Business

Fourth-generation owner of Braun Brush, Lance Cheney, stands next to a special-order brush his company made for the artist Richard Artschwager.

Three Ways Brush Factories Are Surviving In America

3:46pm June 25, 2013

by Marianne McCune

The cheapest place to make brushes these days is China. But there are still people pressing bristles into brushes in a factory in the Bronx, and in small plants across the country.

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Politics & Government

IRS Systematically Targeted 'Progressive' Groups Too

11:10am June 25, 2013

by Tamara Keith

It wasn't just Tea Party groups that had a "be on the lookout" list at the IRS. A "broad spectrum" of groups were also targeted for increased scrutiny on other lists, which the agency has stopped using under its new acting leader Danny Werfel.

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Justices Rule In Favor Of Employers In Discrimination Cases

11:10am June 25, 2013

by Carrie Johnson

At the Supreme Court on Monday, it was a rough day for working people. In two cases, the justices split 5-4 along ideological lines to make it harder for employees to win discrimination lawsuits. The court raised new hurdles for plaintiffs who claim they're victims of bias and that companies retaliated against them.

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Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick joined state officials, clean energy advocates and union representatives to break ground for the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal.

Can An Old Massachusetts Fishing Port Light The World Again?

4:21pm June 24, 2013

by Asma Khalid

Once known as the City That Lit the World, New Beford's whale oil powered candles and lamps around the country. Now, the Massachusetts city wants to become an energy capital again, but this time with offshore wind.

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Economy

Op-Ed: Emerging Labor Movement Is A Presidential Opportunity

3:57pm June 24, 2013

Retail and fast-food workers protesting for higher pay are creating a new kind of U.S. labor movement. Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page argues that the president could "set a good example" by requiring fast-food vendors who have contracts with the federal government to pay minimum wage.

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DuckDuckGo Benefits From Internet Searchers Wanting Privacy

11:55am June 24, 2013

by Emma Jacobs

Online search engines that protect users' privacy are seeing a spike in traffic after the NSA surveillance revelations. DuckDuckGo, which does not track users at all, says it's seen record-breaking traffic.

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Chinese Stocks Suffer Big Losses

11:54am June 24, 2013

Major indexes in China closed down more than 5 percent Monday — making it the worst day for losses since 2009. The plunge reverberated, weighing down markets across Asia.

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Rodan Gatia gets water from a spring. A chlorine dispenser is behind her.

World News

A Surprising Barrier To Clean Water: Human Nature

10:38am June 24, 2013

by David Kestenbaum

Getting clean water to people in the developing world isn't just an engineering problem.

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With Health Exchanges Poised To Open, PR Push Draws Scrutiny

9:07pm June 21, 2013

by Julie Rovner

The nonprofit Enroll America wants to encourage uninsured Americans to sign up for the exchanges when the time comes. Though the group has support across industries and from the Health and Human Services secretary, it's still been hit by congressional controversy.

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The traditional Kendama is making a splash with kids.

Arts

The Kendama: Can A Wooden Toy Be A Viral Sensation?

7:11pm June 21, 2013

by Ben Adler

The kendama is a traditional wooden toy, but its appeal is spreading rapidly.

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