EXXON'S LATEST VALDEZ PAYOUT

A federal jury ruled that Exxon Corp. must pay $286.8 million to 10,000 commercial fishermen for loss of income from the 1989 spill in Prince William Sound. The compensation is far less than the $895 million demanded by the fisherman but more than double what Exxon said it was willing to pay: $113 million. Now, it's on to the final stage of lawsuits in connection with the spill. Up next: a $15 billion claim for punitive damages against Exxon, which will include the commercial fishermen, Native Eskimos and others.