Business: Latest Financial Topics from National Public Radio

Here is the latest Business News from National Public Radio.

Sony Buys Michael Jackson’s Stake In Lucrative Music Catalog
The $750 million deal means Sony now fully owns or administers the rights to 3 million songs, including hits by the Beatles, Sting, Lady Gaga and Alicia Keyes.

Apple On FBI iPhone Request: ‘The Founders Would Be Appalled’
Apple and the FBI head into a court hearing on March 22 in the dispute over access to a locked iPhone. In its last filing before then, Apple says the government is stretching laws to fit the case.

Obama Administration Will Not Allow Atlantic Offshore Drilling
The Obama administration reversed its earlier plan after an uproar from communities in Atlantic coast states over fishing and wildlife. Also, the Pentagon said it would conflict with Navy activity.

These 27 Solutions Could Help The U.S. Slash Food Waste
The U.S. wastes 133 billion pounds of food annually. Cutting that by 50 percent by 2020 is going to take a serious action plan. A new data-driven report ranks approaches that could get the job done.

U.S. Eases Sanctions Against Cuba Ahead Of Obama’s Landmark Visit
The changes make it easier for U.S. citizens to travel to the island, and allow non-immigrant Cubans who are in the U.S legally to earn salaries.

Youngstown: Four Decades Of Service As A Political Backdrop
Decade after decade, political candidates come to Youngstown to use its troubles as a backdrop. They assign blame for its job losses, and make promises for its future. So far, not much has changed.

NFL Official Acknowledges Link Between Football And Brain Disease
Renee Montagne talks with ESPN reporter Steve Fainaru about a startling statement by the NFL’s executive vice president for health and safety about chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Insurance Industry Is Hiring But Millennials Don’t Seem To Be Interested
The insurance industry has a lot of open positions, and it’s scrambling to fill them. It’s targeting millennials, but many simply don’t consider insurance as a potential career — or think it’s boring.

The BuzzFeed BuzzSaw: Why Campaigns Should Fear These 4 Twentysomethings
Even before he became “BuzzFeed Andrew,” Andrew Kaczynski spent hours a day scouring archives for political research. The 26-year-old brings controversies and scoops to the public for the election.

Cancer And Arthritis Drugs Drive Up Spending On Medicines
Patients switching to generic medicines and hard bargaining with drugmakers helped moderate spending on prescription drugs in 2015, according to Express Scripts, a manager of drug benefits.

Can ‘Slow Fish’ Help Save America’s Small-Scale Fishermen?
An event in New Orleans this weekend highlighted the wealth of seafood the Americas have to offer — and the endangered state of the small fishers who catch it.

Blendoor App Breaks Down Computer Bias In Hiring
NPR’s Robert Siegel talks with Stephanie Lampkin, founder and CEO of Blendoor, an app that tries to counteract bias in the job application process, about the potential for bias in interpreting big data and what can be done about it.

Gaming Association Boasts More NCAA Brackets Than Votes For Next President
The American Gaming Association estimates Americans will complete upwards of 70 million NCAA tournament brackets this year — potentially more than votes cast for any 2016 presidential candidate.

Moving Air Conditioning Jobs To Mexico Becomes Hot Campaign Issue
Carrier’s decision to shift manufacturing from the U.S. wasn’t extraordinary, but a viral video of the announcement is having an impact on the presidential race and the debate over free trade.

Encryption, Privacy Are Larger Issues Than Fighting Terrorism, Clarke Says
David Greene talks to former national security official Richard Clarke about the fight between Apple and the FBI. The FBI wants an iPhone that was used by one of the San Bernardino shooters unlocked.

Clinton, Sanders Campaigns Expect Tuesday’s Race In Ohio To Be Close
Sanders has been hitting his message opposing free trade deals hard in the major industrial state. The issue gave him traction in a win over Hillary Clinton in Michigan, something he’d like to repeat.

Investment Firm Buys Fresh Market Grocer For $1.36 Billion
Fresh Market currently has more than 13,000 employees and operates 186 stores in 27 states, particularly in the Southeast.

How To Pick A Tooth Paste
Go to any pharmacy or grocery store and stand in front of the toothpaste aisle and you will face an overwhelming array of choices. Each brand has a plethora of options

This Jacket Will Last 30 Years — Guaranteed
British designer Tom Cridland is out to make sustainable clothing that will last a lifetime — he says his jacket will last 30 years. But can he compete with a global addiction to cheap clothing?

Getting The Best Fashion, Secondhand
Arun Gupta says he was never much of a fashionista — just a guy who likes to dress sharp without going broke. That’s how he came up with the idea of Grailed.com, a high-end consignment website.

Year After Fatal Germanwings Crash, New Preventive Measures Suggested
In 2015, a co-pilot intentionally crashed a plane. French investigators now suggest doctors be encouraged to inform authorities about safety risks, and pilots be permitted to take antidepressants.

Voters Left And Right Are Anti-Free Trade. But Is It All Bad?
Adam Davidson of Gimlet, explains how free trade helps everyone a little bit, and also how it has directly ruined the lives millions of workers in certain sectors.

Fashion Retail Slump: Are Brands Out Of Touch?
A couple of major retail brands have posted some grim numbers. Rachel Martin talks with Washington Post reporter Sarah Halzack about why it’s so hard to make mid-priced clothes people will buy.

With 2016 Picks, A Surprise: Overall Car Quality Goes Down
The two leading car reviewers, Consumer Reports and JD Power, announced their picks for the year’s best cars. For the first time in years, overall quality dropped — and that’s not the only surprise.

How Low Oil Prices Are Changing Career Plans At An Ohio College
Students come from all over the world to study petroleum engineering in southern Ohio and Marietta College. In the past nearly every graduate had a good job. Not any more.

The U.S. Is Pumping All This Oil, So Where Are The Benefits?
America has joined Saudi Arabia and Russia as one of the world’s leading oil producers. Forecasters predicted this would usher in a golden age. It hasn’t worked out that way.

Nevada Solar Power Business Struggles To Keep The Lights On
Since Nevada regulators began phasing out incentives, the solar power business has been in turmoil and many workers have been laid off. Now some worry what happened there will spread to other states.

Here’s What Obama Said At SXSW Festival
Obama addressed the role of technology in civic life, defended the merits of government, talked about the digital divide, and of course, weighed in on the ongoing debate about digital privacy.

Wounded Warrior Project Fires Top Executives Over Lavish Spending
The Wounded Warrior Project, a non-profit veterans organization, has fired two top executives. The shakeup follows accusations that the executives improperly spent money, and dedicated resources to expensive staff meetings. NPR’s Kelly McEvers speaks with David Philipps, a New York Times reporter who investigated the organization.

At Calif. Campuses, A Test For Free Speech, Privacy And Cybersecurity
The University of California president, former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, secretly ordered data monitoring across the system after hackers broke into the UCLA medical center.

Millions Of Voters Are Sending A Message: Our Economic Framework Is Rotten
The Washington consensus on economic policy hasn’t changed for decades: Economists and most political leaders say growth is tied to trade, immigration and technology. But now many workers disagree.

Split Views On Health Overhaul In Ohio
A poll by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds that people in the politically important state of Ohio are divided over Obamacare.

FCC Proposal Would Limit What Internet Providers Can Do With Users’ Data
On March 31, the Federal Communications Commission will vote on what could become first-ever privacy rules for Internet service providers, stemming from last year’s net neutrality ruling.

U.S. Attorneys Respond To Apple In Court, Call Privacy Concerns ‘A Diversion’
The government says Apple has cited broad generalities in its refusal to help the FBI circumvent an iPhone’s security features — and argues that the FBI’s request is, in contrast, modest and specific.

California Lawmakers Vote To Raise Smoking Age To 21
If Gov. Jerry Brown signs the bill, California will become the second state, after Hawaii, to raise the age limit for buying tobacco products from 18 to 21.

Publishing Heavyweights Petition White House, Congress To End Cuba Book Embargo
The petition, which comes just before President Obama’s historic visit to the island nation, says the embargo is “harmful to book culture” and “counter to American ideals of free expression.”

Apple Vs. The Government, In Their Own Words
How hard would it be for Apple to write the software the FBI wants? Should the order be up to the courts, or Congress? How is the First Amendment involved? The two parties lay out their arguments.

U.S., Canada Announce Shared Goals For Fighting Climate Change
President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled goals for cutting methane emissions from the oil and gas industry by more than 40 percent by 2025, among other ambitious targets.

Florida Tomato Pickers Become Part Of Democratic Debate
The fight to improve wages for Florida’s tomato pickers hit the national stage over the past week, both in a Bernie Sanders campaign video and last night’s debate in Miami.

Tiny Island Nation Kicks Off Trend Of Selling Citizenship
Countries are finding big money in an unlikely source — selling citizenship. The Planet Money team goes to the tiny island nation that started the trend to see what happens when passports become an export product like anything else.

Presidential Candidates Back Away From Supporting Free Trade
The issue of trade has been an important dividing line within both parties this year. Democratic and Republican candidates are backing away from supporting free trade amid voter concerns and a rising tide of populism.

Sluggish Economy Doesn’t Dampen Shanghai’s Housing Prices
China’s economy is struggling. The currency and stock market are down. Growth continues to slow. Yet in Shanghai, people are scrambling to buy apartments even as prices soar. Why?

Ready For Fun? First Take Off Your Shoes And Wait In Long Airport Lines
Airlines are expecting record numbers of spring break travelers. Both the industry and TSA are expecting airport screening checkpoints to have long lines. They urge travelers to arrive early.

Armed With An Index Fund, Warren Buffett Is On Track To Win Hedge Fund Bet
Eight years ago, Warren Buffett made a $1 million bet with some hedge fund managers. We learn what the bet tells us about one of the most important questions in investing.

Top U.S. Volkswagen Executive Steps Down
Volkswagen announced Wednesday that its top U.S. executive, Michael Horn, is stepping down, effective immediately. A statement from the company said the decision was reached by “mutual agreement.”

Where Melissa Harris-Perry Saw A New Direction, MSNBC Saw Temporary Shift
NPR’s David Folkenflik spoke with the recently departed talk show host and with the president of MSNBC. Harris-Perry said her show was “taken”; her boss said it was “loved.”

Medicare Looks To Cut Drug Costs By Changing How It Pays Doctors
The agency plans to reduce the incentive for doctors to use the most expensive drugs and link prices to patient outcomes, perhaps paying less when patients have to be admitted to a hospital.

Trump Steaks, Wine, Water: Why Donald Doesn’t Own Most Of Those Products
Donald Trump pushed back against attacks on his business prowess this week, showing off examples of Trump-branded water, wine and steaks. But Trump’s own ties to those products may not be as strong as he suggested.

New York Mayor’s Plan To Ease Housing Shortage Faces Opposition
Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to rezone some neighborhoods to allow more construction. The plan is encountering opposition from some of the people hit hardest by the housing shortage.

In Kentucky, AT&T Looks To Slow Google Fiber’s Expansion
In Louisville, Ky., a fight is brewing between Google and AT&T. Google wants to bring its ultra-fast fiber Internet service to the city, but it wants to use other utilities poles. The city allowed that to happen. AT&T says not so fast.

NFL Takes Bidders To Live Stream Regular Season Games
The NFL plans to sell the rights to live stream more than a dozen regular season football games next season. NPR’s Kelly McEvers talks to Peter Kafka of ReCode about the NFL’s plan.

‘Most Interesting Man In The World’ Raises His Glass For Last Time
He doesn’t always shoot beer commercials … at least, not anymore. After a final ad sending Jonathan Goldsmith on a one-way trip to Mars, Dos Equis will replace him with a new star, Ad Age reports.

A.I. Program From Google Beats Human World Champ In Game Of Go
“They were neck-and-neck for its entirety, in a game filled with complex fighting,” according to a recap. The five-game match will continue through the weekend.

Trump Doesn’t Own Most Of The Products He Pitched Last Night
Trump Water, a Trump magazine, Trump Steaks — all of that was on stage after the presidential candidate’s wins in Michigan, Mississippi and Hawaii on Tuesday. But much of it isn’t actually his.

Cheap Oil Usually Means Global Growth, But This Time Seems Different
Recent forecasts for global growth have been ratcheted down, even as oil prices sink lower and put more money in consumers’ wallets. Economists see several factors changing things.

Some Of Life’s Best Lessons Can Be Found In ‘Lousy’ Kitchen Jobs
Commentator Rachael Cusick says one of her first jobs — a maddening summer stint as a breakfast line cook — may seem irrelevant on her resume, but it gave her valuable experience to last a lifetime.

ISO 2 Affordable Bedrooms In NYC? Good Luck With That
Apartment buildings are going up all over Manhattan, but it’s harder than ever to find an affordable place to live in New York. It’s a scene played out nationwide as rents soar and wages stall.

At Supreme Court, Debate Over Phone Privacy Has A Long History
Wiretaps, messaging and metadata: If it reaches the Supreme Court, Apple’s legal clash with the FBI would fit into a long discussion about the role of telephones in our lives.

How A Foiled Robbery Sheds Light On Apple’s Clash With The FBI
Is the FBI director right when he says that strong encryption is taking us to an unprecedented new world, where some places in our life are “warrantproof”?

Tests Say The Water Is Safe. But Flint’s Restaurants Still Struggle
The tap draws from Lake Huron. Eatery owners have bought ice, bottles and expensive filters. Large signs in windows post lead-free test results. But diners in this Michigan city are still leery.

Sharapova Loses Major Sponsors After Positive Drug Test
Brands such as Nike and Porsche have distanced themselves from tennis star Maria Sharapova, who has long been the world’s highest-paid female athlete.

How To Keep Money From Messing Up Your Marriage
Finances are one of the things most likely to cause discord in a relationship, whether you’re just starting out or have been together for years. Here are some ways to avoid common conflicts.

Why Trade Is An Important Issue In the Presidential Campaign
Steve Inskeep talks to Dartmouth Economist Douglas Irwin about the perceptions and realities of trade policy in the current political primary season.

Verizon Settles With FCC Over ‘Supercookies’ Allegations
Verizon has agreed to pay a fine over allegations it did not tell customers it was adding “supercookies.” Those trackers keep collecting data on users even when he or she tries to delete all cookies.

Why Digital Security Is An ‘Arms Race’ Between Firms And The Feds
Cybersecurity expert Susan Landau argues that the FBI’s dispute with Apple over the San Bernardino iPhone shouldn’t be a choice between weaker phone security and the FBI’s investigative power.

From Ugly To Hip: Misfit Fruits And Veggies Coming To Whole Foods
Lots of tasty and nutritious produce ends up in landfills because it fails to meet retail beauty standards. Now, Whole Foods and Giant Eagle say they’re ready to pilot sales of these wonky edibles.

Jury Awards Erin Andrews $55 Million In Lawsuit Over Nude Video
A stalker filmed the Fox sportscaster through a peephole in a hotel door in 2008. The video was put online, where it was viewed millions of times. Andrews sued the hotel for $75 million in damages.

Reinventing The American City: Steel Town Forges A New Future
The transformation of Pittsburgh echoes the triumphs and challenges of cities across the country where gentrification is changing neighborhoods after a generation of economic decline.

Supreme Court Denies Apple’s Appeal On E-Books, Triggering Millions In Payments
Apple must now pay $400 million to e-book purchasers. The case’s roots date back at least six years, when Apple sold its first iPad models and sought to compete with books giant Amazon.

Pre-Peeled Oranges: What Some Call ‘Lazy’ Others Call A ‘Lifesaver’
A photo of Whole Foods’ plastic-packaged peeled oranges went viral on Twitter, prompting outrage about environmental waste. Who the heck needs this? People with disabilities say they do.

Verizon Will Pay $1.35 Million Fine In Settlement Over Its Use Of ‘Supercookies’
The unique identifiers allow Verizon to target advertising to its mobile subscribers, even if the “cookies” are deleted.

Does Encryption Make Phones ‘Warrant-Proof?’ Fact-Checking The FBI
FBI Director James Comey says encryption is making phones “warrant-proof,” and it will allow criminal suspects to conceal evidence in a way that’s unprecedented in American history. NPR checks on the validity of his claim.

In Memoriam: Ray Tomlinson, Who Put The @ Sign In Your Email
Do you remember your first email? Tomlinson, who has passed away at 74, had earlier told NPR he accepted the title of “inventor of email,” but his first email was forgettable and so forgotten.

Urban Farms Fuel Idealism. Profits? Not So Much
Raising crops in the city has become a trend, yet earning a living at it is tough, a survey finds. But many urban farmers are in it for other reasons, like addressing hunger and building community.

MLB Hopes New Openness Will Ease Players’ Path From Cuba To The Majors
The league’s plan, which needs approval from the players’ union and both governments, would allow direct pickups of Cuban players — no defections — in exchange for cash support for the sport there.

Citing Gender Bias, State Lawmakers Move To Eliminate ‘Tampon Tax’
While drugs and many medical necessities are mostly exempt from state sales tax, feminine hygiene products are not in the majority of states. Efforts are building to try and change that.

Decades Later, ‘Spy’ Magazine Founders Continue To Torment Trump
No journalists have scrutinized Donald Trump more — or infuriated him more — than Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter and Studio 360 host Kurt Andersen during their days at Spymagazine.

Can’t Get In To See Your Doctor? Many Patients Turn To Urgent Care
A recent poll shows 27 percent of Americans have visited an urgent care center in the past two years. Why? Most cite convenience.

Ray Tomlinson, Inventor Of Modern Email, Has Died
Tomlinson invented person-to-person email in 1971, at a time when a few people had personal computers. The first email was sent on a computer network that was created for the U.S. government.

Rwanda Tries To Persuade Its Citizens To Drink The Coffee They Grow
While the country is renowned for its high-quality Arabica Bourbon beans, both cost and culture have kept Rwandans from imbibing one of their top cash crops. The government wants to that to change.

Amid Uncertainty, Iranians Hope For Economic Reforms
Iranians are hoping the recent election of more reformers to parliament will help improve the economy.

Here To Stay: How Indian-Born Innkeepers Revolutionized America’s Motels
Indian immigrants and their children comprise about 1 percent of the U.S. population, yet they own roughly half of all American motels. And 70 percent of those moteliers hail one same state: Gujarat.

U.S. Economy Adds 242,000 Jobs, Unemployment Holds Steady In February
The pace of job creation picked up in February as employers added 242,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.9 percent. Wages, which had shown a healthy increase in January, pulled back.

Peanut Mush In Infancy Cuts Allergy Risk. New Study Adds To Evidence
A second big study affirms new thinking: Exposing high-risk kids to peanuts beginning in infancy reduces the chance of developing a peanut allergy. This peanut tolerance holds up as kids get older.

Action On A National GMO Labeling Measure Heats Up On Capitol Hill
Congress is scrambling to piece together a national standard for labeling foods that contain genetically modified ingredients before July 1. That’s when Vermont’s mandatory labeling law kicks in.

Restored ‘Race Films’ Find New Audiences
Some of the earliest movies by African-American filmmakers from the 1910s through 1940s have been in film archives over the years on poor-quality film prints. Some have been digitally restored.

How Free Are USDA Scientists To Speak Their Mind?
Jonathan Lundgren’s research pointed out problems with popular pesticides. He says that message — and the messenger — were unwelcome at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.

Sure, There’s More Hiring. But When Will Wages Rebound?
The latest jobs report showed a surprisingly strong hiring surge, with employers adding 242,000 jobs last month. But a pinch in earnings and hours disappointed those looking for a pickup in paychecks.

Economy Gained 242,000 Jobs In February; Unemployment Rate Holds Steady
Job gains last month were stronger than in January and outperformed expectations — however, an anticipated rise in wages didn’t materialize. Average hourly earnings dropped by 3 cents an hour.

Florida Doctor Says False Diagnoses Inflate Bills, Could Harm Patients
A whistleblower suit against Humana Inc. alleges the insurer turned a blind eye to billing fraud involving Medicare patients. People were diagnosed with more serious ailments than they actually had.

Tribe Says Drilling Project Would Have ‘Heartbreaking’ Consequences
An energy company is heading to court for the right to drill in Montana, near Glacier National Park. But some Native Americans and environmental groups want to stop the long-delayed project.

Restored Movies By African-American Filmmakers Find New Audiences
Some of the earliest movies by African-American filmmakers from the 1920s through 1940s have been in film archives over the years on poor-quality film prints. Some have been digitally restored.

Interim CEOs: Passive Placeholders Or Rented Fixers?
Experts say interim CEOs are in greater demand these days. Some say the role is changing, and companies are increasingly turning to temporary leaders to overhaul their businesses.

Apple Dispute Gets Personal: Encryption Debate Plays Out At Home
Pundits and politicians have staked out their positions in the encryption dispute between Apple and the FBI. The same debate is playing out across the country between siblings, parents and children, and even husbands and wives.

For U.S. Tech Firms Abroad And Data In The Cloud, Whose Laws Apply?
The FBI’s efforts to unlock the San Bernardino iPhone is one fight in a larger global conflict: Firms face varying laws for police cooperation and say a lack of legal standards is creating a crisis.

Tech Companies, Security Experts Express Support For Apple
Silicon Valley firms, human rights nonprofits and other groups have filed legal briefs in support of Apple’s defiance of an FBI order. Some San Bernardino victims’ families have filed in opposition.

Big Power Companies Hail Oregon Lawmakers’ Approval Of Plan Phasing Out Coal
The legislation, which calls for big utilities to stop relying on coal by 2030, emerged from a January agreement between the companies and environmental advocates.

Toms Shoes A Hit At Oscars, But Does Shoe Giveaway Hit The Mark?
The for-profit company gives a free pair of shoes to a poor child for every pair a consumer buys. Is that a good idea?

Journalists Struggle To Describe Trump’s Racially Charged Rhetoric
As more critics point to an undercurrent of bigotry in some of Donald Trump’s statements, journalists grapple with how to characterize what he says — and what he means.