Business

Confirmation: Selfies Are Forces Of Evil

7:31am December 04, 2013

Darth Vader has posted on Instagram a photo of his face — more precisely his iconic black helmet. The photo launched the Star Wars Instagram account — a marketing effort by Disney which has a new release out this month.

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National

Washington State Growers Roll The Dice On New Pot Licenses

6:55pm December 03, 2013

by Martin Kaste

The deadline to apply to legally grow and sell pot is coming up in Washington, but growers are finding there are pros and cons to going legit. Applicants must invest big money to qualify for a license, and it's unclear what the new system will mean for existing medical growers.

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As Rent Soars, Longtime San Francisco Tenants Fight To Stay

6:02pm December 03, 2013

by Richard Gonzales

Another tech boom has brought an influx of money and new residents to San Francisco, and people who have long called the city home are being evicted from their apartments. Tenants and community organizers are demanding that the city do something to stop residents from being pushed out.

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National

A Supreme Court Fight For The Rights Of (Frequent) Fliers

6:02pm December 03, 2013

by Nina Totenberg

What rights do participants in an airline's frequent-flier plan have to their miles or points? That's the question before the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, when the justices examine whether, and under what circumstances, frequent fliers can sue in these disputes.

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Economy

More Employees Agree To Fragmented Hours To Get Work

6:02pm December 03, 2013

by Ilya Marritz

The economy adds a decent number of jobs every month but there are big questions about the quality of some of those jobs. Many people getting hired these days do not have anything resembling a regular schedule and work fragmented and unpredictable hours.

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Chuck Shelton in the cold room at Albemarle CiderWorks in Virginia, which makes sparkling alcoholic cider with some of the same apple varieties used by Thomas Jefferson.

National

Party Like It's 1799: Traditional Cider Makes A Comeback

12:51pm December 03, 2013

by Ari Shapiro

Cider is still a small part of the overall alcohol market, but it's growing faster than any other category — and not just the hot mulled stuff that steams up your kitchen. This cider is more like sparkling wine. Some of it is made with the same apple varieties, and in the same style, as the cider bottled by Thomas Jefferson.

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Wind turbines twirl above farmland on the outskirts of Madison, Wis. Not all locals are pleased.

Slashing Fossil Fuel Consumption Comes With A Price

8:56am December 03, 2013

by Richard Harris

The U.S. aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80 percent by 2050. Wind and solar power can help. But folks doing the math say other pricey, controversial technologies — such as burying carbon gas underground, and expanding nuclear power — are also likely to be part of a low-carbon future.

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Workers process applications for Oregon's health exchange program. The state paid tech giant Oracle to build its online exchange, but with the site still not functional, people shopping for insurance have been forced to apply on paper.

Could A Tech Giant Build A Better Health Exchange? Maybe Not

8:48pm December 02, 2013

by Steve Henn

Since the rollout of HealthCare.gov, many have wondered whether a private company could have avoided the federal site's many pitfalls. Oregon took that route, hiring Silicon Valley titan Oracle to create its state insurance exchange. But two months after its scheduled launch, the website is still not working.

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Could Hawaii Become A Same-Sex Wedding Destination?

1:27pm December 02, 2013

by Molly Solomon

Starting Monday, gay marriage is legal in Hawaii. The state has long been a destination for weddings and honeymoons. And now state officials, as well as hotels and restaurants, are hoping the latest marriage-equality law will spur a new market for wedding tourism.

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Companies Revisit 'Rank And Yank' of 1980s

1:27pm December 02, 2013

by Yuki Noguchi

Longtime General Electric CEO and management icon Jack Welch popularized a management style in the 1980s that critics dubbed "rank and yank." The system ranks employees — with under-performers getting yanked from their jobs or the company. This old practice is in the news again. Microsoft recently did away with it. But other companies are embracing it.

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