In five years, the cost to taxpayers for Rhode Island's public retirement system will more than double if nothing is done to curb runaway pension costs.

President Barack Obama is backing away from some deficit reduction proposals he considered during failed summer negotiations with House Speaker John Boehner even as he prepares to unveil a broad plan to tackle the nation's debt with a blend of tax revenue and lower spending on health care programs.

A California civil rights agency has ordered a Wisconsin company to pay $846,000 for firing a sales manager who had to limit work travel as he was recovering from cancer surgery.

Pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts Inc. said Wednesday that it is suing Walgreen Co., arguing the drugstore chain is trying to lure away its customers.