Exxon Mobil Criticized at Annual Meeting May 31, 2008 • Scott Simon talks to New York Times columnist Joe Nocera about an annual stockholders meeting of Exxon Mobil in Dallas. At the meeting, members of the Rockefeller family complained about some Exxon Mobil practices in light of climate change.
$300 Travel: Beer And Clothing Near Las Vegas May 30, 2008 • "There are two types of people in Primm; people with teeth and people without teeth. But it's mostly the latter," a man warns on the way to the Nevada border-town. Less than an hour from Las Vegas, it may not be as beautiful — but it's certainly cheaper and possibly more fun.
Your Money Cheap Travel Tips on the Web May 30, 2008 • Imagine a world where an airline pays you to travel. Spirit Airlines paid some travelers two cents — a penny each way — to travel to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. All the passengers had to pay were the taxes. Those came out to about $18.
'Marketplace' Report: Trouble in the Skies May 30, 2008 • Silverjet, the business-class airline, suspended operations on Friday. United Airlines and U.S. Airways have suspended merger talks due to labor concerns. British Airways raised its fuel surcharge for the second time in a month. Marketplace's Amy Scott talks with host Alex Chadwick about turmoil in the airline industry and what it means for consumers.
Music News Emo Fans March on London's 'Daily Mail' May 30, 2008 • After the Daily Mail called likened emo to a musical suicide cult, fans of the style decided to picket the newspaper. James McMahon of NME explains what's up for a mutable genre and those who love it.
World European Fishermen Strike over Fuel Prices May 30, 2008 • The fishing fleets of Spain, Portugal and Great Britain have been tied up for weeks as workers protest the high cost of gasoline. Farmers and truck drivers are also protesting, reports NPR's Jerome Socolovsky from Madrid.
Most Airlines Switching to All-Electronic Ticketing May 30, 2008 • Electronic tickets have become so popular in the past five years that paper tickets have almost died out. Now, the International Air Transport Association wants all airlines to use e-tickets as of June 1.
Middle East Planned Palestinian City in West Bank Faces Hurdles May 30, 2008 • Backed by hundreds of millions of dollars from the government of Qatar, a Palestinian developer is moving aggressively to build the first new Palestinian city in the West Bank in a generation. But the state-of-the-art planned city faces big hurdles, including Israeli military objections and critics who say the West Bank is not ready for such projects.
Economy Unable to Pay Mortgage, Man Raffles Off Pricey Flat May 30, 2008 • An unemployed real estate agent in Madrid, Spain, couldn't afford his mortgage payments and couldn't sell his half-a-million-dollar apartment, so he's raffling it off. The proceeds from the 64,000 tickets at about $10 dollars each will pay off his mortgage. On his Web site, he writes, "For 5 euros, you can win a flat, and I'll be able to sleep again."
Economy Oil Prices Fall as Regulators Boost Surveillance May 30, 2008 • Crude oil prices are down from their record highs. Oil is now trading under $130 a barrel; it was more than $135 a barrel last week. The drop is partly a result of the rising value of the U.S. dollar, and partly a reaction to an announcement that regulators plan to step up surveillance of energy markets.
Your Money Tapping 401(k) Now May Cause Financial Pain Later May 30, 2008 • Some people facing financial hardship are cashing in part or all of their retirement accounts to make ends meet. But financial planners caution against the practice because of penalties for early withdrawals, taxes and the loss of a long-term investment.
Economy Gas Prices Stir Plenty of Talk at the Pumps May 29, 2008 • As gas prices hit $4 a gallon in many cities across America, they're the chief topic of conversation at most gas stations. A popular question: "How much did it cost YOU to fill 'er up?"
Health Eye on Safety as Formaldehyde Use Increases May 29, 2008 • Formaldehyde isn't just for embalming anymore. It's used in hundreds of household products. But as its use has increased, so has concern about its safety.
Your Money Air Travel Forecast: Expensive, Partly Crowded May 29, 2008 • The friendly skies are likely to get more crowded and expensive in the months to come, as airlines struggle with sky-high fuel bills. Industry observers say unless oil prices drop sharply, more airlines will have to ground flights and raise ticket prices.
National Glow of Uranium Boom Attracts U.S. Miners May 29, 2008 • There's money to be made in mining uranium since the price of uranium ore has shot up owing to demand. That means more mines could start opening or reopening in the U.S.