Bonds

Markets

US budget deficit totals $138.5 billion in November

The federal government collected a record amount of tax income for the month of November and also had a record level of spending for the month, producing a budget deficit of $138.5 billion, up slightly from a year ago.

Markets

Business Highlights

___ Bitcoin futures soar amid frenzy over virtual currency NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street got its first taste of bitcoin on Monday, with the price of the first-ever futures contract for the digital currency jumping 20 percent.

Markets

Kansas plan for new prison draws criticism from lawmakers

A plan to have the largest private prison operator in the U.S. build a new state prison for Kansas immediately faced bipartisan criticism from legislators Thursday because the state would pay for the project by leasing the facility from the company for 20 years.