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Bank fees are on the rise. A new survey by moneyrates.com found checking accounts became more expensive in the first half of the year. Banks also hiked ATM charges and overdraft fees. The survey found that overall, customers are now paying an average of $145 a year in bank maintenance fees.

Drought stricken farmers are getting some relief from the White House. The government is buying $170 million worth of meat and poultry to help farmers and ranchers who are struggling with the high cost of feed during the worst drought in decades. The meat will be donated to food banks and other federal food nutrition programs.

Stocks on Wall Street were mixed on news that Japan's economy slowed to a crawl last quarter. The Down Jones Industrial Average slipped 38 points, but the NASDAQ rose a point.

Toyota's new Lexus will offer smart technology meant to prevent crashes. The 2013 Lexus LS460 will offer a safety system that senses when the car is about to crash. It can then override the driver and stop the car before impact. Auto analysts say the safety system is another step in the continuous automation of driving, with some predicting that we could have driverless vehicles on the road in the next 10 years.

The owner of Bozeman restaurant Plonk is one step closer to opening a second location in downtown Missoula, after city council approved Monday a request to allow drinking in the former Army Navy space downtown. Work is already underway for a significant remodel of the building, both inside and on the rooftop.