Sonari Glinton http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130330851&ft=1&f=130330851 Sonari Glinton is a NPR National Desk reporter based in Detroit, primarily covering the auto industry and transportation. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Fri, 24 May 2013 17:06:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Sonari Glinton http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130330851&ft=1&f=130330851 LA Bluejeans Makers Fear Their Business Will Fade Away Los Angeles is home to a large slice of the world's bluejeans trade. But as the U.S. apparel industry continues to shrink, the city's high-end bluejeans business faces a threat. The European Union has imposed a nearly 40 percent tariff, which could cripple the city's jean business. Fri, 24 May 2013 17:06:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186468004/l-a-blue-jeans-makers-fear-their-business-will-fade-away?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186468004/l-a-blue-jeans-makers-fear-their-business-will-fade-away?ft=1&f=130330851 Los Angeles is home to a large slice of the world's bluejeans trade. But as the U.S. apparel industry continues to shrink, the city's high-end bluejeans business faces a threat. The European Union has imposed a nearly 40 percent tariff, which could cripple the city's jean business.

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]]> More Jobs, But Wait: They May Not Pay Much While the economy added 165,000 jobs in April, a closer look shows that the biggest gains were in lower-paying fields like hospitality and temp agencies. And there's some question as to whether there will be enough jobs for students once the school year ends. Sat, 04 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/04/181053767/more-jobs-but-wait-they-may-not-pay-much?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/04/181053767/more-jobs-but-wait-they-may-not-pay-much?ft=1&f=130330851 While the economy added 165,000 jobs in April, a closer look shows that the biggest gains were in lower-paying fields like hospitality and temp agencies. And there's some question as to whether there will be enough jobs for students once the school year ends.

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]]> J.C. Penney Wins Legal Fight Over Martha Stewart An appeals court in New York will allow J.C. Penney to continue selling a new line of housewares designed by Martha Stewart. The ruling nixes an attempt by Macy's to obtain an order that would block Penney from selling the collection. In other Martha Stewart news, she has joined the dating site Match.com in search of romantic adventure. Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180240200/j-c-penney-wins-legal-fight-over-martha-stewart?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180240200/j-c-penney-wins-legal-fight-over-martha-stewart?ft=1&f=130330851 An appeals court in New York will allow J.C. Penney to continue selling a new line of housewares designed by Martha Stewart. The ruling nixes an attempt by Macy's to obtain an order that would block Penney from selling the collection. In other Martha Stewart news, she has joined the dating site Match.com in search of romantic adventure.

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]]> Shoppers Should Avoid Sandy-Damaged Vehicles Thousands of cars were damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. Others were simply left unclaimed. Now six months after the storm, the car market is beginning to stabilize. Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/29/179762899/shoppers-should-avoid-sandy-damaged-vehicles?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/29/179762899/shoppers-should-avoid-sandy-damaged-vehicles?ft=1&f=130330851 Thousands of cars were damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. Others were simply left unclaimed. Now six months after the storm, the car market is beginning to stabilize.

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]]> House Panel Examines Government Loan To Fisker Automotive The founders of financially troubled Fisker Automotive were grilled by Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday. The electric car maker received a $529 million loan from the Department of Energy in 2009. The carmaker is now on the edge of collapse. Fisker has laid off most of its employees and hired bankruptcy advisers. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/178954986/house-panel-investigates-government-loan-to-fisker-automotive?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/178954986/house-panel-investigates-government-loan-to-fisker-automotive?ft=1&f=130330851 The founders of financially troubled Fisker Automotive were grilled by Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday. The electric car maker received a $529 million loan from the Department of Energy in 2009. The carmaker is now on the edge of collapse. Fisker has laid off most of its employees and hired bankruptcy advisers.

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]]> The Hidden Dangers Of Giving Car Advice Doctors get asked medical questions at dinner parties, and lawyers are probed with legal questions. Car analysts, testers, and reporters also get asked about cars — but there are dangers to giving car advice. Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/22/178462382/the-hidden-dangers-of-giving-car-advice?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/22/178462382/the-hidden-dangers-of-giving-car-advice?ft=1&f=130330851 Doctors get asked medical questions at dinner parties, and lawyers are probed with legal questions. Car analysts, testers, and reporters also get asked about cars — but there are dangers to giving car advice.

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]]> Google, Microsoft Look Past Desktop Computers To Increase Earnings With ad sales soaring, Google posted a 16 percent increase in first quarter profits. Google earned more than $3.3 billion during the quarter. Another big player in the technology sector, Microsoft also posted positive earnings. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/19/177905021/google-microsoft-look-past-desktop-computers-to-increase-earnings?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/19/177905021/google-microsoft-look-past-desktop-computers-to-increase-earnings?ft=1&f=130330851 With ad sales soaring, Google posted a 16 percent increase in first quarter profits. Google earned more than $3.3 billion during the quarter. Another big player in the technology sector, Microsoft also posted positive earnings.

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]]> Joint Air Bag Recall Affects More Than 3 Million Cars Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda simultaneously announced a global recall of nearly 3.4 million vehicles to replace defective air bags. The faulty air bags could deploy with excessive force and send shards of metal into the passenger side area. Coordinated recalls are unusual in the auto industry. Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/11/176954631/joint-airbag-recall-affects-more-than-3-million-cars?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/11/176954631/joint-airbag-recall-affects-more-than-3-million-cars?ft=1&f=130330851 Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda simultaneously announced a global recall of nearly 3.4 million vehicles to replace defective air bags. The faulty air bags could deploy with excessive force and send shards of metal into the passenger side area. Coordinated recalls are unusual in the auto industry.

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]]> Ford Claims Top Spot In Global Sales Race The Focus is the best-selling "nameplate" worldwide, followed by the Toyota Corolla, new data shows. Ford's sales have jumped in recent years as it dropped unsuccessful models and adopted a single global manufacturing system. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 02:45:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176752599/ford-claims-top-spot-in-global-sales-race?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176752599/ford-claims-top-spot-in-global-sales-race?ft=1&f=130330851 The Focus is the best-selling "nameplate" worldwide, followed by the Toyota Corolla, new data shows. Ford's sales have jumped in recent years as it dropped unsuccessful models and adopted a single global manufacturing system.

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]]> California's Unemployment Stuck High As National Average Dips California's economy is a study in contrasts. The state's unemployment rate — 9.8 percent — is tied with Rhode Island for the highest in the country. Parts of the state are still suffering mightily from the housing collapse. But there are also large pockets of job growth and revival. Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/05/176368239/californias-unemployment-stuck-high-as-national-average-dips?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/05/176368239/californias-unemployment-stuck-high-as-national-average-dips?ft=1&f=130330851 California's economy is a study in contrasts. The state's unemployment rate — 9.8 percent — is tied with Rhode Island for the highest in the country. Parts of the state are still suffering mightily from the housing collapse. But there are also large pockets of job growth and revival.

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]]> Auto Industry Stalls In Japan Toyota, Honda and other Japanese automakers are doing just fine in the U.S. Sales have rebounded, buoyed by a weaker yen and the usual lineup of reliable cars. In the home market of Japan, however, the car makers are struggling. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176104572/auto-industry-stalls-in-japan?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176104572/auto-industry-stalls-in-japan?ft=1&f=130330851 Toyota, Honda and other Japanese automakers are doing just fine in the U.S. Sales have rebounded, buoyed by a weaker yen and the usual lineup of reliable cars. In the home market of Japan, however, the car makers are struggling.

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]]> Electric Car Company Posts Its First Profit While Another May File For Bankruptcy Two startup automakers with big ambitions for electric vehicles appear to be headed in different directions. Luxury plug-in hybrid maker Fisker has hired a law firm to advise it on a possible bankruptcy, according to multiple published reports. Electric car maker Tesla announced on Monday that it expects to turn its first ever profit in the first quarter. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/01/175955814/electric-car-company-posts-its-first-profit-while-another-may-file-for-bankruptc?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/01/175955814/electric-car-company-posts-its-first-profit-while-another-may-file-for-bankruptc?ft=1&f=130330851 Two startup automakers with big ambitions for electric vehicles appear to be headed in different directions. Luxury plug-in hybrid maker Fisker has hired a law firm to advise it on a possible bankruptcy, according to multiple published reports. Electric car maker Tesla announced on Monday that it expects to turn its first ever profit in the first quarter.

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]]> State Gives Example Of New Federal Gas Standards The Environment Protection Agency has proposed new rules that will require cars to run on cleaner gas. The rules are intended to lower sulfur emission and reduce smog, and they'd go into effect in 2017. NPR's Sonari Glinton reports they're similar to standards in place in California. Sat, 30 Mar 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/30/175765573/state-gives-example-of-new-federal-gas-standards?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/30/175765573/state-gives-example-of-new-federal-gas-standards?ft=1&f=130330851 The Environment Protection Agency has proposed new rules that will require cars to run on cleaner gas. The rules are intended to lower sulfur emission and reduce smog, and they'd go into effect in 2017. NPR's Sonari Glinton reports they're similar to standards in place in California.

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]]> Researchers Expect Oil Demand To Plateau By Decade's End A report by analysts at Citigroup says a shift from oil to natural gas that began in the United States is about to follow suit in other countries. The report says gas may supplant oil for generating electricity in the developing world and will also become more commonly used for transportation. Thu, 28 Mar 2013 02:28:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/28/175542347/researchers-expect-oil-demand-to-plateau-by-decades-end?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/28/175542347/researchers-expect-oil-demand-to-plateau-by-decades-end?ft=1&f=130330851 A report by analysts at Citigroup says a shift from oil to natural gas that began in the United States is about to follow suit in other countries. The report says gas may supplant oil for generating electricity in the developing world and will also become more commonly used for transportation.

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]]> Ford Unit Apologizes For Demeaning Ads Ford has said it is sorry for print ads depicting three bound and gagged women stuffed in the trunk of an Indian-made compact car. The ads, created by an Indian agency, were never distributed commercially, and were apparently not intended for release. Tue, 26 Mar 2013 04:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/26/175332564/ford-unit-apologizes-for-demeaning-ads?ft=1&f=130330851 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/26/175332564/ford-unit-apologizes-for-demeaning-ads?ft=1&f=130330851 Ford has said it is sorry for print ads depicting three bound and gagged women stuffed in the trunk of an Indian-made compact car. The ads, created by an Indian agency, were never distributed commercially, and were apparently not intended for release.

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