Week of April 15th, 2013

WBUR's Curt Nickisch on the developments Friday night in Boston.

How can you help victims of the Boston bombings? We have tips on choosing charities. Plus, it’s time for some spring cleaning. We’re not asking you to go through your piles of old clothes or do the windows. We’re looking at how to clean out your financial portfolio and tidy up your budgets. And it’s time to reassess where your cash is going and straighten up the money issues we have with people in our lives — like exes, siblings, children and more.  Finally, what you’re really getting for your money when you buy products ‘Made in the U.S.A.’

With the manhunt going on, the city of Boston was placed on lockdown. It happened quickly and with purpose, but how? We take a look at the mechanics of stopping a city. But, not everyone has stopped. Jonathan Bush and athenahealth kept working, just remotely. In the world of business, Seaworld had a big IPO today, but the real story is on how theme parks are doing so well in a fragile economy.

With a manhunt for bombing suspect, the city of Boston came to a standstill. A look into the mechanics of locking down a major metropolitan area and how much it costs.

SeaWorld Entertainment, home of famous orca Shamu, wowed investors in a big IPO. Amid concern about consumer spending in a slow, fragile economic recovery, theme parks are doing surprisingly well. Why?

While most of the Boston area was on lockdown due to a manhunt for a Boston Marathon bombing suspect, one company, athenahealth, kept their doors open virtually.

When you buy products with the label, "Made in America," are you sure you're getting something made in the USA? Tips on how to decipher the labels on so-called American-made goods.

Two economists admit they made a mistake in a paper largely referenced to in the country's budget policy decisions. And the deficit-cutting duo of Simpson and Bowles release a new plan.

We asked: Who in your life costs you a lot of money? Your answers ranged from kids to lovers to siblings. A consumer finance expert offers some advice on how to maintain healthy relationships with the people who cause you financial strain.

As Americans look for ways to express their compassion over the tragedies that struck Boston and Texas this week, we have some tips for how to give to charities without being scammed.

A word of caution for elderly couples thinking about signing divorce papers.

For Trevor Morrison, about to become dean of top-tier NYU Law, it's worth the price of admission. (That's $51,500 a year, by the way).

The latest Tom Cruise sci-fi thriller, "Oblivion," hits theaters this week. Will American audiences be in the mood to see it?

Spring is the perfect time to get realistic about budgeting. Personal finance journalist Carmen Wong Ulrich offers some advice about how to do it the smart way.

With defeat of gun control legislation, NRA strategies become the talk of other lobbyists.

As a manhunt for one of suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings intensifies this morning, authorities are asking local residents to stay in their homes. Public transit has been suspended and businesses are being asked to remain closed.

Technology exists where only electronically recognized users can fire a gun, but are gun buyers interested?

CISPA passed in the House of Representatives. But what is the bill and what will it do for privacy and data?

Tax season gives many of us a chance to review the past year and examine our investment portfolios. We've got tips on how to improve yours.

As a manhunt for one of suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings intensifies this morning, authorities are asking residents of Watertown, MA., and other towns nearby to stay in their homes. Public transit has been suspended and businesses are being asked to remain closed.

French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici discusses the state of the French economy and where it is headed in the future.

As a manhunt for one of suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings intensifies this morning, authorities are asking residents of Watertown, MA., and other towns nearby to stay in their homes. And French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici joins us to discuss the state of the French economy, the euro zone, and austerity.

Dunkin' Donuts keeps its doors open for law enforcement during the Boston lockdown.

Tax attorney Kelly Phillips Erb, otherwise known as "Tax Girl," on fixing people's tax problems.

Gun control advocates are looking for new options, including some tech strategies. On Wednesday, seven measures failed in the U.S. Senate, including an amendment that would have expanded background checks. Some gun control advocates are now looking in new directions. So-called ‘smart guns’ are firearms that only authorized users can fire. But so far, there’s not a single one on the market in the U.S.

Erica Grieder, author of "Big Hot, Cheap and Right," on what the rest of the country can learn from the economic genius of Texas.

Many U.S. communities had been fighting to get fertilizer plants nearby. It brings plenty of jobs to town. With the accident in Texas, are they rethinking their hopes? Bill cramming, those strange charges on your phone bill, is back and mobile. The FTC has started taking a crack at these services.

The bidding reached $95,000 before the seller, who says he was hoping to pay off student loans, removed the glasses from auction.

Supercomputing are in hot demand. But not just from governments and large companies. Smaller businesses facing complex challenges are seeking some of the faster computers in the world.

Parking can be so bad in New York City, some frustrated residents have taken to reserving spots by painting the curb. Now, they could see higher fines.

Students at Southern New Hampshire University can now receive federal financial aid for a "self-paced online program" with no traditional courses or professors. It’s all about mastering competencies. Will it work?

Unauthorized charges for things like dating advice and horoscopes are making their way to more cell phone bills. And now the FTC is cracking down.

Every month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics sends hundreds of workers out to stores to gather prices of about 80,000 goods and services. But there's a new computer program that combs through the Internet and grabs prices.

Chinese consumers turn to imported foods. What's up with Apple's stock slide? And Germany approves a $13 billion bailout for Cyprus.

Diane Swonk, chief economist with Mesirow Financial, explains why commodity prices are falling and how the U.S. economy could benefit.

The U.S. Attorneys' Office and the FBI have been releasing official reports about their investigation of the Boston Marathon bombing, but there's also been amateur sleuthing taking place online at sites like Reddit and 4Chan.

Jamie Kitman, New York editor for Automobile Magazine, joins us from day two of his car trip across America.

The Digital Public Library of America goes online today, with 2.4 million pieces of art and history.

If you could see inside the cars on a freight train, you'd know more about which parts of the economy are up — or down.

The overwhelming yes vote came after a warning from Germany's finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble that if Cyprus was allowed to go bankrupt, other euro zone countries would be at risk.

Today, the tech world today brings you hits from the 80s and 90s: Microsoft and IBM are expected to report healthy earnings today. But what is up with Apple? It’s stock fell again yesterday, and is down 40 percent since last fall.

Stephen Keppel, economics editor at Univision News, says the Maduro's slim margin of victory could make it difficult for his government to achieve economic reforms.

Thankfully, it seems it's just a paperwork snafu.

The Digital Public Library of America goes online today, with 2.4 million pieces of art and history. As Union Pacific reports earnings, we count what’s in their freight cars.What’s next for Venezeula? And a long standing real estate term gets a makeover.

Thanks to a string of scandals that have damaged the reputation of China’s domestic food supply, more and more among the country's rising consumer class are turning to imported foods.

A year ago, Marketplace Tech host David Brancaccio drove solo across the country trying to deal only with technology and no people, as part of a series called Robots Ate My Job. Jamie Kitman, New York editor for Automobile Magazine, is now trying to make the drive the other way — meeting as many interesting human beings along the trip as he can. Kitman, who is driving a $240,000 McLaren MP 4-12C sports car, caught up with Marketplace Tech on the second day of his journey after he’d hung out in Chandler, Arizona with an outfit that has a fascinating way to design cars.

The flurry of budget deficit reduction talks we've heard in the past three years was based on faulty research–an Excel spreadsheet mistake.

Baker Jennifer Longson runs one of a handful of retail businesses that accept bitcoins as payment. Where some see twin bubbles, she insists cupcakes or bitcoins are sticking around.

American lost access to its computer system yesterday and had to ground hundreds of flights. Maybe it's time for the industry to hit the update button.

The arrest of a man for selling $370,000 worth of toner cartridges is a reminder that there are all sorts of mundane materials and products that have a second life on the black market.

The MPAA responds to calls for better policing of violence in movies, by increasing the TYPE SIZE on existing explanations. Why? To protect its business at the PG-13 level.

Fresh & Easy may be leaving town, but other British retailers are still trying to make it work in the U.S., like Fairway. Thieves are apparently not getting the toner at the market, but on the black market. We take a look at the latest product that’s being stolen. Plus, Freakonomics stops by for a chat about smoking and the workplace. Can workplaces really discriminate against smokers?

Failure of efforts to require background checks casts spotlight on online gun sales.

The video shows women describing themselves as they see themselves and then pairs that drawing with how others perceive them.

A new study from a firm called NQ Mobile says instances of evil software showing up in mobile phones were up 163 percent last year.

Gold prices, deflation, and your wallet. The state of global clean energy. And who needs consumer demand to make money anyway?

In many states, it is perfectly legal to not hire someone who smokes. Should employers also be able to weed out junk-food lovers or motorcyclists — or anyone who wants to have a baby?

Reports over the past couple years have suggested sky-high U.S. carbon-dioxide emissions have been falling, but what about the global energy picture? A new report suggests its nothing to write home about.

David Kelly, chief global strategist with JP Morgan Funds, explains what's got corporate profits up in a weak economy.

Britain's biggest retailer, the supermarket Tesco, has announced its first drop in profit in 20 years — and its U.S. business expansion may be partly to blame.

iTunes still dominates the music download arena, but Amazon is coming on, and other competitors are in the wings.

The TV industry is changing fast — and one of its pillars, bundling, may be about to fall.

Prank calls — which in 2013 are all but rooted out with caller ID — may get new life with a new app called Burner. But the software may have legitimate privacy uses as well.

Computer glitches can be frustrating, but what about when they keep an entire airline company from taking off? That’s what happened yesterday, when American Airlines had to cancel over 400 flights.

A new study links citizenship for undocumented workers to better pay and working conditions. But other experts say newly legalized low-wage workers still run the risk of poor treatment on the job.

Farmers in Liuchong village in the Central Chinese province of Hubei are standing up to a local phosphate mining operation and fertilizer factory they blame for polluting the village's water and air, killing their crops and livestock, and leading to a sharp increase in cancer rates in the region.

Farmers in Niuchong village in the Central Chinese province of Hubei are standing up to a local phosphate mining operation and fertilizer factory they blame for polluting the village’s water and air, killing their crops and livestock, and leading to a sharp increase in cancer rates in the region. Britain’s biggest retailer Tesco has just announced its first drop in profit in 20 years — and it seems the U.S. is part of the problem. And the race for music sales is heating up as Amazon nabs a piece of the market from Apple.

As AAPL hovers near $400, Exxon takes back the top spot as the most valuable publicly traded company on the planet.

Computer glitches at home can be frustrating, but what about when they keep an entire airline company from taking off? American Airlines had to cancel over 400 flights and deal with massive delays yesterday when employees couldn’t access its computerized reservation system Sabre, which is used by multiple airlines, helps with scheduling, booking, printing boarding passes, and tracking checked bags.

China's relentless focus on GDP growth has created unchecked industrial pollution, contaminating the nation's food supply. The story of one so-called 'cancer village' in Yunnan province where residents are dying.

After the bombings in Boston, authorities in London are looking at their own security arrangements in advance of Sunday's London marathon.

The day after bombings at the Boston Marathon, one business is concentrated on what matters — their employees.

It’s the day after in Boston and Mark Garrison talks to business owners and workers. A flood of footage from cell phones and other devices are flooding in to law enforcement; we talk to a lab that helps filter through the noise. Across the ocean, the London marathon is scheduled for next week and organizers there say they are on high alert. Plus, housing starts are in. What are the trends in housing?

Housing starts in March rose at the highest rate in five years. Which begs the question: What kind of house do people want these days?

Elizabeth Becker explores the ever growing industry of travel and tourism.

The story of the Boston bombing through business owners who chose to reopen the day after. For them business is about community, not just money.

How cell phone and surveillance video is gathered and and processed to find clues, and track the perpetrators of the fatal attack in Boston.

McDonald's franchises in Arizona say they want kids to eat a healthy breakfast to help them ace their statewide standardized tests. The promotion also builds customer loyalty.

Boston authorities investigate the bombing at yesterday's Marathon. The sequester could push some renters out of Section 8 housing. And has Marissa Mayer's acquire-to-hire strategy worked out for Yahoo?

A list of how you can assist those in Boston, whether you're nearby or from afar.

Since becoming Yahoo CEO last summer, Marissa Mayer has embarked on a takeover strategy: Buy companies to get their talent. As Yahoo reports earnings, we find out if it worked.

Can a plane's cockpit be hacked? One researcher, who used a smartphone to hack the cockpit of a virtual airplane, says yes. The FAA says its unlikely, if not impossible.

A day after three people were killed and over 130 injured by two bombings at the Boston Marathon, the search for answers is well underway.

OxyContin is supposed to come off patent and generic drug makers are excited. But, the FDA may put a stop to it all to wait for safer pills.

Sequestration has left housing authorities with a stark choice: Raise rents, or eliminate some Section 8 vouchers altogether.

A computer glitch and an Excel mistake each made today's news.

Boston will not be back to business as usual today, a day after bombs killed three people and injured more than 130 at the Boston Marathon. Patent protection for the painkiller OxyContin expires today. Generic drug manufacturers hope that means they’ll soon be able to grab a chunk of the nearly $3 billion market. And finally to a company called Zaycon Foods, which is offering a strange way for you to buy chicken.

A researcher used an smart phone app to hack the cockpit of a virtual airplane. The setting was a computer security conference in Amsterdam. The FAA and several makers of cockpit equipment say that feat would be much harder, if not impossible, in a real aircraft. We asked regular contributer Chester Wisnewski at computer security firm Sophos if he gives this much credence. He doesn’t — but he does think the story could make flying safer. 

There were two explosions near the finish line of the major race this afternoon, right in the heart of commercial Boston.

Satellite TV pioneer Charlie Ergen is making a bold play for wireless telecom company Sprint Nextel. Why the $25.5 billion move? It’s about growth and that future of TV. Raj Chetty won the John Bates Clark Medal for economists under 40. We walk through one of the studies that got him the award. Plus, in case you thought we forgot, it’s Tax Day. An excited accountant tells us why it’s the best job ever.

A tax accountant on why he loves doing taxes.

Raj Chetty just won the John Bates Clark Medal for economists under the age of 40. We walk with him through one of his experiments that shed light on how people make economic decisions.

Venezuela elects Hugo Chavez's preferred successor as president. We talk to one business owner about what that means for him.

Farmers hope the proposal to expand farm worker visas will stabilize their labor supply. Unions focus on making sure the deal protects workers and their wages.

Every Monday, one Marketplace staff member offers their favorite stories from the past week.