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National

Tax Woes Likely Won't Derail Daschle Confirmation

January 31, 2009 • The president's pick for health secretary said he deeply regrets tax mistakes and amended returns to report more than $128,000 in back taxes and nearly $12,000 in interest for 2005 to 2007.

The 81st Annual Academy Awards

Oscar Nods Give 'Slumdog' A Box Office Bump

January 31, 2009 • This year's Oscar season illuminates an interesting quirk in box-office strategy: How theaters and studios place bets on re-releases of movies they think will be nominated. Some pay off — but some sure don't.

Oscar Nods Give 'Slumdog' A Box Office Bump

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Analyst: Wall St. Bonus Structure Ingrained

January 31, 2009 • This week President Obama called Wall Street bankers "shameful" after it was revealed they gave themselves nearly $20 billion in bonuses in 2008. "They have this mindset that bonuses are how people get paid," Joe Nocera says.

Analyst: Wall St. Bonus Structure Ingrained

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Business School Tests Its Own Philosophy

January 31, 2009 • As more people lose their jobs, there may be ways for employers to soften the blow. An MBA program near Seattle teaches this style of management, but the school was recently forced to cut a quarter of its staff — and set out to practice what it teaches.

Business School Tests Its Own Philosophy

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Technology

Some Technology Leaves The Blind Behind

January 30, 2009 • For those who can't rely on vision or hearing to guide their navigation of consumer electronics devices, doing simple tasks can become a huge challenge. Meanwhile, the price of many of the devices created specifically for the blind or deaf is anything but accessible — and would give most consumers sticker shock.

Some Technology Leaves The Blind Behind

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National

Public Sector Joins Businesses In Feeling Layoff Pain

January 30, 2009 • New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned Friday he may have to cut 23,000 city positions, becoming the latest official to warn that government jobs will be slashed.

Bowl & Board: A Retailer's Struggle To Survive

Housewares Retailer Struggles In Downturn

January 30, 2009 • With Christmas season behind him, Mark Giarrusso of Bowl & Board has told his landlord that if the rent isn't reduced, his store will have to close. Giarusso is bleeding money at his Brookline, Mass., location. Meantime, his family continues to make changes at home to save money.

Housewares Retailer Struggles In Downturn

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Economy

Road Builders Compete For Slice Of Stimulus

January 30, 2009 • Lobbyists for various industries are making the rounds in Washington, D.C., pleading the case for bigger investments and tax breaks. With the $800 billion-plus stimulus bill coming up for debate in the Senate, the construction industry is touting the benefits of asphalt and concrete.

Road Builders Compete For Slice Of Stimulus

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Summary Judgment

New Movies: 'New In Town,' 'Taken' And 'The Uninvited'

January 30, 2009 • Writer Mark Jordan Legan takes us through reviews of three news films. Which is more deserving of the price of admission, New In Town, a comedy about a Miami businesswoman who relocates to a tiny city in Minnesota or Taken, an action film about a former spy who rescues his daughter from the slave trade? And then there's also The Uninvited to consider, a thriller about a young woman who returns home after a stint in a mental hospital to find a ghost.

New Movies: 'New In Town,' 'Taken' And 'The Uninvited'

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Is Community-Funded Journalism The Answer?

January 30, 2009 • If news organizations continue struggling to pay their reporters, would you be willing to pick up the tab? Spot.us creator David Cohn is hoping people will say yes. Spot.us is one of many Web sites popping up to unite journalists with the citizens that care to keep them in business.

Is Community-Funded Journalism The Answer?

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Economy

GDP Falls To 1982 Levels

January 30, 2009 • The economy is performing at its lowest level since 1982 according to fourth quarter GDP information. We explore why the numbers may be a bit deceptive and what this means for the nation's economic future.

GDP Falls To 1982 Levels

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Technology

The Road To Building Greener Cars

January 30, 2009 • The big automakers are retooling their factories to produce greener cars but many of these vehicles won't hit the road for years. Ira Flatow talks with guests about outside-the-box ideas for improving fuel efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions quickly.

The Road To Building Greener Cars

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Economy

Government Data Shows Recession Deepening

January 30, 2009 • The Commerce Department reports the economy had its worst showing in a quarter-century. U.S. gross domestic product dropped at a 3.8 percent annual rate in the last three months of 2008. The GDP report shows the grim toll of the housing, credit and financial crises.

NPR's John Ydstie And Renee Montagne Discuss The Report

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Economy

U.S. GDP Falls At 3.8 Percent Pace In 4th Quarter

January 30, 2009 • U.S. gross domestic product dropped at a 3.8 percent annual rate in the last three months of 2008, the Commerce Department reported Friday. The GDP report marked the latest evidence of the depth of the recession and followed a week of multiple layoff announcements by American corporations.

Wal-Mart CEO Stepping Down After 9 Years

January 30, 2009 • H. Lee Scott steps down this weekend as CEO of Wal-Mart. He's been the head of the world's largest retailer for nine years. When Scott took over Wal-Mart back in 2000, the company was under attack for low wages, the lack of health insurance for many workers and its seeming indifference to its impact on the environment.

Wal-Mart CEO Stepping Down After 9 Years

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