Forest ‘roadless rule’: Environmental victory or U.S. job-killer?
Critics see a Clinton-era executive rule protecting national forests from new roads — the ‘roadless rule’ — as a job-killing block on access to the country’s natural resources.
Business Agenda
Business Agenda reports on what’s going on at businesses in Minnesota. Business Agenda provides brief, quick-reading items about important companies in Minnesota and the people who work at those firms.
Chinese yuan’s new global challenge to the dollar
The yuan, pegged to the dollar until not long ago and managed more recently to keep Chinese exports cheap — is turning into a global reserve currency. Africa may be China’s earliest, easiest zone of success.
Social Security: Seniors to see COLA increase in 2012
After an unprecedented two years of no cost-of-living adjustment, Social Security is poised to boost payments in January, a private group calculates. The Social Security COLA will be between 3.5 and 3.7 percent.
Herman Cain: Who came up with his 999 plan?
Want to understand what all the fuss is about when it comes to Cain’s “999” tax plan? Here you go.
China to U.S. on currency bill: I wouldn’t do that if I were you
Administration officials say they support the bill’s currency-strengthening goals but worry that it might violate U.S. obligations under World Trade Organization rules.
Post-oil, Pentagon ‘green hawks’ see energy security in biofuel
As an urgent matter of national security, active and retired military officers dubbed the “green hawks” have been beating the drum for increased energy efficiency and wider use of renewable fuels for civilian and military needs.
With unions joining protests, will Occupy Wall Street’s message change?
Union support offers Occupy Wall Street protesters organization and supplies. But will union involvement change the movement’s message?
Europe debt crisis: Greece teeters on brink of bankruptcy
Greece is closer to default than previously thought, calling into question whether a second bailout would be enough to contain the European debt crisis and avoid another global recession.
Would Obama’s jobs plan help avoid a recession?
As the country teeters on the edge of another recession, economists offer divergent views on the right path forward.
Why did Congress get this close to a government shutdown?
A revised FEMA spending forecast gave Congress “a way out.” Said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Monday: “Let’s fight when there’s something to fight about. There’s nothing to fight about tonight.”
Can Meg Whitman succeed in leading HP through Silicon Valley’s time of transition?
HP, now America’s largest high-tech company, has had recent troubles in finding an effective CEO, reflecting a company caught between the Silicon Valley way and a more traditional model for big business.
Stocks tumble as worries about global recession grow
The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged Thursday as the Fed warned “there are significant downside risks to the economic outlook,” and worries about a global recession grew.
Homeowners cheer Fed’s ‘Operation Twist’; Wall Street, not so much
The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it will drive down long-term interest rates through “Operation Twist.” The move has already pushed mortgage rates to historic lows, but Wall Street appears to have doubts about its broader economic imp
‘Buffett tax’ is not class warfare, Obama says
He rejected criticism over the prospect of $1.5 trillion in tax increases on the wealthy during the next decade, insisting that the rich should not get a better deal than “ordinary families.”
Netflix stock nosedives 19 percent after company ticks off customers
On Thursday, Netflix projected a loss of approximately 1 million subscribers this month, lowering expectations for U.S. subscribers for the third quarter by 4 percent.
Poverty rate rises especially for Hispanics
More Americans are living in poverty than ever before — and for Hispanics, the trends are especially bleak. Their poverty rate went up 1.3 percentage points in 2010, the sharpest annual rise of any group except blacks.
Stocks plunging? Don’t hide — seek
With all the financial turmoil, what’s a prudent investor to do? If your first instinct is to run for the hills, don’t do it, investment pros say.
Obama payroll tax cuts: Economists differ on how many jobs they’d create
If passed, economists say it should generate jobs in two ways, but exactly how many jobs would be added is a matter of educated guesswork for economists.
Help wanted. But only if you have a job.
Help wanted with a twist: Some firms won’t even consider hiring someone who doesn’t already have a job.
German court checks Merkel’s power in eurozone crisis
The judges rejected legal challenges to the country’s participation in bailouts but also ruled that Germany’s future moves to offer economic aid for the eurozone require parliamentary backing.
