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Around the Nation
Detroit Tries To Stave Off State Takeover Of Finances
December 11, 2012 WDETIf the mayor and City Council can't agree on a plan to reduce the budget deficit, state officials are poised to take away their power over Detroit's purse strings. The mayor and the council blame each other for the impasse. And with the deficit deepening, residents' frustration continues to mount.
Media
'Orange County Register' Presses Hum With Optimism
December 10, 2012 SCPRThe suburban Los Angeles paper is expanding its newsroom and emphasizing print over digital. Trying to dig the Register out of a financial hole, the new owners see promise in an expanded print edition with more color and more content.
The Salt
In Farmers Market, A Free Market Rises In Cuba
December 7, 2012 Farmers in the communist nation were once banned from freely selling their crops. As the country struggles to feed itself, the government has begun to accept a greater role for the profit motive. Now each night, in a muddy vacant lot on the edge of Havana, a market appears after sundown.
Economy
What Should The U.S. Learn From Europe's Woes?
December 6, 2012 As President Obama and lawmakers try to find a formula for spending cuts and tax increases, they might look across the Atlantic for insights from those who have been wrestling with budget problems. The first lesson from Europe's "fiscal consolidation" experiences: It will hurt.
Education
When The Art Of The Deal Includes Improv Training
December 5, 2012 Some top-tier business schools — Duke, UCLA, MIT and Stanford — are teaching improv as a way for students to increase collaboration, creativity and risk taking. An instructor at MIT says success in business, as in improvisation, can hinge on your ability to rebound.
All Tech Considered
In Eye Control, A Promise To Let Your Tablet Go Hands-Free
December 3, 2012 Forget touch screens and voice recognition. What if you could control your computer just by looking at it? Gaze-based interaction has been around for 20 years, but it may be poised to become more widely available — and affordable.
Television
The NFL's New Target Demographic: Kids
November 30, 2012 The National Football League could coast nicely on its colossal audience. But as NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports, execs have turned their attention to the nation's children, targeting them with NFL Rush Zone: Season of the Guardians, an animated TV show co-produced with Nickelodeon.
The Salt
For Restaurants, Food Waste Is Seen As Low Priority
November 27, 2012 Food waste is a big problem — for public health, the environment and consumers. Chefs and restaurant owners seem like they'd be the least likely to waste food, and yet 15 percent of all the food that ends up in landfills comes from restaurants. Some restaurants are starting to take action.
Business
An Entrepreneur Expands The Lego Universe
November 26, 2012 Each year, Lego turns out 19 billion plastic bricks, figures and gears for building things. But sometimes it seems even 19 billion isn't enough. Seattle-area resident Will Chapman wanted more, so he started making Lego-compatible parts — including World War II weapons.
Middle East
Burst Of Protest In Egypt But No Revolution, Yet
November 24, 2012 President Mohammed Morsi's decision to neutralize the judiciary this week brought into sharp focus just how politically polarized this nation-in-transition is. But despite the protests, there are few signs that the country is in the throes of a new uprising.
Business
Cyprus, Turkey At Odds Over Natural Gas Drilling
November 23, 2012 The small island nation of Cyprus is drilling under the Mediterranean Sea for natural gas. It is facing opposition from Turkey, which has occupied part of the island since 1974.