Business and Financial News : NPR

House Passes Financial Overhaul Bill

June 30, 2010 • Senate support for the far-reaching bill remained in flux, however. The Senate was forced to delay its vote to mid-July, denying President Obama a victory before Independence Day. Democrats struggled to secure the votes of a handful of GOP senators even after meeting their demands and backing down on a $19 billion tax on big banks and hedge funds.

Worried About The Deficit? Blame Health Care

June 30, 2010 • Unless something changes, rising federal deficits will be driven largely by government spending on health care.

Prices in New York City for some brands of cigarettes are likely to reach $13 a pack with the new tax. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

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Mario Tama/Getty Images

$11 A Pack? NYC Smokers Pay To Light Up

June 30, 2010 • New York is adding taxes to each pack in an effort to close its gaping budget deficit. The New York Department of Health estimates that 80,000 smokers in the state will quit in light of the tax. And while that will be good for their health, it's not great for New York businesses. Even New Yorkers avoid buying cigarettes in New York. They buy them online, or have friends pick up cartons duty-free at airports when they travel.

TARP Puts Some Republicans On The Defensive

June 30, 2010 • The Troubled Asset Relief Program, which was created under President George W. Bush, is about to end. And many Republicans who voted to pass the Wall Street bailout in the fall of 2008 are now accused of being big-government supporters.

Show Me Your Cleats! - World Cup 2010 Blog

What's With The Purple Shoes?

June 30, 2010 • If you've been watching a lot of soccer lately, you've probably seen a remarkably high number of gifted athletes this year sporting ridiculous glowing footwear. What gives?

Mad Dash As Homebuyer Tax Credit Deadline Arrives

June 30, 2010 • Wednesday is the last day for homebuyers to close on purchases if they want to get the $8,000 federal tax credit. But a national Realtors group says as many as 180,000 people may not make it because of various delays. A bill working its way through Congress could provide a reprieve.

Michael Klare: Grappling With The Age Of 'Tough Oil'

Children play on a Nigerian oil-flow station in 2007. Nigeria, a major oil source for the United States, is riddled with ancient pipes and constant spills. That, plus the geopolitical challenges involved, is why much of Nigeria's crude is the kind of "tough oil" that author Michael Klare describes. George Osodi/AP hide caption

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George Osodi/AP

Gulf Oil Spill: Containment And Clean Up

Michael Klare: Grappling With The Age Of 'Tough Oil'

Fresh Air

June 30, 2010 • Journalist Michael Klare says we've used up what he calls the "easy oil" on Earth. What's left is "tough oil" — deep underground, far offshore or in complex geological formations. Klare details the hazards of drilling in these environmentally hazardous areas in his book, Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet.

The Two-Way

Calif. Schools on Brink of Bankruptcy

June 30, 2010 • More than a dozen districts are in immediate danger, while 160 others are in financial limbo.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James has already pocketed two league Most Valuable Player awards but has yet to win an NBA title. Elise Amendola/AP hide caption

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Elise Amendola/AP