Business

The St. James vineyard at the Abbey of New Clairvaux. The 20 brothers of the abbey belong to an order with a tradition of winemaking that dates back nearly 900 years.

These Vintner Monks Turn Wilderness Into The Divine Gift Of Wine

7:34am April 09, 2015

by Lisa Morehouse

In a part of Northern California better known for cattle ranches than grapes, the monks of New Clairvaux abbey are cultivating the art of winemaking. The hard work feeds the spirit and the coffers.

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National

Calif. Farmers Face Harsh Realities In Drought-Stricken Central Valley

7:34am April 09, 2015

Renee Montagne talks to Samuel Sandoval, an assistant professor of water resource management at UC-Davis about the dwindling water table that's used to grow crops in California's Central valley.

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Rail Operators Aim To Do More Short-Distance Hauling

7:34am April 09, 2015

by Ben Bradford

The trucking industry has to deal with an aging workforce, driver shortages and burdensome regulations. Railroads have already taken a good portion of the long-haul business away from semi-trucks

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The Hartford Police Department is one of a number of police departments across the country that are offering up their parking lots as "safe zones" for Craigslist transactions.

National

Police Departments Open Up 'Safe Lots' For Craigslist Transactions

7:22pm April 08, 2015

by Patrick Skahill

Several crimes around the U.S. have been tied to the website's in-person transactions. So police departments are offering up their parking lots to provide a secure space for buying and selling stuff.

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A security guard at the General Motors factory outside St. Petersburg, Russia. Opel, the European arm of GM, announced last week it was withdrawing from the Russian market, where sales are falling.

World News

Foreign Carmakers Shift Into Reverse In Russia

7:21pm April 08, 2015

by Corey Flintoff

General Motors and Volkswagen are closing plants there and laying off workers. Economic problems have led to an estimated 35 percent drop in the once-booming Russian car market.

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The new Sirloin Third Pound burgers will be offered at McDonald's starting later this month, for a limited time.

National

The Latest Item On McDonald's Shifting Menu: A $5 Burger

6:39pm April 08, 2015

by Marilyn Geewax

McDonald's is trying to hold down menu prices and keep options simple to speed up service while at the same time create pricier premium burgers and more sophisticated dining options.

Shell's Big Deal Could Shift Global Landscape Of Gas Business

6:23pm April 08, 2015

by Jim Zarroli

Royal Dutch Shell plans to spend nearly $70 billion to acquire natural gas giant BG Group. The deal, if approved, would create the world's largest independent producer of liquefied natural gas.

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States Review Laws Revoking Licenses For Student Loan Defaults

6:21pm April 08, 2015

by Eric Whitney

Montana could soon dial back laws that allowed defaulters to have their professional and driver's licenses revoked after failing to pay back debt.

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A customer shops for groceries with her son at the Wal-Mart on H Street in Washington, D.C.

Why Wal-Mart Is Betting Big On Being Your Local Urban Grocer

6:16pm April 08, 2015

by Uri Berliner

Wal-Mart conquered the suburbs, but its future may lie in smaller stores in dense city neighborhoods. And in our grab-and-go times, freshly prepared meals are a big part of its urban strategy.

With the launch of its e-bookstore on Wednesday, Oyster is, well, turning the page on its business model. And so far, the big publishers are open to the change.

Books
Arts

The 'Netflix Of Books' Hopes To Open Up The E-Book Market

5:49pm April 08, 2015

by Colin Dwyer

Oyster, the subscription e-book service, says it is opening up a retail component and has the Big Five publishers on board. The move sets up Oyster to challenge Amazon.