Business

Workplace drug testing for marijuana may need updating in light of changing laws, a case before the Colorado Supreme Court suggests.

Colorado Case Puts Workplace Drug Policies To The Test

5:23pm August 14, 2014

by Yuki Noguchi

The urine test employers typically use to detect marijuana picks up cannabis smoked or swallowed days or weeks earlier. Should firms be allowed to fire workers who legally use marijuana at home?

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Farmer Seth Watkins (left) and agronomist Matt Liebman stand amid native prairie grasses near Des Moines, Iowa. The conservation strip is used to stop soil erosion.

Iowa's Corn Farmers Learn To Adapt To Weather Extremes

11:32am August 14, 2014

by John Ydstie

Studies warn that climate change will threaten corn production in coming decades. Meanwhile, farmers are experimenting with new planting methods in hopes of slowing soil erosion from torrential rains.

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Dan Selvig says wetter conditions helped convince his family to shift their plantings to corn.

National

Shifting Climate Has North Dakota Farmers Swapping Wheat For Corn

11:29am August 14, 2014

by John Ydstie

Projections suggest that climate change will hurt agriculture in most parts of the world. But some areas of the U.S. could actually see a benefit as corn production moves farther north.

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Kickstarter Helps Kenny Loggins Fan Realize His Dream

7:50am August 14, 2014

Erick Sanchez wanted Kenny Loggins and his band to play a 75-minute set in his living room. Within 10 days, the Kickstarter campaign had reached its goal of $30,000.

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Lynn Eldredge works as a facilities manager for several fast-food restaurants in Utah. At 50, he has no benefits and no retirement savings.

After Factory Layoffs, Struggling To Stay On The Economic Ladder

1:51pm August 12, 2014

by Kelly McEvers

Lynn Eldredge has had six different jobs since he was laid off from a tractor manufacturer in 2000. Fourteen years later, he makes the same amount of money at his current job that he did back then.

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A Good IT Person Needs To Be Half Technologist, Half Psychologist

1:37pm August 12, 2014

by Laura Sydell

Your doctor and lawyer may know a lot about you. But in a time when we are using computers to socialize, keep track of finances, do work and store family photos, your IT person probably knows more.

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Digital Currencies Such As Bitcoin Compared To The Wild West

7:42am August 12, 2014

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warns of volatile exchange rates, possible exposure to hackers, and the fact that, unlike hard currency, Bitcoin isn't backed by the federal government.

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Ice Bucket Challenge Sweeps Across Social Media

7:42am August 12, 2014

Friends of a college baseball player diagnosed with ALS use the challenge to make others aware of the disease. Post a video of yourself pouring icy water on your head; challenge others to do the same.

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Economy

Meet Viv, A More Complex Siri

7:42am August 12, 2014

Steve Inskeep talks to Steven Levy about his story in Wired magazine on the new app created by a team of people that includes the developers of Siri and IBM's Watson.

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A peek inside the kitchen of Next, an early adopter of the ticket system that's replacing reservations at some restaurants.

National

No More Reservations: Exclusive Restaurants Require Tickets Instead

10:57am August 11, 2014

by Jeff Tyler

High-end restaurants featuring rock star chefs are starting to turn to tickets to stem the tide of no-shows. In the future, going out to eat could become a lot like going to a sold-out concert.

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