Business

Some users of X, formerly Twitter, will have to pay $1 a year to tweet on the site

7:23am October 18, 2023

The move only applies to new users in the Philippines and in New Zealand. Why them? The posting on X doesn't say. Elon Musk has said he wants to stop fake accounts and bots from taking over the site.

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Politics & Government

Trump returns to New York courtroom as business associates testify in fraud trail

5:09am October 18, 2023

Donald Trump was back in court Tuesday for the civil case alleging a widespread business conspiracy. He watched as witnesses gave evidence of ways his company lied about the value of its properties.

Since 2010, 150 rural hospitals have closed in the United States. Hospital leaders say that Medicare Advantage pays slowly and sometimes not at all and that this could push more hospitals to the brink.

Health & Safety

Medicare Advantage keeps growing. Tiny, rural hospitals say that's a huge problem

4:43pm October 17, 2023

by Sarah Jane Tribble

More than half of seniors choose private Medicare Advantage plans instead of traditional Medicare. As rural enrollment increases, many small-town hospitals say that threatens their viability.

A Scholastic Book Fair banner pictured outside a school in Queens, New York.

U.S. book bans are taking a toll on a beloved tradition: Scholastic Book Fairs

1:03pm October 17, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

Scholastic created a separate fair category for diverse books, which it says is to help schools navigate the complexities of book bans. Librarians accused the company of caving to censorship.

UAW membership is down and half of the members aren't in the auto business

12:35pm October 17, 2023

by Andrea Hsu

The United Auto Workers union once had 1.5 million members. Today, the UAW is down to 380,000 members, and they are in a wide range of industries. More than a quarter work in higher education.

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A 1992 analysis by Duke University and EPA researchers found that children in a home with a gas stove have about a 20% increased risk of developing respiratory illness. A 2022 analysis showed 12.7% of childhood asthma cases in the U.S. can be attributed to gas stove use in homes.

How gas utilities used tobacco tactics to avoid gas stove regulations

10:21am October 17, 2023

by Jeff Brady

Gas stoves emit potentially harmful pollutants, but utilities and their trade group avoided regulation with tactics perfected by the tobacco industry to cast doubt on science showing health problems.

Rite-Aid files for bankruptcy amid deluge of opioid lawsuits

5:11pm October 16, 2023

by Brian Mann

The national pharmacy chain faces more than a thousand lawsuits linked to the sale of Oxycontin and other opioid pain pills.

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It was 100 years ago that Walt Disney founded The Walt Disney Company

6:13am October 16, 2023

The company has become a pop culture empire — with movies such as Fantasia and Frozen. To celebrate the milestone anniversary, Disney is releasing a restored 4k version of the 1937 film Snow White.

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This photo shows a sign of Rite Aid on its store in Pittsburgh on Jan. 23, 2023. Rite Aid, a major U.S. pharmacy chain, said Sunday, Oct. 15, that it has filed for bankruptcy as part of its effort to restructure its finances.

National

Pharmacy chain Rite Aid files for bankruptcy amid declining sales and opioid lawsuits

1:27am October 16, 2023

by The Associated Press

Rite Aid said it was arranging for payment of wages and other costs as usual, though some "underperforming" stores among its more than 2,100 pharmacies in 17 states will be closed.

Economy

These 5 big purchases can save energy — and money — at home

5:28pm October 15, 2023

by Jeff Brady

To live a more climate-friendly life, invest in home appliances that run on electricity, not fossil fuels, say sustainability experts. NPR's Life Kit offers a few energy-saving solutions to consider.