Countrywide Financial Corp., the largest U.S. mortgage lender, is trying to block a Justice Department official from investigating its actions in cases filed by bankrupt homeowners, documents in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Pittsburgh show. Thomas Connop, a lawyer for the lender, argued in a Feb.

By Lesley Mitchell, The Salt Lake Tribune Nov. 24--Upscale retailer Nordstrom plans to move out of the 110,000-square-foot store it opened in Fashion Place about 25 years ago and build a 140,000-square-foot store at the Murray mall.

Jul. 29--The news that Federated Department Stores is changing the Kaufmann's name to Macy's and closing three stores in regional malls evoked a mixture of disappointment and hope among Pittsburghers yesterday.