Business

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) makes opening statements during a hearing to examine the National Labor Relations Board's joint employer decision last month.

National

One Step Closer To Collective Bargaining, Some Temp Workers Unionize

5:15pm January 06, 2016

by Simon Rios

The workers at Bob's Tire Co. in New Bedford, Mass. recently voted 65-5 to unionize. Labor advocates say the move is historical, but are undocumented workers protected from enforcement?

Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, was the central figure in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. But she was far from a central figurine when it came to the movie's tie-in toys and games.

Arts

#WhereIsRey? She's On Her Way, Says Hasbro

3:22pm January 06, 2016

by Camila Domonoske

The newest Star Wars Monopoly game featured Finn, Kylo Ren, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader — but not the latest film's heroine, Rey. Hasbro says it will add her to the game this year.

A passerby walks past a Chipotle restaurant in Seattle in November that closed following one of two E.coli outbreaks that sickened scores of people.

National

Chipotle Faces A Criminal Investigation Into Its Handling Of A Norovirus Outbreak

2:23pm January 06, 2016

by Jim Zarroli

More than 200 employees and customers were sickened last August at a restaurant in California. A grand jury subpoena requires Chipotle to produce a range of documents in connection with the outbreak.

Visiting New York City, Bernie Sanders Attacks Clinton, 'Greed' Of Wall Street

1:42pm January 06, 2016

by Jim Zarroli

"Will the folks on Wall Street like me? No. Will they begin to play by the rules if I am president? You better believe it," Sanders said Tuesday.

Queue Listen Now

Dung patties dry on the wall of a coal-fired brick oven. They're rolled into cakes, then stuck on the wall with the smack of a hand, leaving an imprint.

You've Got Dung! Amazon Is Delivering Cow Pies In India

1:06pm January 06, 2016

by Deepak Singh

Cows are holy in the Hindu religion, and so is their dung. That's why Amazon in India is selling cow dung cakes to city dwellers.

Prices, as seen at a gas station in Woodbridge, Va., on Tuesday, are 21 cents a gallon cheaper than this time last year. The drop violates the historic rule that tension such as that currently between key producers Saudi Arabia and Iran causes the cost of

Troubles Are Up In The Middle East, But Oil Prices Are Down. Huh?

7:27pm January 05, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

In the past, when political tensions increased, oil prices went up too amid supply risks. But now OPEC's power is down and U.S. oil supplies are much greater, helping hold prices steady.

A sign saying "we hope to be opening soon" is pictured outside a new Chipotle Mexican Grill location at University Village in Seattle in November.

After Chipotle Outbreaks, Will 'Food With Integrity' Still Resonate?

7:04pm January 05, 2016

by Jim Zarroli

Chipotle's rise was fueled in part by its image as a healthy, ethical choice. After foodborne illnesses sickened hundreds, analysts say it won't be easy for the chain to win back customers' trust.

Queue Listen Now

National

Automakers Mark Moves Into Tech With Expanded Presence At CES

4:44pm January 05, 2016

by Sonari Glinton

Automakers have a larger presence at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. So far Ford and GM have announced ventures into the ridesharing business. NPR explores the automakers' moves into tech.

Andy Raymond demonstrates the Armatix iP1, a .22 caliber smart gun that has a safety interlock at Engage Armaments, May 1, 2014, in Rockville, Md.

National

Will Obama's Action Create A Market For 'Smart' Guns?

4:13pm January 05, 2016

by Alina Selyukh

Supporters of "smart" gun technology hope that President Obama's initiative will prompt federal agencies to put in big purchase orders, unleashing the new market. Will it make us safer?

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Volkswagen Over Emissions Software

2:52pm January 05, 2016

by Sonari Glinton

On Monday, the Department of Justice, acting on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency, filed a civil complaint in federal court in Detroit against Volkswagen. The DOJ alleges that nearly 600,000 diesel engine vehicles had illegal defeat devices installed that impaired emission control systems and caused emissions to exceed EPA's standards, resulting in harmful air pollution.

Queue Listen Now