Winning the lottery is an American dream. Paying taxes on your winnings . . . that's a nightmare. And the IRS doesn't just take its cut from the big wins. Apryl Lundsten reports.
Mexico is home to half a million Americans, and specialty food stores there cater to their every craving. Just don't look at the price tag. Dan Grech reports.
Production of faith-based films is growing in Hollywood. Movies with biblical and moral themes are seeking to tap into an audience discovered by the success of "Passion of the Christ." Diantha Parker reports.
The U.S. brought a stiff resolution on North Korea sanctions to the U.N. Security Council. What it'll look like when it comes out the other end is anybody's guess. Amy Scott reports.
Air America Radio, the liberal talk and news network, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The network said it will stay on the air while it resolves issues with its creditors. Janet Babin reports.
British-based online gaming company got dealt too many bad hands, especially when Congress made it illegal for banks and credit-card companies to accept payment from online gambling sites. Eleanor Beardsley reports.
New drugs on the market treat addictions for heroin, alcohol and tobacco. But doctor and commentator Stefan Kertesz says there's a reason we're not hearing about them.
Utube.com, a website for used tubes and pipes, has been swamped with visitors confusing it with the online video site YouTube.com. Kai Ryssdal talks with the owner of Universal Tube and Rollform Equipment.
These days parents are shelling out more than $3 a jar for pesto pasta, quinoa and other gourmet fare for baby. Lisa Napoli takes a look at the growing business.
Best Buy launches its online music store this weekend. Countless others have gotten into the business dominated by iTunes, but does this one have a chance to compete? Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
In the wake of a severe drought that's destroyed the area's crops, farmers in southwest China are desperate to find work that will take them through the winter. Jocelyn Ford has the story.
Hours ahead of an Internet gambling ban set to be signed into law by President Bush, Britain's online gambling company Sportingbet sold its U.S. operations to private investors — for $1. Eleanor Beardsley reports.
We've heard a lot about the ever-rising price of oil. Now that it's dropping, there seems to be no stopping it. But consumers shouldn't rest easy just yet, Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Major global powers at the UN are getting closer to an agreement to impose sanctions on North Korea. But the current draft won't allow use of military force, Jocelyn Ford reports.
About 46 million Americans don't have health insurance. Some states have stopped waiting on the federal government and put universal health care measures on their ballots. Leading the way: Massachusetts. Helen Palmer reports.
Soaring oil prices sent the U.S. trade deficit to a record of almost $70 billion in August. But the government says record imports of oil sank a healthy gain in U.S. exports. Scott Tong reports.
The FCC delayed the vote that would reunite key parts of Ma Bell 'til tomorrow, but didn't explain why. Lisa Napoli says telecom industry watchers think they know.
A major drought in Australia has driven wheat prices up here in the US. Prices hit a 10-year high yesterday and investors are scared that there may be wheat shortages for months to come. Mike Rhee reports.
France's parliament wants to make it a crime to deny Armenian genocide occurred at the hands of Turks during WWI. The measure hasn't even passed yet, but Turkey's already threatened a boycott of French goods. Alasdair Sandford reports.
Gas prices: down. Deficit: shrinking. All the good news had commentator and economist Austan Goolsbee feeling pretty good — until he poked into the government's numbers.
Wendy's announced today it's selling the Mexican grill chain to a group of investors for the bargain price of about $31 million — a fraction of the $275 million the burger chain paid for it in 2002. Sarah Gardner asks how Baja Fresh went stale.
While U.S. research in areas of biotech medicine such as gene therapy has slowed, China is forging ahead. So a trickle of Americans with terminal cancer are seeking treatments there not available at home. Jocelyn Ford reports.
Another day, another record. But this time we're not talking about the Dow. The U.S. imported $70 billion more than we exported in August. Scott Tong looks at what's behind our sky-high trade deficit.
The FCC is scheduled to vote Friday on AT&T's proposed buyout of BellSouth. Some say the $78 billion union should go through without a hitch, but critics say it's bad for consumers — and competition. Lisa Napoli reports.
It's easy to say you support the environment, but will Californians put their money where their mouths are? The state is trying to build a million solar roofs by 2017. Sarah Gardner reports.
The recent spate of CEO departures has many people wondering what it takes to lead a company these days. The times are a-changin' for corporate top-dogs, Steve Tripoli reports.
MasterCard recently went public, now Visa says it's planning to do the same. Ashley Milne-Tyte looks at why the biggest names in credit cards are going public now.
As the international community continues to debate the best way to discourage North Korea's nuclear ambitions, some analysts warn coming down too hard on the country could backfire. Amelia Templeton reports.
Would you choose a cheaper house if you knew you'd have to pay more to get to work? A new study suggests that's a choice most low-income families have to make — and transportation costs add up fast. Amy Scott reports.
Outplacement firm Challenger Gray and Christmas says 2006 has been huge year so far for CEO departures. Last month, a record 152 chief execs left their posts.
In Algeria, many parents send their children to private schools to learn in French, which is better for business than Arabic, but the government's threatening to shut them down if they won't teach in the national language. John Laurenson reports.
Members of Congress are back in their districts campaigning hard, many on the dime of lobbying groups after not passing any lobbying and ethics reform. Commentator and consumer advocate Jamie Court says it all comes down to getting what you pay for.
I'll admit I'm sort of a minimalist when it comes to my cell phone. I haven't got any special ringtones, which makes me a bad consumer in the eyes of the wireless industry.
Host Kai Ryssdal talks to University of Delaware's Charles M. Elson about the options backdating scandal that's erasing profits, spurring government investigations and sending corporate leaders packing.
Soon the U.S. population will hit 300 million. For some, the milestone is cause for celebration, but others say unwelcome social and economic consequences are emerging along with all those people. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
The federal budget deficit fell to $247.7 billion in 2006, the smallest amount of red ink in four years. The White House today trumpeted the improvement, but critics say the numbers aren't exactly black and white. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Vision problems affect hundreds of millions in the developing world, yet the issue remains largely out of public sight. There are some low-cost solutions though, Rachel Dornhelm reports.
A new study suggests we better figure commuting costs into the equation when we decide where to live. They matter a whole lot, especially in less expensive cities. Scott Tong explains.
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has made a relatively small purchase with some big implications. Helen Palmer explains why buying a small British vaccine company could be a shrewd move.
Experts come before an FDA panel to debate the regulation of nanomaterials — teeny-tiny particles that are increasingly used in thousands of consumer products like face creams, eye shadows and sunscreens. Janet Babin reports.
For the first time, in China a woman tops the list of the nation's 500 richest people. Zhang Yin is worth a cool $3.4 billion according to the annual Hurun Report, and her story is literally rags to riches. Jocelyn Ford reports.
Things are slowly returning to normal for the Lebanese economy, but Ben Gilbert looks at one industry that's still waiting to see whether this was a good year.
On this day 56 years ago, CBS was issued the first color TV license by the FCC. Stacey Vanek-Smith takes us Back to Business, our look at the history of all things economic.
A new study finds the lion's share of federal money that supports farm subsidies and research is going to big farms. That could leave small and medium-sized operations out in the cold, Amy Scott reports.
The federal government has created a new task force to crack down on companies and individuals that violate the 44-year old Cuban embargo. Dan Grech looks at what's behind the move.
Commentator Robert Reich looks at the international community's response to the supposed nuclear testing by North Korea — and says in this case, world leaders should listen to China.
One of the largest chemical companies in the world, DuPont today announced it is doubling its R&D investment in green products and setting new sales goals for eco-friendly products. Sarah Gardner reports.
Until today, it was legal in India to employ kids under age 14 in restaurants and as domestic servants. Human rights groups say the child workforce in India could number as high as 100 million. Miranda Kennedy reports.
Sprint Nextel chairman Tim Donahue will leave his post at the end of the year. The move comes after a tough year for Sprint, but the company says Donahue is leaving voluntarily. Diantha Parker reports.
Three years ago Eveleth, Minn. might have been heading for ghost town status when its bankrupt iron mine closed. And then a new wind blew through town, all the way from China. Bob Kelleher reports.
The Justice Department has begun an inquiry into potentially anti-competitive behavior among leading private-equity funds. Information and documents related to deals and business practices have been requested. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
Starting next week Ford's hourly employees must decide whether to accept a buyout offer. Today the automaker began conducting career fairs and workshops to help them weigh career options. Host Kai Ryssdal speaks to one of those employees.
So Google buys YouTube for $1.6 billion — another opportunity to make gobs of money selling more ads to more eyeballs. But commentator and marketing expert Adam Hanft says something is being overlooked in the swirl of attention.
Beijing's state pension fund is preparing to make its first investments abroad, putting up to $1 billion into foreign financial markets in an effort to improve returns on its reserves. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
With the resignation of its CEO and continued problems for the A380, you might think Airbus is headed for disaster. But it could be poised to hunker down and reinvent as rival Boeing did years ago. Jason Paur reports.
With Google's $1.6 billion purchase of YouTube, the online video market has hit the big-time. And each company has something the other one needs, Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
Starting today, India implements a law that forbids children under the age of 14 from working in homes or restaurants. Miranda Kennedy looks at whether the new law will have an impact on the practice of hiring kids.
Drug maker Imclone is back in the news. Chairman David Kies quit this morning over an ugly board fight involving activist investor and board member Carl Icahn. Scott Tong has the story.
Gas prices are up, gas prices are down — but where does that leave alternative energy technology? As Sam Eaton reports, a lot would have to change to make alternative fuels economically viable.
Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina's book hits stores shelves today. With HP all over headlines, the timing couldn't be better. The book's add more details to the story, Rachel Dornhelm reports.
The trucking industry is in the middle of its worst labor shortage ever. As companies hone their recruiting efforts, they're focusing on one group of potential truckers: Baby Boomers. Martha Woodroof tells us it could be a match made in economic heaven.
Host Kai Ryssdal speaks with Mike Chinoy of the Pacific Council for International Policy about the economic implications of North Korea's nuclear testing claims — and whether economic sanctions might work.
The family that controls Cablevision is trying to take the company private again. Their last attempt failed, but this time the Dolans are back with a higher offer and a simpler plan. Amy Scott reports.
Google bought video sharing site YouTube for $1.65 billion today. Critics of the deal say it could cost them that much in copyright lawsuits, but other deals today make that less likely. Janet Babin explains.
Columbia University professor Edmund Phelps won the Nobel Prize for Economics this morning for his study of inflation and how it relates to unemployment. Scott Tong has the story.
Small businesses dominate Lebanon's economy. Cutthroat competition was already the rule, but after war devastated the country's peak tourism season, the struggle to survive has become desperate. Ben Gilbert reports.
The Army's announcing a new slogan today: "Army Strong." It's part of a $200 million advertising campaign to convince young Americans to sign up with Uncle Sam. Hillary Wicai reports.
Host Kai Ryssdal visits Sun Microsystems founder Scott McNealy in the latest Conversation from the Corner Office. McNealy talks about how his company has been able to compete with Microsoft and IBM on a much smaller budget.
EADS today denied reports in the German press that it has agreed to accept the resignation of the Airbus chief executive Christian Streiff. Eleanor Beardsley reports.
The online social networking market is heating up. A new study finds that the sector is maturing and quickly separating into niches. Janet Babin reports.
North Korea says it has conducted its first ever nuclear test, in defiance of international opinion. Asian markets fell on the news, but the reaction could be short-lived, Jocelyn Ford reports.
The 2006 winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics was announced today. Edmund Phelps of Columbia University is $1.4 million richer for adding to what we know about jobs and inflation. Scott Tong reports.
Ever since 9/11, the U.S. intelligence sector has been on a hiring spree. Critics say the rush to fill desks is leading to some imprudent choices. Jeff Tyler reports.
Finland is holding the latest in its series of renewable energy conferences aimed at developing partnerships to develop large-scale renewable energy plans. This time it's Latin America. Dan Grech reports.
Host Scott Jagow speaks with Newsweek magazine's Wall Street editor Alan Sloan about possible criminal charges and who should be held responsible in Hewlett-Packard's corporate spying scandal.
On Monday, the United Nations Security Council will nominate the body's new secretary general. Rachel Dornhelm looks at the fiscal responsibilities awaiting Kofi Annan's replacement.
