COVID-19

Cargo containers are stacked on a ship at California's Port of Los Angeles. Consumer goods are arriving from China and elsewhere, but a lot is not getting to its destination.

Businesses Try To Navigate The World's Coronavirus Cargo Pileup

11:07am May 20, 2020

by Jackie Northam

There was a rush of commerce after China reopened. But then demand in the West for many goods dropped, with businesses closing and consumers staying home as the pandemic spread.

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Target said it relied on its physical stores to fill 80% of online sales in the past three months.

Target's Average Day In April Was Bigger Than Cyber Monday

10:43am May 20, 2020

by Alina Selyukh

Though its stores remained open, Target saw its online sales jump 141% in the past three months, with 5 million shopping on the retailer chain's website for the first time.

A view of Shakespeare's Globe on the banks of the River Thames in London in 2016. The theater faces the threat of closure after the coronavirus lockdown has dried up its streams of revenue.

Shakespeare's Globe May Not Survive Pandemic, U.K. Lawmakers Warn

4:43pm May 19, 2020

by Lynsey Jeffery

Shakespeare's Globe in London is in dire financial straits after being closed since March, the venue's leadership says. The theater is requesting government aid to stay afloat.

President Trump says the WHO has been too quick to praise China for its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak and too silent on the country's treatment of medical professionals who tried to sound the alarm.

Trump Says Funding Cuts Will Be Permanent If WHO Doesn't Commit To 'Major' Changes

4:27pm May 19, 2020

by Bill Chappell

"The World Health Organization has repeatedly made claims about the coronavirus that were either grossly inaccurate or misleading," President Trump says.

The Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday heard testimony about coronavirus economic relief efforts from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

Senators Clash Over How Soon To Reopen The Economy

3:18pm May 19, 2020

by Scott Horsley

Lawmakers squabbled over how quickly the economy can rebound from the coronavirus shutdown and whether the government is doing enough to support struggling families and businesses.

Bankrupt Pier 1 could not find a buyer during the coronavirus pandemic. Now it's asking the bankruptcy court to approve a complete liquidation of the chain.

Home-Decor Retailer Pier 1 Looks To Close For Good

2:57pm May 19, 2020

by Alina Selyukh

Three months after filing for bankruptcy, Pier 1 said it plans to liquidate as soon as it can reopen stores that have been closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

A worker passes a sign at a restaurant along San Antonio's River Walk that has reopened. As businesses reopen around the U.S., many workers are worried for their health.

Scared To Return To Work Or Can't With Kids At Home? Here's What You Need To Know

12:05pm May 19, 2020

by Chris Arnold

As businesses reopen, many workers are worried for their health and would rather stay on unemployment. Many parents can't return to a workplace because they have no child care. What are your options?

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A sign on a shuttered Apple Store at the International Plaza shopping center in Tampa, Fla. The location has been closed because of the coronavirus pandemic and is scheduled to reopen Thursday.

Apple Store Shoppers To Have Temperatures Taken, Must Wear Face Coverings

11:48am May 19, 2020

by Bobby Allyn

About 100 Apple Stores, or about a fifth of the tech giant's worldwide retail locations, are now open, including storefronts in Alabama, Florida, California and Washington state.

Politics & Government

State Of Emergency: NC Counties Had Plans For Crises, But We've Never Seen Anything Like This

11:45am May 19, 2020

by Jason deBruyn & Paul Garber & Public Radio Collaborative

A Walmart store in Maryland seeks new workers during the coronavirus pandemic. The big retailer says it hired 235,000 new staffers to keep up with demand.

Economy

Walmart Hires Almost A Quarter-Million Workers As Sales Soar

11:44am May 19, 2020

by Alina Selyukh

The retailer says it hired 235,000 staffers to keep up with demand during the coronavirus pandemic. Its online sales jumped 74%. Shoppers visited stores less frequently but spent more on each trip.