ECONOMY

Sandra Griffin sits on her porch in St. Louis. The state of Missouri is demanding that more than 46,000 people pay back unemployment benefits they received. In December, the state told Griffin she owed nearly $8,000.

States Can Forgive Unemployment Overpayments, But Missouri Demands People Pay Up

3:05pm February 15, 2021

by Corinne Ruff

More than 46,000 Missourians have received letters demanding repayment. The state says it paid out more than $150 million last year to people who it later determined weren't eligible for the benefits.

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A "Help Wanted" sign is posted in front of a business on Feb. 4 in Miami. Although millions are unemployed, some businesses that require being on-site are struggling to find workers.

Economy

Millions Are Out Of A Job. Yet Some Employers Wonder: Why Can't I Find Workers?

2:10pm February 15, 2021

by Kat Lonsdorf

Some businesses are struggling to find workers even as millions are unemployed, as the pandemic has made this a recession like no other.

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Lawmakers Debate Biden's $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Plan

7:14am February 15, 2021

by Scott Horsley

As impeachment fades into the rearview mirror, lawmakers will be focused on President Biden's proposed $1.9 trillion economic rescue package. Economists are debating that level of federal spending.

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Economy

Pandemic Sets Back Women's Progress In Workforce

5:37pm February 14, 2021

NPR's Michel Martin discusses how the pandemic has affected women's participation in the workforce and what can be done about it with Hanna Rosin, Margaret Brower and Jamila Michener.

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Sheila Ambert says she did everything she was supposed to do to be protected from eviction by an order from the CDC. But her landlord is pushing ahead trying to evict her anyway. Housing advocates say the protections need to be strengthened.

Renters Are Getting Evicted Despite CDC Order — 'I'm Scared'

1:04pm February 12, 2021

by Chris Arnold

Some landlords are evicting tenants despite an order from the CDC aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19 by preventing evictions. That has led to calls to strengthen protections.

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Sheets of one-dollar bills run through the printing press at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in 2015 in Washington, D.C. Congressional forecasters projected the federal deficit this fiscal year will hit its highest since World War II.

Federal Budget Deficit Expected To Hit Second Largest Since World War II

2:55pm February 11, 2021

by Scott Horsley

Congressional forecasters expect the federal deficit will hit the second largest in decades, even without factoring in President Biden's proposed $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan.

A store in Boston displays a sign noting its Black ownership on June 24, 2020. Black-owned businesses struggled to get coronavirus emergency loans last year, until community lenders stepped in to help.

Economy

Small Local Banks Make A Big Difference For Black-Owned Businesses Trying To Hang On

9:10am February 11, 2021

by Scott Horsley

Black-owned businesses were often at the back of the line when the first coronavirus relief loans were doled out. Now, some are turning to banks that specialize in minority firms for help.

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Advocates Say Biden Administration Needs To Strengthen Eviction Protections

8:29am February 11, 2021

by Chris Arnold

An order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is supposed to prevent people from being evicted during the pandemic. But some landlords are still evicting their tenants.

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Some Black-Owned Businesses Are Turning To New Banks For Paycheck Protection Loans

8:25pm February 10, 2021

by Scott Horsley

Black-owned businesses were among the last to receive paycheck protection loans last year. Now, some businesses are turning to banks that specialize in working with Black and brown customers.

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How The Pandemic Recession Is Affecting The Manufacturing Industry

7:10pm February 10, 2021

In American Indicators, NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Lisa Winton, an owner of Winton Machine Company in Sewanee, Ga., about how her industry has been affected by the pandemic recession.

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