Latest Stories

New rules allow citizens to track congressional spending easier with a database of this year's earmarks. But the data isn't easy to get to. If you want it, you have to go directly to Capitol Hill. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.

With Valentine's Day around the corner, many television ads are telling men to buy diamonds for that special someone. But Caitlan Carroll reports that not all girls will swoon at a gift of expensive jewelry.

Although attacking lobbyists is a tactic for all the presidential candidates this year, commentator Brian Pallasch says lobbying is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution, and lobbyists are actually an important part of the public-policy process.

As food prices rise around the world, a number of food-importing countries are lowering tariffs and food-exporting countries are raising them. Kai Ryssdal talks to Homi Kharas from the Brookings Institution about tariffs' benefits and drawbacks.

A boom in virtual real estate has caused generic domain names like Vodka.com to be worth millions of dollars. Even private equity firms have been injecting money into domain name companies. Lisa Napoli reports on what caused the growth and how long it could last.

A bipartisan bill has been brought to Congress that would give the Federal Communications Commission more authority to ensure Internet service providers don't alter free and equal access to the Web. Jeremy Hobson reports.

Nanotechnology researchers are developing a new power-producing T-shirt, which will generate electricity as you wear it. Janet Babin reports on what it takes to make a power shirt for that power suit.

Despite the Federal Reserve's efforts to bring interest rates down, many credit card users are finding their rates and fees have gone up. Many banks have become reluctant to lower interest rates because of delinquent payers and mortgage defaults. John Dimsdale reports.

The Commerce Department reported a 0.3% increase in retail sales for January, causing some celebration among stock market traders. A closer look at the numbers, however, reveals they may not be worth celebrating. Bob Moon reports.

A report lists high unemployment and the busted housing bubble as causes for the rise in foreclosures last year. Janet Babin reports the number of foreclosures is expected to affect the economy into 2009.