Federal Tax Filing Deadline Arrives
Wednesday is the deadline for Americans to file their tax returns. Thousands of IRS agents are still working from home, and many of the volunteers have been sidelined by the pandemic.
Economy
Federal Immigration Agency, TSA Face Budget Shortfalls During Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic may force federal agencies to lay off some workers. The agency that handles citizenship applications has announced furloughs, and the TSA is offering early retirements.
Stay-At-Home Improvement: DIY Builders Help Drive Up Lumber Prices
With summer travel plans on hold because of the pandemic, a lot of Americans are putting money into projects around the house. That's taxing lumber supplies and pushing prices higher.
'We Still Face Much Uncertainty': Pandemic Hammers Big Banks
The dramatic collapse of the U.S. economy is pummeling America's largest banks. Wells Fargo has posted its first quarterly loss since 2008 and JPMorgan Chase has set aside billions to cover bad loans.
Drop-Off In Lottery Sales Will Hurt States' School Budgets
Lotteries across the country are hurting with revenues down hundreds of millions of dollars. That could have big implications for states that rely on that money for a portion of education funding.
Pandemic Forces Famed New Orleans Restaurant To Close
NPR's Noel King talks to Ian McNulty, who covers New Orleans food culture, about K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, an iconic restaurant in the city's French Quarter, announcing it will close permanently.
Is It Time To Kill The Penny?
As America experiences a coin shortage, Planet Money takes a look at the value of the penny.
News Brief: Reopening Setback, Rules For International Students, South China Sea
COVID-19 surge forces California to slow reopening. U.S. court hearing may decide the fate of more than a million international students. And, South China Sea becomes a dangerous military flashpoint.
Red Ink Overflowing: In June, U.S. Borrowed A Typical Year's Worth
The federal deficit is ballooning as the government tries to cushion the blow from the coronavirus pandemic. June's shortfall totals $864 billion — more than in an entire typical year.
Residents Of Alaskan Town Receive Monthly Stipend Not To Move Away During Pandemic
Southeast Alaska's economy is getting hammered without cruise ship tourists due to COVID-19. One city there is using its federal relief money to pay residents not to move away.