Monroeville Administrator Marshall Bond is keeping a steady eye on news out of Detroit and Washington, D.C., hoping that Congress will approve a bailout package for the three domestic auto

MARYSVILLE, Mich. -- Chrysler LLC says it has reached an agreement with Germany's ZF Friedrichschafen AG to run a new axle factory north of Detroit.

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford says it will offer employee pricing, zero percent financing and cash incentives on a variety of its vehicles.

WASHINGTON --Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told Congress today that he opposed tapping a $700 billion taxpayer-funded bailout pool to help struggling U.S. automakers.

Even as top Senate Democrats rolled out legislation to provide $25 billion in loans to U.S. domestic automakers, the prospects of emergency funds appeared bleak yesterday as the White House and Congress tangled over how best to help the ailing industry.

TOKYO -- Cash-poor General Motors Corp. will sell its entire stake in Suzuki Motor Corp. for 22.37 billion yen ($230 million), the automaker's latest move to stay afloat while awaiting a decision on government aid for the industry.

WASHINGTON -- Hardline opponents of an auto industry bailout branded the industry a "dinosaur" whose "day of reckoning" is near, while Democrats pledged yesterday to do their best to get Detroit a slice of the $700 billion Wall Street rescue in this week's lame-duck session of Congress.

WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said yesterday the House would provide aid to the ailing U.S. auto industry, requiring that the industry meet new fuel-efficiency standards, produce advanced vehicles and restructure "to ensure their long-term economic viability."

Nissan, the Japanese auto giant, is likely the best partner and the best fit for struggling Chrysler LLC, now that General Motors Corp. has dropped plans to acquire the company, analysts say.

WASHINGTON -- The auto industry and business groups mounted a lobbying onslaught yesterday to thwart GOP opposition to a Senate vote next week on Democrats' plan for a $25 billion emergency loan plan for U.S. carmakers.