Economy

"I've never sewn, I've never taken a business class in my life. I didn't ... know anybody that worked in fashion or retail." — Sara Blakely, CEO of Spanx

Economy

How A Pitch In A Neiman Marcus Ladies Room Changed Sara Blakely's Life

1:49pm September 12, 2016

At 27, Sara Blakely was selling fax machines and desperate to reinvent her life. So she came up with Spanx — hosiery that eliminates panty lines — and set to work building her business.

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Desperate Mother's Call Leads To Wis. Dental Clinics That Treat Rural Poor

6:09am September 12, 2016

by Alison Kodjak

What if you had cavities and gum disease and couldn't find a dentist to treat you? That's the reality for millions of poor people who live in rural areas and have little or no access to dental care.

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Do Hillary Clinton And Donald Trump's Tax Proposals Add Up?

6:02am September 12, 2016

by Scott Horsley

Morning Edition examines the competing tax proposals of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton — part of an exploration of presidential policies we're calling, "What's the Issue."

In Silicon Valley, Where A Teacher Works For Uber To Stay Middle-Class

12:52pm September 11, 2016

In most places, a teacher earning $69,000 would be firmly middle class. For our series "Hanging On," NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Matt Barry, who makes ends meet by driving for Uber in Morgan Hill.

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Now In Hillary's Corner, Businessman Mark Cuban Offers Up Debate Tips

8:44am September 10, 2016

Mark Cuban started out agnostic in the 2016 presidential race. He tells Scott Simon how he ended up stumping for Hillary Clinton, and how he thinks Clinton can get the better of Trump in the debates.

Louisiana Flooding Swamps Agriculture

8:44am September 10, 2016

by Tegan Wendland

When deadly flooding rains swamped southern Louisiana last month, it destroyed lives and property. And it also caused millions of dollars of damage to the state's agriculture industry.

Native Americans march to a sacred site on Sunday that they say was disturbed by bulldozers working on the Dakota Access Pipeline, near the encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux tribe's protest.

Judge Rules That Construction Can Proceed On Dakota Access Pipeline

6:15pm September 09, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

The Standing Rock Sioux tribe had sought a temporary stop to work on the pipeline. But after the ruling, three U.S. agencies said work would halt in an area particularly sensitive to the tribe.

Economy

What Keeps Poor Farmers Poor?

7:49am September 09, 2016

by Robert Smith

The simple answer is a lack of money: no money to expand their fields or use the latest seeds and technology. But economists have a more complicated theory. Perhaps, farmers face too much risk.

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Wells Fargo Ordered To Pay $185 Million Fine Over Unauthorized Accounts

6:51pm September 08, 2016

by Chris Arnold

Wells Fargo will pay $185 million in penalties following accusations the bank opened deposit accounts and credit cards for customers without their permission. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says bank employees opened more than 2 million accounts that may not have been authorized. The motive, according to regulator, was to hit sales targets and compensation incentives.

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Wells Fargo Fined $185 Million Over Creation Of Fake Accounts For Bonuses

2:44pm September 08, 2016

by Bill Chappell

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has levied its largest-ever fine on Wells Fargo for "the widespread illegal practice of secretly opening unauthorized deposit and credit card accounts."