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Laura Sydell
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Laura Sydell

Thursday

Monday

National

Nonprofit Develops Hi-Tech Weapons

When you think of out-sourcing, you probably don't think of nonprofits and weapon systems. But the CIA is funding a non-profit company that is developing top-secret technological programs. Hear NPR's Laura Sydell.

Nonprofit Develops Hi-Tech Weapons

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Friday

Monday

Your Money

Investment Firm Aims to Simplify Retirement Accounts

For some people, the biggest roadblock to saving for retirement is inertia. A new kind of investment firm helps simplify the 401k process. Their clients are people enrolled in company-sponsored retirement plans who don't want to bother with the details. Hear NPR's Laura Sydell.

Investment Firm Aims to Simplify Retirement Accounts

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Monday

Business

Presidential Endorsements Tricky for CEOs

Though Microsoft's Bill Gates and Apple's Steve Jobs have publicly endorsed candidates for president, many CEOs shy away from such public declarations. Political endorsements can give business leaders powerful connections on Capitol Hill, but also risk alienating customers. Hear NPR's Laura Sydell.

Presidential Endorsements Tricky for CEOs

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Sunday

Friday

Business

Small Businesses Face Difficult Health Care Choices

Small business owners have grappled with rising healthcare costs for their employees. Some have laid off workers. Others refuse to fill vacated positions, which forcing other workers to pick up the slack. President Bush and Sen. Kerry have offered different plans to tackle the problem of increased healthcare premiums. Hear NPR's Laura Sydell.

Small Businesses Face Difficult Health Care Choices

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Tuesday

Monday

Business

Pirated Scooters Hurt U.S. Sales

Overseas counterfeiting and pirating are hurting sales of a family-owned American company that makes popular gas-powered scooters. The Department of Commerce estimates that U.S. businesses lose about $250 billion every year to counterfeit and pirated goods. Hear NPR's Laura Sydell.

Pirated Scooters Hurt U.S. Sales

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Friday

Law

Low-Cost Legal Services

Some are calling it "the H&R Block" of law offices: the national chain "We the People" helps customers with legal filings -- from bankruptcy to wills. But the one thing they can't offer is legal advice. Some lawyers are skeptical about the quality of the low-cost service, and are fighting the competition in -- where else? -- court. Hear NPR's Laura Sydell.

Low-Cost Legal Services

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Thursday

Technology

PC Memory Maker Admits to Price Fixing

German memory chipmaker Infineon Technologies AG pleads guilty to price fixing and agrees to pay $160 million in fines. In a plea deal with the Justice Department, Infineon admits to conspiring to drive up prices for memory used in PCs and consumer electronics. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

PC Memory Maker Admits to Price Fixing

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Monday

Technology

Users Riled by eBay's Stake in Craigslist

A former employee of craigslist, an Internet classifieds site, has sold his 25 percent share in the business to eBay. Loyal craigslist users are worried the site will lose its tight-knit, community appeal. The site's creator says its culture won't change, but the security will. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

Users Riled by eBay's Stake in Craigslist

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Friday

Business

After IPO, What's Next for Google?

Internet search engine Google's first day of trading as a public company was a success. Its much-hyped initial public offering brought in nearly $1.7 billion. Now, everyone is watching to see what Google will do with all that money. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

After IPO, What's Next for Google?

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Thursday

Business

Google Stock Rises to $100

In the first day of trading in shares of the Internet search engine company Google, the stock rises to above $100. After much anticipation over the public offering, Google set its initial price at $85 for Thursday's debut. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

Google Stock Rises to $100

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Monday

National

Indian Immigrants Find Niche in Hotels

Many groups of immigrants made their first steps toward economic success in America by focusing on one type of business: think Korean groceries or Chinese laundries. When people from Gujarat, India, began arriving in California in the 1940s, some families found a niche running small cheap hotels. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

Indian Immigrants Find Niche in Hotels

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