Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are confirming they’re in merger talks that would create North America’s largest railroad, stretching service from East to West Coasts. The Associated Press reported last week that the companies were discussing a tie-up but neither company confirmed until Thursday morning.

The potential merger would combine the largest and smallest of the country’s six major freight railroads. There’s widespread debate over whether such a merger would be approved by U.S. regulators, which have established a high bar for consolidation in the crucial industry.

Jobless claims fall for 6th week in a row

The number of Americans filing for jobless aid fell for the sixth straight week, hitting the lowest level since mid-April.

The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobl

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