Farm Futures Food Stamp Rolls to Grow Through 2014, CBO SaysWall Street Journal (blog)It said the number of people receiving the benefits, commonly known as food stamps, would continue growing until 2014. Spending for the program, not including administrative costs, rose to $72 billion in 2011, up from $30 billion …

Independent Online US HOT STOCKS: eBay, Qualcomm, Human Genome Sciences, Cypress SemiWall Street JournalAmong the companies whose shares are actively trading in the session are eBay Inc. (EBAY), Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) and Human Genome Sciences Inc. (HGSI). EBay's ($40.71, +$4.84, +13.49%) first-quarter profit rose 20% on continued strength in the …

A Mountain View post office could be renamed in memory of U.S. Army Lt. Ken Ballard, who was killed while serving in Iraq in 2004, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo's office reported. More: continued here

ELWELL, Mich. (AP) — A central Michigan post office that averages just 19 minutes of retail business a day will close, despite opposition from residents who appealed to keep it open. More: continued here

The facility on Mount Holly Road will be temporarily closed starting April 19 in order to get rid of recluse spiders, which are venomous. More: continued here

CBS News EBay Hits Highest Point In Four Years After Earnings, OutlookWall Street JournalBy Rex Crum EBay Inc.'s (EBAY) shares climbed more than 16% on Thursday, hitting a four-year high as investors cheered the online retailer's quarterly results and outlook. At least three analysts raised their ratings on the company's …

PITTSFORD, N.Y., April 19 (UPI) — A New York state man who began working for the U.S. Postal Service when he was 70 is now 92 and the oldest postal worker in a district including eight states. More: continued here

EBay Inc's strong first quarter bodes well for Amazon.com Inc's results next week – especially Amazon's own online Marketplace business and e-commerce in general, analysts said on Thursday. EBay shares … More: continued here

Oregon Catalyst We need to sell the Post Office while it still has valueOregon CatalystWith favorable trends like these in the shipping sector for more than a decade, why is the Post Office burning cash rather than raking it in like its private sector competitors? In addition to its monopoly …

eBay, CVR Energy, Other Stocks Hit 52-Week Highs ThursdayFox BusinessWhile trading on above-average volume, eBay (EBAY) climbed today, reaching and then surpassing its previous 52-week high of $38.18. Shares have climbed 14% with volume of 38.5 million shares. Share price is up $3.50 (9.4%) from $37.39 on March 20, …and …