Obama ‘hopeful’ for Chrysler deal; negotiations with lenders to decide if bankruptcy is neededDETROIT — Chrysler will take on Fiat as a partner and avoid death, but whether or not it heads into bankruptcy protection depends on eleventh-hour negotiations with its creditors that apparently continued into Thursday, according to people briefed on the talks. Congressman: Chrysler debtholders make counteroffer to gov’t amid effort to avoid bankruptcyDETROIT — A Michigan congressman says a group of Chrysler debtholders has made a counteroffer to the government as negotiations continue to slash the struggling automaker’s debt without bankruptcy protection. No charges to be filed in freezing death of Mich. man inside house after power shut offLANSING, Mich. — No criminal charges will be filed in the death of a 93-year-old man who froze inside his home after an electric utility installed a power-limiting device because of unpaid bills, a prosecutor said Thursday. General Motors’ lengthy shutdown of plants this summer threatens to have far-reaching impactDETROIT — General Motors ‘ decision to shut down 13 assembly plants for up to 11 weeks this summer will disrupt far more than the lives of nearly 24,000 workers, rippling out to damage part suppliers, local businesses and state economies. State of Michigan may owe General Motors $116 million in tax refunds after court rulingLANSING, Mich. — General Motors Corp. may get tax refunds totaling $116 million after a judge ruled for the automaker in its dispute with the state. |