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By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage edged higher for the second week in a row, though it remains near its low point so far this year.

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The average long-term mortgage rate ticked up to 6.24% from 6.22% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.78%.

Just two weeks ago, the average rate was at 6.17%, its lowest level in more than a year.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, edged lower this week. The rate averaged 5.49%, down from 5.5% last week. A year ago, it was 5.99%, Freddie Mac said. read more

By MARK ANDERSON, AP Sports Writer

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Major League Baseball and its affiliated sportsbooks offered a fast reaction Monday to the latest on a growing list of sports betting scandals, capping bets on individual pitches at $200 and excluding them from parlays to keep those prop bets from jeopardizing the integrity of the sport.

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That decision came a day after Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted on charges they took bribes from sports bettors to purposely throw certain types of pitches that would pay off bets. Bettors allegedly made at least $460,000 off the rigged pitches. read more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two Federal Reserve officials expressed opposition Wednesday to another interest rate cut at the central bank’s next meeting in December, further muddying the outlook for the Fed’s next steps.

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The remarks by Susan Collins, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and Raphael Bostic, president of the Atlanta Fed, suggest that the central bank’s rate-setting committee could be tilting against what had been an expected third straight cut next month.

The officials cited several reasons for keeping rates unchanged, after a reduction in September and in October. They argued that inflation is stubbornly elevated and has been above the Fed’s 2% target for nearly five years, while the economy is resilient and doesn’t appear to need more rate cuts. The job market is stumbling, with hiring nearly at a standstill, but layoffs still seem muted, they said. read more

Morgan & Morgan dropped a lawsuit against Disney on Wednesday that asked a judge to rule the law firm could use an adaptation of the nearly century-old “Steamboat Willie” cartoon in one of its ads.

The Orlando-based personal injury firm asked a federal court to dismiss the suit without prejudice, meaning another legal action could be filed in the future.

Morgan & Morgan did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The filing did not specify why the suit was dropped or if a settlement had been reached.

The 1928 “Steamboat Willie” animated short, featuring the official debut of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, entered the public domain last year, but Disney still holds trademark rights as well as copyright protections for later, more modern versions of the characters.

The suit asked a judge to declare that the law firm’s proposed commercial does not infringe on any of Disney’s intellectual property rights and block the entertainment giant from filing suit against Morgan & Morgan over its ad. read more

By RIO YAMAT, Associated Press

America’s aviation system is straining under the weight of the longest government shutdown on record: thousands of flight cancellations, long delays at major airports and frustrated travelers nationwide.

In an unprecedented move, the Federal Aviation Administration last week ordered airlines to scale back domestic flight schedules, saying the cuts are meant to ease pressure on an overstretched system and help manage air traffic control staffing.

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Unpaid for more than a month, some air traffic controllers have begun calling out of work, citing stress and the need to take on second jobs — leaving more control towers and facilities short-staffed. read more