Business

No Joke. Flood Insurance Rates Increase On April 1

5:22pm April 01, 2015

by Charles Lane

About a million people will see their premiums double. The rate increase is part of an effort to bring down the debt for the program which subsidizes insurance for people living in flood zones.

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The H Street Wal-Mart in Washington, D.C. Ten years ago, none of the city's 600,000 residents lived within 1 mile of a Wal-Mart. Today, almost 13 percent do.

The Urban Neighborhood Wal-Mart: A Blessing Or A Curse?

5:22pm April 01, 2015

by NPR Staff

The nation's largest retailer is known for sprawling suburban and rural stores. Now Wal-Mart is moving into city centers — sometimes despite strong local opposition.

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After World War II, developer Joseph Eichler built well-designed and well-crafted tract homes that dotted California suburbs.

With Sunny, Modern Homes, Joseph Eichler Built The Suburbs In Style

9:04pm March 31, 2015

by Susan Stamberg

The developer was known for well-crafted tract homes that dotted California suburbs after World War II. "The architecture really does inform the way you live," says Eichler homeowner Adriene Biondo.

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Nina Galata displays her smartphone equipped with a card reader to accept donations and payment for Situation Stockholm, a magazine sold by Stockholm's homeless.

Cash Is Definitely Not King For Card-Carrying Swedes

8:08pm March 31, 2015

by Ari Shapiro

In a world moving toward cashless economies, Sweden is leading the way. More than 95 percent of transactions are already digital; some churches now pass a card reader instead of a collection plate.

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An attempt to build the perfect cockroach cyborg.

National

What Cockroaches With Backpacks Can Do. Ah-mazing

8:01pm March 31, 2015

by Aarti Shahani

Researchers are developing technology to control the movement of cockroaches. Strapped with electrodes and sensors, these insects we often loathe could be used for disaster relief or surveillance.

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Shoppers line up outside a Target store in South Portland, Maine.

National

Target Offers $10 Million Settlement In Data Breach Lawsuit

2:58pm March 31, 2015

by Miles Parks

The proposal comes after a rough year and a half for a company that saw changes in leadership and thousands of layoffs.

A little booze can't hurt: The Hy-Vee grocery chain has added a Market Grille to several of its locations in the Midwest and Great Plains. You can order drinks and dinner before or after you do your grocery shopping.

Economy

Grocery Stores Are Losing You. Here's How They Plan To Win You Back

6:41pm March 30, 2015

by Eliza Barclay

Grocers are losing customers to smaller markets, convenience stores and online shopping. The competition is forcing chains to innovate with in-store restaurants, delivery service and more.

Our Food-Safety System Is A Patchwork With Big Holes, Critics Say

3:41pm March 30, 2015

by Grant Gerlock

More than a dozen federal agencies play a part in keeping food from making Americans sick. Critics say the system has gaps, and we'd all be safer if federal food safety efforts were under one roof.

Payday Loans — And Endless Cycles Of Debt — Targeted By Federal Watchdog

3:00pm March 30, 2015

by Scott Horsley

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is readying new regulations on payday loans and other high-cost forms of credit. Officials with the agency say the loans can trap borrowers in a cycle of debt.

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Economy

Examining Right-To-Work Laws Impact On Income And Economic Growth

2:58pm March 30, 2015

Last week, Morning Edition aired a piece about right-to-work laws in Kentucky. To clarify some assertions made in the piece, Steve Inskeep talks to David Wessel, of the Brookings Institution.

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