Search results for

The tax code has long favored investment income over the money you get in your paycheck. But today's rates on dividends and capital gains are especially low, dating to tax cuts installed under President George W. Bush. And they're one target in the talks to avert a so-called fiscal cliff.

From directors to designers, almost everyone in beauty pageants turns a profit. But not most of the contestants. Many can wind up spending thousands of dollars for entrance fees, the perfect gown and top-notch coaching. For most contestants, it's an expensive hobby with little or no financial reward.

The fight over U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice's potential nomination for secretary of state has left Sen. John Kerry in an odd spot because he could be up for the Cabinet post, too. Once a vocal defender of Rice, Kerry has kept quiet lately.

President Obama's big idea of linking federal financial aid to a new college ratings system — based on metrics like student debt levels — would require congressional action. That means it would have to make it through the GOP-led House, where Obama's initiatives don't have a great track record.

The Wendy Davis Watch continues in Texas politics. The Fort Worth state senator is expected to announce in the next few days whether she will or won’t run

A brutal corrective to gauzy portrayals of the antebellum South, this true story of a man kidnapped into slavery took home the top audience prize at the Toronto Film Festival. NPR's Bob Mondello says it emphatically deserved the honor. (Recommended)

The famed mezzo-soprano has battled conductors, cancer and the rapid-fire music of Rossini and always comes out on top. Today, she devotes her time to helping young singers find their voices.

Sandy Pollock and Crystal Cook, aka the Casserole Queens, pass along a recipe for King Ranch Casserole. Sandy grew up with the cheesy Tex-Mex dish and says the traditional quick-fix doesn't need updating. Never mind if the casserole's origins have gotten mixed up along the way: This one's a keeper.

Soon after they arrived on U.S. shores, The Beatles infiltrated just about every part of American pop culture — including lunchboxes. Fans have been known to shell out more than $1,000 for an authentic 1960s lunchbox featuring the band.

Many promising high school basketball players don't attend traditional schools; instead, they play for "prep schools" exempt from the usual rules. One of these schools — Our Savior New American on Long Island — draws players from around the world.