The Latest on the Treasury decision to identify hundreds of thousands of businesses that received funding through the Paycheck Protection Program, created to preserve jobs at smaller businesses during the coronavirus pandemic: ___ More than 4,100 oil and gas companies, including drillers, explorers, pipeline and oilfield service companies and natural gas distributors took in an estimated $2.07 billion to $4.91 billion in loans from the government’s pandemic relief program. The funds covered paychecks for more than 176,000 jobs. The American Petroleum Institute, which represents most major oil and gas companies, had said the industry was not asking for government aid or policy relief due the pandemic. But smaller operators did not hesitate to ask for help. Coal companies brought in $156 million to $345 million to save more than 12,000 jobs. ___ Kanye West’s clothing and sneaker brand Yeezy received a loan from the federal […]