Lower earnings? No problem

Corporate America has posted 14 quarters of double-digit earnings growth. But in this earnings season analysts predict S&P 500 companies will report only about 3.5% growth. And analysts say that's OK. Amy Scott reports.

Nuclear power, Texas style

Texas-based utility TXU is keeping a promise, scrapping its plans for coal-fired facilities. It now wants to build some of the biggest nuclear power plants the United States has ever seen. Lisa Napoli reports.

Vermont emissions trial revs up

A federal trial is underway involving car companies and Vermont over the state's regulation of CO2. Dan Esty, who teaches environmental law at Yale University, lays out the issues with Kai Ryssdal.

Converting pounds into dollars

Besides the impact to your health, there are costs of carrying too much flesh on your bones. Helen Palmer reports in our occasional series on the economic effects of fat.

Student-loan deals draw legal interest

Investigations into the student loan industry continue to widen. Kai Ryssdal talks with education policy expert Stephen Burd about how schools and lenders are trying to sort things out.

Chavez opponents left jobless, blacklisted

Just as in the U.S., controversy over politically motivated firings is raging in Venezuela. But the scale of the alleged political discrimination is far wider. Dan Grech reports.