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Friday

Thursday

Foreclosure Rescue Scams Target Latino Families

Angel Blas, 51, stands in his backyard with one of his pet guinea pigs. A law firm persuaded him to pay $3,500 to negotiate with his lender to refinance his mortgage. Blas says the firm took no action. Ari Daniel Shapiro for NPR hide caption

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Ari Daniel Shapiro for NPR

Crisis In The Housing Market

Foreclosure Rescue Scams Target Latino Families

Latino communities are being especially hard hit by foreclosure rescue scams. Massachusetts is one of a handful of states that are fighting back with anti-fraud laws.

Foreclosure Rescue Scams Target Latino Families

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Outlook Dims For Popular Energy-Efficiency Loans

Damon Corkern, who works for ECS Solar Energy Systems, installs solar panels on a house roof in Gainesville, Fla. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Outlook Dims For Popular Energy-Efficiency Loans

A White House-backed program to allow property owners to pay for energy-efficiency improvements through property tax assessments may be shut down. The federal agency that oversees mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac says the program poses a risk to mortgage lenders.

Outlook Dims For Popular Energy-Efficiency Loans

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Wednesday

Life Insurance Firms Profit From Death Benefits

Cindy Lohman is seen holding a photo of her son Ryan, who was killed by a bomb in Afghanistan. She says she feels betrayed by Prudential, his life insurance company. Bill Cramer/Bloomberg hide caption

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Bill Cramer/Bloomberg

The Impact of War

Life Insurance Firms Profit From Death Benefits

Life insurance companies boost their bottom lines by holding on to death benefits owed to families of service members and millions of other Americans, an investigation by Bloomberg Markets magazine found. Cindy Lohman, whose son was killed in Afghanistan, says she feels betrayed by his life insurance company, Prudential.

Life Insurance Firms Profit From Death Benefits

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Tuesday

Untangling Madoff's 'Winners' And Losers

Court-appointed attorney Irving Picard is facing an uphill battle as he tries to recover money from those who came out of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme as winners. With lawsuits pending to recover $17 billion, Picard hopes to return more than 50 cents on the dollar to the many losers.

Untangling Madoff's 'Winners' And Losers

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Monday

Sunday

Crisis In The Housing Market

Mortgage Aid Goes On Tour, Minus Star Player

This weekend, the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America brought its "Save the Dream" tour to Washington D.C. With lenders by its side, the group helps homeowners modify their mortgages to the point that they're affordable. But one major bank is no longer part of the "Dream."

Mortgage Aid Goes On Tour, Minus Star Player

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Savers, Too, Benefit From Financial Regulation

When President Obama signed into law a landmark bill to overhaul financial regulations this past week, much of the discussion focused on protections for borrowers. But the new law is supposed to make life better for savers, too. Host Liane Hansen talks to Senior Business Editor Marilyn Geewax about the impact of the new financial regulation law on savers and how they may benefit from it.

Savers, Too, Benefit From Financial Regulation

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Friday

Pay Czar Slams Bank Executives' Bonuses

U.S. pay czar Kenneth Feinberg says executive payouts were "ill-advised," but critics say he should have acted more forcefully. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

Business

Pay Czar Slams Bank Executives' Bonuses

Kenneth Feinberg said excessive executive payouts that 17 large U.S. banks made while they were on government life support were "ill-advised." Some of the firms guaranteed payments regardless of performance.

Pay Czar Slams Bank Executives' Bonuses

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Education

Report: Feds Downplaying Student Loan Defaults

One in every five government loans that entered repayment in 1995 has gone into default, according to a recent report released by The Chronicle of Higher Education. The Department of Education is undercounting student loan defaults, Chronicle reporter Kelly Field tells NPR.

Report: Feds Downplaying Student Loan Defaults

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Thursday

Economy

The Value Of Extending Unemployment Benefits

Following passage by the House, the unemployment extension bill will bring some relief to those whose benefits ran out in June. Critics say the extension encourages people to game the system. Others believe the money should be spent on a stimulus while the economy is still trying to recover and jobs are scarce.

The Value Of Extending Unemployment Benefits

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Airlines Return To Profitability

A sign lists the costs for checking baggage with American Airlines last month at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Ted S. Warren/AP hide caption

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Ted S. Warren/AP

Business

Airlines Return To Profitability

The industry was clobbered after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Then the global economy soured, fuel prices climbed and people stopped traveling. In response, airlines reduced flights and slashed payrolls. They began charging for food and luggage. But now, with the demand for tickets strong, the airlines are in the driver's seat.

Airlines Return To Profitability

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