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All Things Considered

Gambling To Fix Pensions Can Lead To A Bigger Bind

By Jim Zarroli

Public pension fund investing has changed a lot over the past few decades. They used to investment conservatively. Now, a lot of cities and states are trying to rebuild pension funds by resorting to chancy investments in foreign currency, junk bonds and margin trades.

State Pension Underfunding Before The Great Recession

All Things Considered

Mom-And-Pop Site Busts The Web's Biggest Myths

You'd think it would take an army to truth-squad the rumors on the Web, but you'd be wrong.

All Things Considered

Lunar Rover Is Spotted For First Time In 37 Years

A video game developer's hidden lunar rover was found in an image released this week by NASA.

State Pension Underfunding Before The Great Recession

How many years would it take for each state to make good on its pension promises if it spent all its tax revenue on pensions, and nothing else? In 2007, every state had some catching up to do. Since then, pension assets for some funds may have recovered, but liabilities have also grown.

All Things Considered

Mom-And-Pop Site Busts The Web's Biggest Myths

You'd think it would take an army to truth-squad the rapid-fire rumors of the World Wide Web. But at Snopes.com, that task falls to husband-and-wife myth debunkers David and Barbara Mikkelson.

All Things Considered

Lunar Rover Is Spotted For First Time In 37 Years

Video game developer Richard Garriott bought the broken Soviet lunar rover at an auction in 1993 — this week, thanks to new photos released by NASA, he's been able to see it on the moon for the first time.

Weekend Edition Saturday

Obama Rallies: 'We Have Waited Long Enough'

By Scott Horsley

President Barack Obama packed the Patriot Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Friday for one more health care rally. Speaking to students in a swing state, Obama hoped to put a bit of his campaign magic on the legislative drive to overhaul the nation's health care system.

Mass. Jobless Rate Holds At 9.5 Percent

March 18, 2010, 9:52 AM

By WBUR NEWS & WIRE SERVICES

BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported Thursday there was a net jobs increase of 1,500, with private sector jobs up 3,000 in total. For the year to date, private sector jobs are up 3,600.

A Tale Of Three Cities: Budget Cuts Around Mass.

March 18, 2010, 4:25 AM

By FRED THYS, CURT NICKISCH and DEBORAH BECKER

Once again, cities and towns are being told to expect less from the state. Leaders in the Legislature are telling municipalities to prepare for a 4 percent cut in state money with the fiscal year beginning in July. Three of our reporters traveled to three different communities to see how they’re coping with budget cuts.

The ‘Star’ Of 2009, Seafood Industry Swims Against Economic Tide

March 17, 2010, 8:10 AM

By MONICA BRADY-MYEROV

Spiros Tourkakis, executive vice president of East Coast Seafood, stands next to a 20-pound lobster at the International Boston Seafood Show Tuesday. (Monica Brady-Myerov/WBUR)

BOSTON — The mood was buoyant at the 28th annual International Boston Seafood Show Tuesday. That’s because this industry, unlike others in the floundering economy, is doing well.

The Stimulus At Work: A Fall River Firefighter Gets His Job Back

March 15, 2010, 5:30 AM

By MONICA BRADY-MYEROV

Ray Schofield was laid off by the Fall River Fire Department last year, but was brough back with stimulus money.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — If Massachusetts was allowed to take the $9 billion in federal stimulus money they received and cut checks for everyone in the Commonwealth, your share would be about $1,300. But the stimulus money is meant to spur growth, by saving jobs, repairing roads and improving energy efficiency.

Boston’s Luxury Condo Market Rebounds

March 15, 2010, 5:29 AM

By CURT NICKISCH

BOSTON — Boston’s luxury condo market is starting off 2010 in better shape, after suffering through a rocky couple of years.

Listen: Mass. Women Uniquely Affected By Recession, Study Says

March 10, 2010, 8:20 AM

By BOB OAKES

BOSTON — A study out Wednesday says there are important differences between how women and men in Massachusetts experience the recession, as women appear to be having a more difficult time overall.

Fishermen Gather For Summit On Industry’s Fate

March 08, 2010, 3:29 PM

By WBUR NEWS & WIRE SERVICES

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Some fishermen and advocates for the industry voiced concern at a regional summit Monday about upcoming federal regulations they warn could put them out of business, while others suggested the changes were a necessary way to curb overfishing.

Stop & Shop Reaches Deals With Unions

March 07, 2010, 7:40 AM

By WBUR NEWS & WIRE SERVICES

BOSTON — The Stop & Shop supermarkets chain has reached tentative agreements with five labor unions in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

House Speaker DeLeo Banks On Casinos, Slots

March 05, 2010, 9:17 AM

By CURT NICKISCH

BOSTON — Casino gambling is back on Beacon Hill, as Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo says he will file legislation in the next few weeks to license two resort casinos and add slots at four race tracks around the state. A move to legalize casino gambling floundered in the State House two years ago. This time, it could be different.

‘Racinos’ Could Be Good For State Coffers, Bad For Economy

March 05, 2010, 8:21 AM

By ADAM RAGUSEA

The old Raynham race track has not seen much action since the end of 2009, when this photograph was taken, now that Greyhound dog racing is illegal in Massachusetts. The track could thrive again if it gets hundreds, maybe thousands, of slots machines. (Steven Senne/AP)

BOSTON — Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo made the case for legalizing gambling in the state on Thursday, but how substantial could the benefits be? Many parts of the gambling industry are struggling during the economic downturn, and no one is sure how long the slump will continue.

State Unemployment Rises To 9.5 Percent

March 04, 2010, 10:10 AM

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BOSTON — According to new data from state labor officials, the unemployment rate in Massachusetts increased to 9.5 percent in January. That figure is up from a revised rate of 9.3 percent in December.

Speaker DeLeo Proposes Slots, 2 Casinos In Mass.

March 04, 2010, 12:01 AM

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BOSTON — House Speaker Robert DeLeo reignited the debate over expanded gambling in Massachusetts on Thursday, proposing to build two casinos and add slot machines at the state’s four race tracks to generate badly needed revenue and create jobs for blue-collar workers.

Gov. Patrick Rescinds $5 RMV Fee A Day Later

March 02, 2010, 1:35 PM

By WBUR NEWS & WIRE SERVICES

BOSTON — A day after putting it into effect, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles announced Tuesday it is rescinding a $5 “counter fee” on transactions conducted with a representative over the phone or in person at the state’s branches.

Madoff Whistle-Blower Remembers: ‘No One Would Listen’

February 26, 2010, 1:20 PM

By CURT NICKISCH

Harry Markopolos in September 2009. (Haraz N. Ghanbari/AP)

BOSTON — Harry Markopolos, the man who tried futilely for 10 years to expose Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme to the SEC, has written a book about his failed crusade. “No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller” is released March 2. In his first radio interview, in March 2009, Markopolos told WBUR he’s still coming to terms with the fact he’d always been right about Bernie, but it didn’t do any good.

Federal Tax Credit Juices Mass. Home Sales

February 23, 2010, 9:39 AM

By CURT NICKISCH

BOSTON — Aided by a soon-to-expire tax credit, the median price of a single-family home in Massachusetts jumped in January, according to two separate tracking organizations.

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