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Wednesday

Monday

National

U.S. Pensions In Crisis, But Not In Rhode Island

States and cities across the country face a trillion-dollar pension crisis that threatens to reduce local services, raise taxes and trim pension benefits for public employees. But sweeping reforms in Rhode Island have alleviated the state's unfunded pension liability.

U.S. Pensions In Crisis, But Not In Rhode Island

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Thursday

Minnesota Uses iPad Gambling To Help Fund New NFL Stadium

Booths that sell paper pull-tab games like this one have new competition in Minnesota: electronic pull-tab games played on iPads. The games are meant to help pay for a new football stadium in Minneapolis. Jim Mone/AP hide caption

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Jim Mone/AP

All Tech Considered

Minnesota Uses iPad Gambling To Help Fund New NFL Stadium

Minnesota gamblers no longer have to rip paper pull-tabs to see if they've won cash: As of this week, they can use an iPad to play games that give them instant feedback. The venture was sparked by a need to raise money to help for an NFL football stadium costing an estimated $975 million.

A Close Look At Your Bills' 'Fine Print'

Author Interviews

A Close Look At Your Bills' 'Fine Print'

Fresh Air

In his new book, The Fine Print: How Big Companies Use "Plain English" to Rob You Blind, author David Cay Johnston examines the fees that companies have added over the years that have made bills incrementally larger. He tells Fresh Air that companies are misusing language to "confuse people."

A Close Look At Your Bills' 'Fine Print'

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Friday

California Online Sales Tax Faces Enforcement Hurdle

An Amazon worker sorts packages at a fulfillment center in Goodyear, Ariz. Ross D. Franklin/AP hide caption

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Ross D. Franklin/AP

National

California Online Sales Tax Faces Enforcement Hurdle

KQED

Starting Saturday, California shoppers will begin paying sales tax on more online purchases. It's the eighth state to pass a so-called "Amazon tax," named after the mega e-tailer. But most of the sales tax owed will remain uncollected.

California Online Sales Tax Faces Enforcement Hurdle

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Wednesday

When Telemarketers Pocket Money Meant For Charity

Telemarketers at work at an InfoCision call center. The for-profit company solicits millions in charitable donations each year and also provides marketing services to for-profit clients. Courtesy of InfoCision hide caption

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Courtesy of InfoCision

National

When Telemarketers Pocket Money Meant For Charity

Americans give billions to charity each year. But an investigative report has found one large, for-profit telemarketing company has kept a large percentage of the funds it has raised for charities — while also misrepresenting to donors how their contributions would be used.

When Telemarketers Pocket Money Meant For Charity

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The Salt

Five Ways To Spot A Fake Online Review, Restaurant Or Otherwise

Online reviews of restaurants, travel deals, apps and just about anything you want to buy have become a powerful driver of consumer behavior. Unsurprisingly, they have also created a powerful incentive to cheat.

Five Ways To Spot A Fake Online Review, Restaurant Or Otherwise

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Tuesday

11 Takeaways From Zuckerberg's First Interview Since Facebook's IPO

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized his company's mobile-centered future Tuesday, in his first public comments since Facebook's troubled IPO. Eric Risberg/AP hide caption

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Eric Risberg/AP

All Tech Considered

11 Takeaways From Zuckerberg's First Interview Since Facebook's IPO

In his first interview since Facebook's troubled IPO, founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized the company's mobile-centered future, his commitment to mission over fun and explained why he doesn't code much anymore.

Money Coach

Are You Susceptible To 'Seduction By Contract'?

The new iPhone is expected to be unveiled this week, and customers can probably get a discount if they sign up for a lengthy service agreement. But New York University Law Professor Oren Bar-Gill tells host Michel Martin that consumers should think twice before signing the dotted line for things like phones, credit cards or mortgages.

Are You Susceptible To 'Seduction By Contract'?

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Sunday

Friday

Panera Sandwich Chain Explores 'Pay What You Want' Concept

This Panera Cares store in Chicago switched from for-profit to nonprofit this summer, and it started asking customers to pay whatever they want. Niala Boodhoo for NPR hide caption

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Niala Boodhoo for NPR

The Salt

Panera Sandwich Chain Explores 'Pay What You Want' Concept

WBEZ

The Panera coffee and sandwich chain is replacing some of its stores with nonprofit versions that allow customers to pay what they want and raise awareness about food insecurity. So far, the stores are paying for themselves.

Panera Sandwich Chain Explores 'Pay What You Want' Concept

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Thursday

Stocks Get Bounce From Europe; Focus Turns To Jobs

Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Aug. 9. Economic developments on both sides of the Atlantic could have a big impact on the U.S. presidential election. Richard Drew/AP hide caption

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Richard Drew/AP

Analysis

Business

Stocks Get Bounce From Europe; Focus Turns To Jobs

As Europe's Central Bank announced the latest plan to deal with the Continent's debt crisis, markets on both sides of the Atlantic rallied. Now investors are turning their focus to Friday's U.S. unemployment report, searching for signs that the job market is strengthening.

Wednesday

Payroll Tax Holiday May Not Survive Year's End

The Social Security tax rate is scheduled to revert to 6.2 percent next year, up from the temporary reduction — to 4.2 percent on an employee's first $110,000 in wages — which has been in effect since January 2011. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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iStockphoto.com

It's All Politics

Payroll Tax Holiday May Not Survive Year's End

Since January 2011, the government has knocked 2 percentage points off the payroll tax, which funds Social Security. But there's little appetite to extend the tax holiday and a $95 billion price tag.

Payroll Tax Holiday May Not Survive Year's End

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Monday

When A Kickstarter Campaign Fails, Does Anyone Get The Money Back?

In seeking financial backers for her Ouya game console, Julie Uhrman was looking for about $1 million. The business received far more than that amount. Kickstarter hide caption

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Kickstarter

All Tech Considered

When A Kickstarter Campaign Fails, Does Anyone Get The Money Back?

KQED

On Kickstarter, the largest crowd-funding site, a handful of entrepreneurs have raised millions of dollars more than they expected. But if they fail to deliver their promised product, questions arise over whether the supporters are donating money or making a purchase.

When A Kickstarter Campaign Fails, Does Anyone Get The Money Back?

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