WASHINGTON — The federal government will lower the terror alert status for financial institutions in New York, New Jersey and Washington, The Associated Press learned Wednesday. The reduction from orange to yellow, the midpoint on the government's five-level terror warning system, comes three months after the alert was raised amid concerns the institutions could be al-Qaida targets. Yellow is "elevated," while orange is considered a "high" threat of attack. Two officials at the Homeland Security Department and aides to three members of Congress told the AP the alert level would be lowered. They all spoke on condition of anonymity because...