Business & Economy

Minimum-Wage Boost Stalled in Senate

Staff / Truthdig Jan 25, 2007 The first minimum-wage increase in 10 years took a hit in the Senate Wednesday, failing to get the 60 votes necessary to end debate. Republicans have been fighting to include tax cuts for businesses, and will probably succeed unless the Dems can get six more defections. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Media Conglomerate Considers Bids

Staff / Truthdig Jan 21, 2007 Tribune Media, the conglomerate that owns the Los Angeles Times along with other major newspapers, TV stations and even the Chicago Cubs, announced it is considering offers for its sale. The economic wisdom of conglomeration has come under fire in recent years, but Tribune's troubles have raised concerns over the future of the newspaper industry in general. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Find Out How Much the Iraq War Is Costing You

Staff / Truthdig Jan 16, 2007 The National Priorities Project, a nonprofit organization that aims to turn "data into action," has an interesting tool on its website that shows just how much the Iraq war is costing your community. The cost so far to Crawford, Texas: $986,998. The cost to Los Angeles County: $11,342,897,442 -- that's billions -- and counting. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Scientists Seek to Create Docile Zombie Animals

Staff / Truthdig Jan 15, 2007 Researchers are probing ways to create genetically modified livestock that are oblivious to their confinement and thus easier to prepare for subsequent slaughter. Zombie bacon double-cheeseburger, anyone? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Ellen Goodman: Bob the Un-Builder

Ellen Goodman / Truthdig Jan 11, 2007 Home Depot CEO Bob Nardelli's golden parachute doesn't just speak to the inequality of income in America, appalling as it may be, but raises another issue just as troubling: the inequality of risk. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Save Money and the Planet at the Same Time

Staff / Truthdig Jan 9, 2007 The higher cost of hybrid cars is worth it in the long run, according to a comprehensive new study. When considering not just fuel economy but insurance, maintenance, depreciation and other factors, a Toyota Prius owner can expect to save $13,408 over five years, compared with a non-hybrid in the same class. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

And to No One’s Surprise …

Staff / Truthdig Jan 8, 2007 Families earning more than $1 million per year saw a greater drop in federal tax rates than any other group in the country -- thanks to Bush's tax cuts, according to a new nonpartisan congressional study. We're shocked. SHOCKED! Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Cloned Food to Go Unmarked

Staff / Truthdig Dec 28, 2006 The Food and Drug Administration is set to approve food products derived from cloned animals and their offspring. Though eating beef from a cloned cow may seem incredibly creepy, the FDA has decided the manufactured twin is just as safe as the original animal, and requires no special identification once in the food supply. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Surprise Sale for Progressive Clothing Maker

Staff / Truthdig Dec 19, 2006 American Apparel's controversial founder has sold the clothing company to an investment firm for $382.5 million. The company made a name for itself by manufacturing guilt-free clothes in downtown Los Angeles, where it pays workers double the minimum wage and offers them healthcare, free meals and English lessons. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pot Named America’s Top Cash Crop

Staff / Truthdig Dec 18, 2006 Marijuana produced in the U.S. has a market value of $35 billion per year -- far higher than that of corn, soybeans or hay, the top three legal cash crops, according to a report by a marijuana public policy analyst. California produces more than a third of the total. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Imus’ Anti-Semitic Rant

Staff / Truthdig Dec 12, 2006 Don Imus veered into Mel Gibson territory on the Nov. 30 edition of his morning radio show, when he referred to the "Jewish management" of CBS Radio (which owns Imus' flagship station) as "money-grubbing bastards." Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Report: World Bank Fails to Address Poverty

Staff / Truthdig Dec 10, 2006 A new report by the World Bank's Independent Evaluation Group criticizes the international lending organization for failing to alleviate global poverty with programs that focus too single-mindedly on growth. The bank estimates that 1.1 billion people subsisted on less than $1 per day in 2001. (h/t: Common Dreams) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )