Food stamps, tax breaks for poor in stimulus bill: More than 37 million Americans live in poverty, and the vast majority of them are in line for extra help under the giant stimulus package coming out of Congress. Millions more could be kept from slipping into poverty by the economic lifeline.

Gregoire: State deficit could engulf federal aid: The federal stimulus package could deliver $2 billion to help Washington state solve its massive budget shortfall, but the boost could be washed away quickly by falling tax collections, Gov. Chris Gregoire said Thursday.

Japan, Sweden hold bailout lessons for US: As the U.S. grapples with its banking crisis, President Barack Obama is pointing to Sweden and Japan as offering lessons for what the United States should – and shouldn’t – do.

Some Wash. stimulus items at a glance: Details of some likely Washington state-specific spending in the federal stimulus package, as provided by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., in a Thursday afternoon briefing. Congress was working out a final compromise on the nearly $800 billion package.

Stimulus package: What it means for hurting consumers: First-time homebuyers would receive a larger tax break. Laid-off workers would have higher unemployment benefits and new subsidies for heath insurance. | Read