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The Story Of Line 24: How Performing Artists Landed On The Tax Form

Many of the lines on tax forms like the 1040 seem oddly specific. Some are for farmers, some for divorcees, some for servicemen and women. Behind each of those we can see the process that shapes our tax code. NPR looks at one line — for performing artists — and how it came to be.

The Story Of Line 24: How Performing Artists Landed On The Tax Form

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A Dim View: Only 1 Car Out Of 31 Is Deemed To Have 'Good' Headlights

Do you see the deer? A Honda Accord four-door with halogen lights (left) was found to have "acceptable" lights, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, also with halogen, was given a "poor" rating, based in part on how well each car lit objects on a straight section of road. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety hide caption

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Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

The Two-Way

A Dim View: Only 1 Car Out Of 31 Is Deemed To Have 'Good' Headlights

A car's cost — and even promises of seeing around curves — have little to do with the ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's study of 31 cars and 82 different headlight systems.

Organic Foods Still Aren't As Mass Market As You Might Think

Shoppers sort through yellow plums at the Union Square Park greenmarket in New York City. A study of retailers in Manhattan finds that organic foods are much more common in affluent neighborhoods. Andy Katz/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images hide caption

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Andy Katz/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

The Salt

Organic Foods Still Aren't As Mass Market As You Might Think

With Wal-Mart now selling organic food, and Whole Foods testing cheaper stores, it's easy to think organic has gone mainstream. But one study finds organics are still far more common in richer areas.

Buying Costly Drugs On The Installment Plan: Could It Work?

Harvoni can cure hepatitis C, but the drug costs a fortune. Are loans to patients the answer? Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/TNS via Getty Images hide caption

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Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/TNS via Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Buying Costly Drugs On The Installment Plan: Could It Work?

Kaiser Health News

Two academics suggest that loans financed by the private sector could be one way to help patients cover the cost of expensive, curative pharmaceuticals. Think mortgages.

Episode 692: The Secret Life Of Line 24

U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service 1040 Individual Income Tax forms for the 2015 tax year. Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Planet Money

Episode 692: The Secret Life Of Line 24

On today's show, we tell the stories of a few mysterious lines on IRS form 1040 — the basic tax form. In its own, maddening way, the 1040 is a great American document.

Episode 692: The Secret Life Of Line 24

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Millennials Make Up Biggest Share Of Homebuyers
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Your Money And Your Life

Millennials Make Up Biggest Share Of Homebuyers

The kids of the housing crisis — those 35 and under — are among the most eager to buy today. Here are some tips, for everyone, on how to weigh whether renting or buying makes the most sense for you.

Forget Generation Rent: More Younger Americans Aim To Buy

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Once Again, Travel Is The Target — Can Airlines Keep Bouncing Back?

People walk away from Brussels airport after Tuesday's terrorist attack. Analysts say the violence may reduce travel for a while but the industry should bounce back. Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP hide caption

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Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP

The Two-Way

Once Again, Travel Is The Target — Can Airlines Keep Bouncing Back?

Airline officials say travelers get attacked because aviation "brings the world together and fosters greater understanding." They predict that after a period of disruption, air travel will rebound.

In San Francisco, An Affordable Housing Solution That Helps Millennials

Mercy, a San Francisco-­based nonprofit, provides subsidized affordable housing for low-income residents, including 25 apartments reserved for 18- to 24-­year-­olds. Shawn Wen/Youth Radio hide caption

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Shawn Wen/Youth Radio

YR Media

In San Francisco, An Affordable Housing Solution That Helps Millennials

YR Media

Eighteen- to 24-year-olds are one of the fastest-growing homeless populations in the U.S. For many, public housing is out of reach. Enter a nonprofit that offers subsidized apartments to young adults.

In San Francisco, An Affordable Housing Solution That Helps Millennials

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Want To Escape The Cubicle? Here's How To Be Your Own Boss
Bjorn Rune Lie/Ikon Images/Getty Images

Your Money And Your Life

Want To Escape The Cubicle? Here's How To Be Your Own Boss

To start a small business, you'll need lots of time and a passion for what you do. From turning a hobby into cash to running a franchise, we share tips from people who've found success.

Want To Escape The Cubicle? Here's How To Be Your Own Boss

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Medical Debt Rains Pain On Families, Even In the Sunshine State
Jonathan McHugh/Getty Images/Ikon Images

Shots - Health News

Medical Debt Rains Pain On Families, Even In the Sunshine State

WLRN 91.3 FM

More than 30 percent of Floridians report having serious financial problems, compared with 26 percent of adults nationwide. Digging into those poll numbers shows large medical bills can be ruinous.

Medical Debt Rains Pain On Families, Even In the Sunshine State

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Federal Reserve Decides To Keep Interest Rates Low A While Longer

An employee prepares to install the hood on a vehicle at a General Motors plant in Arlington, Texas. Federal Reserve policymakers say recent indicators point to a strengthening labor market. Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Two-Way

Federal Reserve Decides To Keep Interest Rates Low A While Longer

The Federal Reserve decided Wednesday to hold interest rates steady. The nation's central bank is watching for signs of overheating, but for now, says the economy is growing at a sustainable rate.