Economy

Reports indicate that gas pump prices are at their highest level on record for this period of the year, but consumers might see a break in the near future — if all goes well.

End Of Winter Drives Nation's Gas Prices Uphill

6:42pm February 19, 2013

by Jeff Brady

Gas prices typically rise this time of year as refineries switch to summertime formulas, which are designed to reduce smog. But because of maintenance work — partially delayed by Superstorm Sandy — the run-up in prices is happening earlier this year.

Queue Listen Now

Older Tech Workers Oppose Overhauling H-1B Visas

3:45pm February 19, 2013

by Martin Kaste

Overhauling immigration is complicated and controversial. There's been a proposed increase in H-1B visas. Those are the visas that allow companies to bring in skilled foreign workers for jobs that can't be filled by Americans.

Queue Listen Now

Economy

Social Media And Work: Is It Ever OK To Complain Online?

2:52pm February 19, 2013

Many employees lost their jobs in recent years after posting negative comments about work on social media sites. A recent decision by the National Labor Relations Board may give workers more freedom to talk and complain about work on social media.

Queue Listen Now

U.S. Treasury checks are run through a printer.

Get A Social Security Check? Treasury Says It's Time To Go Electronic

12:33pm February 19, 2013

by Brian Naylor

Every month, the government sends out about 5 million paper checks to Americans who receive federal benefits. As of March 1, however, the Treasury Department is planning to make those checks a thing of the past. It's encouraging holdouts to move to direct deposit or a debit card.

Queue Listen Now

Obama Again Calls For Balanced Plan For Cuts

12:33pm February 19, 2013

President Obama spoke Tuesday about the impacts of deep spending cuts scheduled to take effect March 1. With a group of first responders in uniform standing behind him in the White House, he said if Congress doesn't stop the cuts, responders won't be able to help communities respond to disasters.

Queue Listen Now

People read newspaper headlines in Athens. In 2009, there were 39 national dailies, 23 national Sunday papers, 14 national weekly papers and dozens of TV and radio stations for a population of 11 million.

Greece's Economic Crisis Reveals Fault Lines In The Media

7:05pm February 18, 2013

by Sylvia Poggioli

A system of favors among Greek media outlets, politicians and banks helped produce one of the most inflated media sectors in Europe. But the media have been hit hard by the country's massive austerity drive, and have taken a huge loss in terms of credibility.

Queue Listen Now

Todd Macy, a banker from Marin County, Calif., was the victim of identity theft. Nearly a year after filing his return, he's still waiting for his federal tax refund.

What Happens When Someone Else Gets Your Tax Refund

6:27pm February 18, 2013

by Dan Bobkoff

If you usually wait until April to file your taxes, you might want to hurry up — before identity thieves beat you to it. Using stolen names and Social Security numbers, these criminals file fake tax returns. This generates big, and fraudulent, refunds, before the real taxpayer gets around to filing.

Queue Listen Now

Oregon State University has been growing a variety of hazelnut trees over the years to develop blight-resistant breeds.

Growing Resistance, Oregon Hazelnuts Battle Blight

6:42am February 18, 2013

by Deena Prichep

Carefully developed breeds are overpowering Eastern filbert blight, which had threatened to crush the U.S. hazelnut industry.

Queue Listen Now

Economy

Greensboro's P&G Expands, Creates More Jobs

2:02pm February 17, 2013

WFDD's Business contributor Justin Catanoso gives details on the new economic impact P&G is about to make on Greensboro and the Triad.

Queue Listen Now

In Kansas, A 'Glide Path' To No Income Taxes. Will It Work?

9:47am February 15, 2013

by Frank Morris

Gov. Sam Brownback plans to get rid of Kansas' income tax and cut the size of state government. Some lawmakers say it's a great experiment that will show that lower tax rates and streamlined bureaucracy can stimulate growth; others are concerned about overreaching.

Queue Listen Now