North Carolina Truck Plant Lays Off Nearly 1,000 Workers
Almost 1,000 workers are about to lose their jobs at a North Carolina truck manufacturing plant. Freightliner is hoping those layoffs will be temporary until demand for trucks rebounds.
Economy
Will More Day Care Help Boost Japan's Sluggish Economy?
Greater access to child care is central to Japan's "womenomics" policy. The hope is that more day care will mean more women remain in the workforce after they become mothers.
7 Percent Drop Closes Chinese Stock Markets; U.S., World Markets Also Slump
Among the factors blamed for China's drop: poor economic data and a looming rules change for large investors. Markets in Europe and the U.S. also were down.
Global Stock Markets Open 2016 With Sharp Dive
It's the first trading day of 2016, and it's been a rocky one. Wall Street opened the day with a sharp dive — one of the worst opening days in decades. NPR explores the China factor and other issues adding to investors' worries.
U.S. Files Lawsuit Against Volkswagen Over Emissions Trickery
Volkswagen has acknowledged that millions of its diesel cars worldwide relied on a ruse to skirt emissions controls. The EPA says the two sides haven't agreed on how to handle a recall.
In London, Builders Dig Deep To Offer More Room
The high cost of housing is encouraging Londoners to build down instead of up. They're digging out basements to create underground mansions — often to neighbors' dismay.
GHD Is Not An AFZ. HTH You Understand What They Mean!
Translation: Global Health and Development is not an acronym-free zone. Hope this helps you make sense of the alphabet soup of acronyms.
N.J. Factory Turns To Medicaid To Insure Lowest-Paid Employees
Starting Jan. 1, midsize companies must offer health insurance to their workers or risk a penalty. A firm that has already faced that problem is helping low-paid employees enroll in Medicaid, instead.
Episode 674: We Cooked A Peacock
In the 1600s, a good spice rub was the ultimate display of wealth. People would risk their lives for a sack of cloves. On today's show, we cook a recipe from the spice trade days.
Like Night And Day: How Two States' Utilities Approach Solar
As homeowners embrace solar, utilities are making less money, and that's shaking up their business model. Companies in California and Georgia are handling the growth in dramatically different ways.