Al Jazeera gives Qatar outsized influence

Jul 3, 2017
As of today, Qatar, tiny in population but swimming in vast natural gas reserves, has until Wednesday to meet the demands of angry neighbors in the region. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain all cut ties with Qatar last month, accusing it of supporting terrorism. The countries have issued 13 demands they […]

Georgia's weighted charter school lottery aims to give disadvantaged kids better odds, but few schools use it

Jul 3, 2017
In Georgia, the name of a child eligible for the weighted school lottery can be entered up to five times.
Students line up to leave lunch at the Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School in the Grant Park neighborhood recently.
Grant Blankenship

New car sales are falling back to earth

Jul 3, 2017
Pent-up demand from the Great Recession has been mostly fulfilled.
Carl Court/Getty Images

Uncertainty over U.S. trade policy frustrates allies

Jun 30, 2017
Do imports of foreign steel and aluminum compromise national security? President Trump told the Commerce Department to speed up its investigation of that question and come back with some answers today. It didn’t happen. Officials said that was due to “unanticipated complexities.” But China, the European Union and other steel-exporting nations, fearing the U.S. could  […]

The inside scoop on ice cream: George Washington, fist fights and custard

Jun 30, 2017
Journalist Amy Ettinger writes about the history of the frozen treat in her book 'Sweet Spot.'
“Sometimes my husband jokes that I’m running a gelato non-profit, and it certainly does feel that way,” said Uli Nasibova, owner of Uli’s Gelato.
David Paul Morris/Getty Images

Are we worrying too much about the "skills gap?"

Jun 30, 2017
Some economists say businesses would find the workers they need if they simply raised wages.

What happens when a state has $15 billion worth of unpaid bills?

Jun 29, 2017
Decisions about who gets paid are 'life and death,' says the Illinois comptroller.
The former Illinois state capitol building in Springfield.
Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images

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Debt: Another big congressional battle on the horizon

Jun 29, 2017
The Congressional Budget Office is expected to release a report today on the country’s debt ceiling. The debt limit, which caps the amount the United States can borrow, was reinstated back in March. And the Treasury Department began using what are called “extraordinary measures” to help cover its obligations. But those will run out at […]

What the nightmare cybersecurity scenario looks like

Jun 28, 2017
This week's hack shows the potential for attacks targeting pipelines, oil rigs and transportation systems.
KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images

How Trump's political drama could hurt the economy

Jun 28, 2017
Investigations and turmoil have potential economic costs, experts say.
President Trump speaks at a rally on June 21 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Scott Olson/Getty Images