Briefs: Senator urges examination

WASHINGTON -- Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd on Friday called for an examination of the credit rating agencies' role in valuing the subprime mortgage securities market. Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat and presidential candidate, also urged federal regulators to raise the investment portfolio cap by 5 percent for mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Iowa company eyes Rantoul auto plants

RANTOUL -- The president of an Iowa plastic components company said Friday he is interested in buying two of three Rantoul auto parts plants set to close this month. Reza Kargarzadeh, president of Engineered Plastic Components, said his company would like to buy Plants 2 and 3 from Collins & Aikman, which filed for bankruptcy in 2005 and liquidated its assets last year. It is set to close the three plants and lay off roughly 475 employees by Aug. 31. The goal for the plants would be to pursue new contracts with the automotive business, Kargarzadeh said.

American Airlines sues Google

DALLAS -- American Airlines is suing Google over the Internet company's sale of keywords ads for rivals triggered by its own trademarks. A Google visitor who enters certain words or phrases that American trademarked -- for example, Aadvantage, the name of its frequent-flier program -- will get links to American's Web site but also its rivals under "sponsored links" -- targeted ads that appear alongside the regular search results.

Mexican trucks at issue in U.S.

WASHINGTON -- Some Mexican trucks will be allowed to carry cargo anywhere in the U.S. as soon as a federal inspector general certifies safety and inspection plans, the Bush administration announced Friday. The latest step toward implementing a provision of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement drew instant condemnation from labor and driver-owner groups that fear the program will erode highway safety and eliminate U.S. jobs. Mexican trucks are now confined to commercial zones within about 25 miles of the border.