-income point of view, we’re in a sweet spot right now for credit,” said Ms. Ceva, who manages $4.5 billion in various bond portfolios

Energy Secretary Steven Chu likely won’t get the network of new biofuel research labs he wanted. That’s because Congress has loaded an energy-spending bill with millions of dollars for other projects including an aviation-research institute, an environmentally-friendly locomotive and an air conditioning unit for a New Jersey museum, reports the Wall Street Journal . The paper reports that the legislation provides the Energy Department with $27.1 billion, $1.3 billion less than the President and Secretary Chu sought.

CNNMoney.Com : Despite concerted government-led and lender-supported efforts to prevent foreclosures, the number of filings hit a record high in the third quarter, according to a report issued Thursday. “They were the worst three months of all time,” said Rick Sharga, spokesman for RealtyTrac, an online marketer of foreclosed homes. Read the whole story: CNNMoney.Com

Despite trillions of dollars in bailout money, bank loans fell to their lowest rate since the onset of the Great Depression. Now that the Fed has done all they can, is it time for the states to step in?

Cross-posted at the NDN blog . It was an auspicious week for the touchy issues surrounding executive pay.