Public Sector December 20, 2015 Feds used donations intended for poor for massages, luxuries for themselves Federal employees and a contractor diverted more than $1 million of charitable contributions to spending on themselves for in-office massages, meals at every meeting and other luxuries and unnecessary expenses, a government audit found.
Consumerism December 20, 2015 California farmer locked in battle with union Six months ago, workers at one of the largest fruit farms in the U.S. went to the ballot box to decide if they would continue to be represented by the United Farm Workers, which won that right two decades ago but never forged a labor contract.
Consumerism December 20, 2015 Lawmakers look to combat seafood fraud When the weather warms and the South Carolina humidity hangs like a soggy blanket along the coast, you can often find an entrepreneur selling shrimp out of the back of a pickup truck by the road with a hand-scrawled sign promoting it as both fresh and local. There's a chance it's neither.
State Department December 9, 2015 New bid to rein in outsize UN salaries: even UN agencies asking for relief The tide may be turning in a long struggle to get the United Nations to cut back the fat compensation packages that it hands out to employees -- deals at least 30 percent richer than their supposedly comparable U.S. federal counterparts, according to U.S. calculations.
Consumerism December 2, 2015 American farmers confront 'big data' revolution Farmers from across the nation gathered in Washington this month for what has become an annual trek to seek action on the most important matters in American agriculture, such as immigration reform and water regulations.
Consumerism December 2, 2015 Beef prices reach highest level since 1987 The highest beef prices in almost three decades have arrived just before the start of grilling season, causing sticker shock for both consumers and restaurant owners -- and relief isn't likely anytime soon.
Consumerism December 1, 2015 Volatile prices at gas pumps give drivers whiplash Local gasoline prices are swinging up and down ever more drastically, a result of a national fuel system that is operating with a shrinking margin for error.
Consumerism December 1, 2015 Hops farming grows slowly despite brewers' demand Craft brewers interested in capitalizing on consumers' interest in locally grown foods are encouraging more farmers to grow hops.
Investment November 29, 2015 Florida cattle ranchers seek locally grown label Under the "Fresh From Florida" marketing campaign offered by the state's agriculture officials to stores and consumers, people are encouraged to buy things that are grown and raised in the Sunshine State.
Investment November 29, 2015 Texas ranchers hit hard by drought eye rebuilding Texas, the nation's top cattle-producing state, lost 15 percent of its animals during a two-year drought as ranchers sold them to out-of-state buyers or sent them to slaughter. That dropped the size of the United States' overall herd to its lowest since the 1950s.
Energy November 28, 2015 Energy boom puts wells in American's backyards Over the summer, something sprang up in the view from Dorsey Johnson's back deck north of Denver, where she watches sunsets over Colorado's front range.
