Business

Support Grows For 'Los Angeles Times' To Return To Local Ownership

5:43am January 01, 2016

by Ben Bergman

The Boston Globe, The Washington Post and the Minneapolis Star Tribune have all been bought by billionaires. One of the country's most-read dailies, the Los Angeles Times, might join the list.

Record Water Levels Shut Down Miles Of Mississippi River

4:49pm December 31, 2015

NPR's Audie Cornish talks to Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, about the effect of historic flooding on the Mississippi River on corn and soybean farmers.

With The Birkin Bag, Hermes Plays Hard to Get

4:48pm December 31, 2015

by Stacey Vanek Smith

There are luxury goods, and then there is the Birkin bag from the French company Hermes. It has been an elusive status symbol for 30 years, but it is also always mysteriously out of stock.

Puerto Rico Faces Uncertain Future Amid Debt Crisis

4:44pm December 31, 2015

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Puerto Rico Rep. Luis Vega Ramos about what will happen when the commonwealth defaults on its nearly $37 million worth of debt.

As Her Turn Leading The FEC Ends, Ravel Says Agency Is Broken

3:12pm December 31, 2015

by Peter Overby

Ann Ravel had success uncovering secret money in politics as a California state official. As her year leading the Federal Election Commission ends, she says she couldn't bridge the partisan divide.

Queue Listen Now

A Saudi man walks past a pump at a petrol station Monday in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. Saudi Arabia said it plans to reduce subsidies on power, water and fuel as part of new measures introduced in the face of low oil prices.

Higher Gas Prices, Long Lines: What Cheap Oil Means For Saudi Arabia

10:54am December 31, 2015

by Deb Amos

The deal in Saudi Arabia has been no taxation and no representation. Bottom-of-the-barrel crude prices changed the first half of the equation this week, as officials cut utility and gas subsidies.

Queue Listen Now

If your insurer waived the fee to see your primary care doctor, would you go more often?

Obamacare Insurers Sweeten Plans With Free Doctor Visits

10:39am December 31, 2015

by Phil Galewitz

Some insurers are betting that lowering the barrier to seeing a doctor will encourage people to get needed care sooner. If it works, the health plans could save more than they spend on the benefit.

In 2016, Volkswagen Aims To Repair Its Reputation After Emissions Scandal

6:16am December 31, 2015

by Sonari Glinton

The scandal will cost Volkswagen billions of dollars and has severely damaged the carmaker's reputation. Can it recover in the same way that Toyota and General Motors rebounded from safety recalls?

Puerto Rico Says It Will Miss $37 Million In Bond Payments This Week

10:18pm December 30, 2015

by Jim Zarroli

The island's government warns that time is running out for Congress to address its fiscal problems. Puerto Rico has been reeling from the effects of declining population and a long recession.

Highflying 'Emerging Markets' Had Their Wings Clipped In 2015

6:29pm December 30, 2015

by Jim Zarroli

A weakening commodities market, hindered largely by the slowdown in China, has hurt economies in Latin America, Africa and elsewhere.

Queue Listen Now