Rising costs and bad debt levels cut fourth-quarter earnings by a fifth at LifePoint Hospitals. Per-share profits of 54 cents were three cents off the consensus estimate. CEO Bill Carpenter also lowered '08 revenue guidance and set a wide earnings range.

Nashville law firm Barrett, Johnston & Parsley has filed suit against Yahoo's board, accusing them of putting their own interests ahead of those of other shareholders in their dealings with Microsoft. The suit is one of two filed against the Web giant since Bill Gates & Co. made their buyout offer last week.

The head of the United Steel Workers in the Beaumont, Texas, area has a laundry list of demands and issues to address in upcoming contract talks with a unit of Bridgestone Americas Holding.

Workers at Ford's Tulsa glass plant seem dead set against selling the plant to investor Robert Price, which may mean Nashville's Automotive Components Holdings factory will be shut down rather than sold.

The San Antonio Express-News gives its take on yesterday's Gaylord Entertainment conference call, when CEO Colin Reed said the company is prepared to walk away from its plans to buy a resort there for $253 million.