Business news for the masses

Lacrosse Muscles Its Way West

"Lacrosse has taken off because it combines the hitting of football, the speed of basketball, and requires the endurance of soccer."

In Elkhart, industrial diversity is hard to do

ELKHART, Ind. - In the same way that people might speculate about a couple that could be heading for divorce, business leaders in Elkhart, Ind., sometimes talked about what could happen if the recreational vehicle industry took a serious turn for the worse.

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Elkhart tops metro unemployment list

On Wednesday, the Labor Department released unemployment data ... and it wasn't good for Elkhart: Unemployment rates rose in all of the nation's largest metropolitan areas for the second straight month in February.

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Eddie Bauer Returns to Roots

Nice to see a retailer finding its soul.

Starbucks to sell instant coffee - $1 a cup

Starbucks Corp, the chain that introduced upscale coffee drinks to the masses, said on Thursday it hopes to do the same for instant coffee.

Economy in Turmoil: Winners and Losers

Clearly, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are poster children for the economic meltdown. You can add Merrill Lynch and Washington Mutual to the list. As for the winners, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan appear to have emerged.

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Design changes unveiled for Lincoln penny

Next year, the penny will be getting not just one new look but four of them, the first changes to the 1-cent coin in 50 years.

Amid uncertainty, consumers remain cautious

The recent economic turmoil could spell more bad news for retailers as they head into the all-important holiday shopping season later this year.

10 Tips: Keep kids' sports costs in line

Sports equipment. Uniforms. Team fees. Travel costs. Who would have guessed it could be so expensive to let your kid stay in shape and learn about teamwork by playing a team sport?

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10 Tips: Back-to-school savings

Unless it’s already happened where you live, the new school year will descend upon you any minute now. Are you and your kids ready?

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10 Tips: How to save money on diapers

Ah, life with a newborn baby — admiring those cute little hands and feet, picking out those cute little outfits … and changing as many as 10 diapers a day?

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For commuters, economic woes pile up

For Dollie Kinkead, the economic turmoil gripping the country translates into an 80-mile drive each work day from a house she can't sell to a job she thinks she's lucky to have.

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The transit jam: Grist for a Gut Check?

Here's a great piece by my msnbc.com colleague Alex Johnson that could be a jumping off point for a discussion on our net Gut Check America topic. As soaring gas prices push Americans out of their cars and into buses and trains in record numbers, the system just ain't ready.

Eating only what grows around you

When Katherine Gray takes her kids to the grocery store, they can pick out as many apples and pears as their hearts desire. But bananas? Pineapples? Mangoes? Sorry kids, if they weren’t grown within 100 miles of Gray’s house in Portland, Ore., chances are they won’t make it into the grocery cart.

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For frugalists, bargain hunting is a lifestyle

It’s an unseasonably cold day in Seattle, and Rebecca is standing in her kitchen, preparing for her regular Sunday afternoon outing. As she gathers her backpack and grocery bags, her dog sniffs around excitedly, anticipating the long walk and treats that await.

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Rachael Ray ad pulled as pundit sees terror link

Dunkin' Donuts pulled a television spot featuring talk show host and Food Network personality Rachael Ray this weekend after a Fox news commentator associated it with terrorists.

Shopping to help save the world

Here’s the type of conundrum that Wendy Richardson often finds herself debating: If she is three miles from her office and realizes she has forgotten her reusable water bottle, is it more environmentally friendly to drive her Toyota Prius hybrid back to get it, or to walk 100 feet to a convenience store and buy a bottle of water?

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About Al Olson

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Articles Posted: 10
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Member Since: 10/2007Last Seen: 11/19/2009

I am the Deputy Business Editor at msnbc.com, based in Redmond. WA.

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