Business

The world of Roblox has become a popular escape during the pandemic.

Arts

Roblox Goes Public — What's Roblox? Ask Anyone With Kids.

5:49pm March 09, 2021

by Mandalit del Barco

Roblox, the online gaming platform, is going public on Wednesday. During the pandemic lockdown it's become a virtual playground, and the company has seen a surge in users, with millions now active.

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Economy

Remote Forever: Workers Relocate In Pandemic, Forcing Employers To Adjust

4:08pm March 09, 2021

by Laurel Wamsley

With millions of Americans suddenly working remotely, some took the opportunity to move across the country — crossing their fingers that when it's safe to go back to the office, they won't have to.

Researchers are concerned that Instagram's new "suggested posts" feature is contributing to the spread of misinformation.

Instagram Suggested Posts To Users. It Served Up COVID-19 Falsehoods, Study Finds

12:46pm March 09, 2021

by Shannon Bond

The photo-sharing app owned by Facebook recommended posts and accounts making false claims about COVID-19, vaccines and the 2020 U.S. election.

Companies will need to be careful how heavy-handed they are in ordering workers back to their cubicles. "The good news is you could get everybody back in the office," says HR consultant David Lewis. "The bad news is ... not everybody is going to come back

National

Workers Are Moving First, Asking Questions Later. What Happens When Offices Reopen?

11:59am March 09, 2021

by Laurel Wamsley

As the pandemic stretched on, some employees moved hundreds of miles from the offices they're supposed to return to once it's safe. Will their bosses really make them come back?

The Senate approved a $1.9 trillion rescue package on March 6. The House is expected to vote on the legislation this week.

Here's What's In The American Rescue Plan As It Heads Toward Final Passage

11:46am March 09, 2021

by Barbara Sprunt

The colossal package allocates money for COVID-19 vaccines, schools, small businesses and anti-poverty programs like the child tax credit. Here are the highlights, including what the Senate changed.

What the $300 a month child benefit could do for parents on the edge.

What The $300 A Month Child Benefit Could Mean For A Family On The Edge

9:36am March 09, 2021

by Anya Kamenetz

The monthly checks would mark a big shift in the federal government's approach to child poverty. One study estimates they could cut the number of poor children by half.

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Post Office Can't Afford To Replace Entire Aging Gas-Powered Fleet With EVs

7:43am March 09, 2021

by Brian Naylor

The U.S. Postal Service announced a half billion dollar contract to replace some of its older vehicles, but only a fraction will be electric powered. Environmentalists are disappointed.

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Health & Safety

Tax Breaks Will Offset $26 Billion Opioid Settlement, Drug Firms Say

6:29am March 09, 2021

by Brian Mann

Lawmakers are blasting the nation's biggest drug makers and distributors for looking to use a pandemic tax-break loophole to write down losses coming from settlements linked to the opioid epidemic.

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News Brief: CDC Guidelines, Venezuelans Protected Status, Opioid Settlement

6:07am March 09, 2021

Health officials say the worst of the pandemic may be behind us. The White House extends Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans. Drug firms say tax breaks will offset the opioid settlement.

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Police officers are shown arresting Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri after a Black Lives Matter protest she was covering on May 31, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa. Sahouri went on trial Monday on charges of failing to disperse and interfering with o

National

Iowa Reporter Goes On Trial In Case That Raises Press Freedom Concerns

1:45pm March 08, 2021

by Scott Neuman

The Des Moines Register reporter, Andrea Sahouri, was arrested as she covered a Black Lives Matter protest. "Treating media work as a crime is a human rights violation," Amnesty International said.