Level 3 to Acquire TelCove
New York Times - BROOMFIELD, Colo., May 1 (AP) In another sign of consolidation in the telecommunications industry, the network operator Level 3 Communications agreed on Monday to acquire the privately held TelCove for about $1.08 billion in cash and stock. The

Broker expected to file for bankruptcy protection
Seattle Times - After a five-year growth spurt in which it says it wrote $2 billion in home loans, Kirkland-based Merit Financial terminated most of its 300 or so employees Thursday in an attempt to reorganize just ahead of filing for bankruptcy protection. "What