Business

Soybeans in a field in Springfield, Neb., on Wednesday. The nation's corn and soybean farmers will bring in by far the largest harvest ever this year, driving down the price of the commodities, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Food Is Cheap, At Least Compared With 4 Years Ago

2:30pm September 12, 2014

by Dan Charles

Global food prices are at a four-year low because of good harvests in the U.S., Europe and China. But food still costs more than it did in the 1990s, even accounting for inflation.

Visitors watch an orca performance at SeaWorld in San Diego this year. The company has seen attendance slip in the year since the release of a documentary film critical of the company's captive whale program.

SeaWorld Hopes New Orca Habitats Will Stem A Tide Of Criticism

9:00am September 12, 2014

by Greg Allen

The theme park says a 2013 documentary critical of its captive orca attraction has hurt its bottom line. Now, it's pushing back with a social media campaign and plans for new habitats for its whales.

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Handsome Zhang — that's his real name in Mandarin -- runs a shipping company, one of many supporting businesses spawned by East Wind village's furniture industry. The shipping business helped Zhang, 25, buy this Kia sports car.

The Alibaba Effect: How China's eBay Transformed Village Economics

10:58am September 11, 2014

by Frank Langfitt

At first, Sun Han made a staggering 100 percent profit margin on his furniture. Soon everyone in his village was opening a furniture factory — and didn't need to raise pigs anymore.

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'Ask The White Guy' About The Hawks

8:58am September 11, 2014

by Michel Martin

Atlanta Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson's email about the diversity of the team's fans could end his run in the NBA. But were his comments really out of bounds?

Eagles Running Back Accused Of Leaving 20 Cent Tip On $60 Check

8:24am September 11, 2014

A burger joint in Philadelphia posted LeSean McCoy's receipt on Facebook. Actor Charlie Sheen has pledged to give the waiter $1,000.

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National

Airline Social Media 'Command Centers' Direct Complaint Traffic

6:29pm September 10, 2014

by Lauren Silverman

Southwest Airlines has joined a growing number of airlines that are hiring social media "first responders" to help with customer relations.

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National

Government To Drop Background Check Firm USIS

2:59pm September 10, 2014

by Scott Neuman

The Falls Church, Va.-based private contractor conducts most of the government's background checks and was the target of a cyberattack last month that breached thousands of personnel files.

A video about the Apple Watch is shown during an Apple special event in Cupertino, Calif.

The Apple Watch Is Here And Another Tech Hype Cycle Commences

1:04pm September 10, 2014

by Elise Hu

Apple unveiled its first new product line since 2010, a wearable computing device called the Apple Watch. But is it a game changer? You can't trust all the hype.

Aficionados line up outside Hot Doug's, a gourmet hot dog diner in Chicago, in May. Owner Doug Sohn has announced that he will shut the doors in October after nearly 14 years.

Why Food Pilgrims Will Wait Four Hours For A Taste Of The Sublime

12:04pm September 10, 2014

by Maanvi Singh

Psychology tells us that waiting for an experience can boost our happiness, as can talking about the experience afterward. That's one reason food pilgrims seem to be queuing up and Instagramming it.

A worker repairs electrical lines in Plainview, N.Y., after Superstorm Sandy in 2012. A proposed plan to overhaul the state's power grid could help the system better withstand severe weather and enable energy to be stored and managed more efficiently.

National

New York Says It's Time To Flip The Switch On Its Power Grid

11:18am September 10, 2014

by Yuki Noguchi

Officials want to overhaul the state's energy grid. Experts say the plan would help utilities withstand severe weather events, but it would also require a massive re-engineering of the power system.

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