Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer To Retire Within A Year
The company said Friday that Ballmer will stay on until his successor is found. He has been with the company for more than 30 years, and became CEO in 2000.
Business
Obamacare To Force Millions To Upgrade Insurance
Despite promises by President Obama that people can keep the insurance they have once Obamacare is in full effect, millions will have to upgrade their policies to meet the benefit standards laid out by the Affordable Care Act. The measure will be in full swing this January.
Jack Daniel's To Expand Tennessee Distillery
It's already the No. 1 selling American whiskey, but Jack Daniel's sees huge potential as world-wide whiskey sales soar. The iconic company has announced a $100 million expansion of its distillery in tiny Lynchburg, Tenn.
Legal Battles Over Land Rights, Pipelines Are On The Rise
The industry estimates that the U.S. will need to add 2,000 miles of pipeline per year, and that's just natural gas. Oil will need its own infrastructure. That means there will be a lot of pipeline going through a lot of private land — along with sometimes long, drawn-out legal fights with landowners.
Kodak Reinvents Itself As Judge Approves Bankruptcy Exit
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Allan Gropper has approved Kodak's plan to emerge from court oversight. That paves the way for it to be a much smaller company focused on commercial and packaging printing.
Young Farmers Break The Bank Before They Get To The Field
They want to get involved with both the local food movement and more conventional forms of agriculture. But many of them are finding their options limited. Ranch and farmland across the plains is going for several thousand dollars an acre, keeping many aspiring farmers out of the market.
U.S. Retailers Vow To Upgrade Bangladesh's Safety Standards
A group of 20 companies, meeting in Chicago Tuesday, announced steps to implement a safety plan for factories in Bangladesh. The companies, including Wal-Mart, Costco and Gap, formed the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, which promises to have fire and building safety standards in place by mid-September.
Lowes Reports Earnings On The Heels Of Home Depot
Home Depot says it has had "one of the best quarters in its recent history." It credits the recovery in the housing market. Main rival Lowes also benefited from the housing recovery, and strong demand for home refurbishings.
Carving Out an International Presence
Pushing the Piedmont further onto the world's economic stage.
Older Farmers Seem To Be In No Hurry To Call It Quits
Farmers are getting older. In the last census taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 25 percent of farm operators were more than 65 years old. Neighbors and younger farmers would like to have their land. But for a variety of reasons, it's hard to convince an older farmer to give it up.