Mar 22 ‘Wild West’ tax prep industry draws scrutiny of regulators By Hope Yen, Associated Press Cash-strapped Americans anxious for tax refunds are increasingly turning to payment advances, prepaid cards or other costly services when getting tax preparation help, according to new federal data raising concerns among regulators about whether consumers are fully informed about the… Continue reading
Mar 21 Here’s why your March Madness pool is illegal By William Brangham, Connie Kargbo If you’re a college hoops fan, you've likely been waiting all year for the NCAA's March Madness tournament. You made your picks, filled out your bracket, wagered a few dollars. But it turns out, you're also breaking the law. Continue reading
Mar 21 Watch 3:29 Swings in currency market, stock prices cap Wall Street’s chaotic week By PBS News Hour It was a topsy turvy week in the markets, with huge swings in the currency markets and, by week's end, another sharp rise in stock prices. The Dow and S&P closed Friday just below their all-time highs. Michael Regan of… Continue watching
Mar 20 Could kids hold the power to desegregate an Ohio town? By Simone Pathe In Robert Putnam's new book, "Our Kids," he argues that America has become more segregated by class since the 1950s and uses his hometown of Port Clinton, Ohio, as an example. Learn what residents of Port Clinton are doing to… Continue reading
Mar 19 Watch 7:18 Tech startups see gold in Baby Boomers’ golden years By PBS News Hour With more than 100 million Americans now over the age of 50, technology companies are eager to find new ways to cater to Baby Boomer consumers. From a mobile app that offers medical tips to wearable devices, special correspondent Megan… Continue watching
Mar 19 Watch 8:37 What’s splitting a new generation of haves and have-nots By PBS News Hour Political scientist Robert Putnam grew up in Port Clinton, Ohio, a town where, he says, both rich and poor children grew up together and had bright opportunities. But in the past few decades, social mobility has declined and the haves… Continue watching
Mar 19 Why you should care about other people’s kids By Robert Putnam Since Robert Putnam's youth, America has become more racially and religiously integrated, but more segregated by class. In his new book "Our Kids," the Harvard professor -- of "Bowling Alone" fame -- argues that social immobility presents an economic problem… Continue reading
Mar 18 Watch 4:25 News Wrap: Fed opens possibility of interest rate hike By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Wednesday, the Federal Reserve said it was open to raising interest rates, but the job market must improve and inflation has to move closer to 2 percent for a rate hike. Also, gunmen attacked Tunisia’s National… Continue watching
Mar 18 Watch 9:02 The American Dream is alive in the Twin Cities, but not for everyone By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Mar 18 Somewhere between patient and impatient, Fed looks to June rate hike By Simone Pathe At its March policy meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee refused to lay out a time table for raising interest rates, with Janet Yellen saying that a June rate hike is possible but not definitive. The Fed's economic forecasts, however,… Continue reading