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Joblessness

By Sam Yoon

"One thing that’s been on my mind for the last six months has been unemployment. And for good reason—this is the defining feature of our time, and I didn’t have a job."

Arts

Center Stage

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Watch Center Stage with Jared Bowen, and see what other fans of the program are saying.

Rough Waters: History of Fishing Regulation

By Phillip Martin

In part one of 89.7 WGBH's series on the ongoing struggles of the fishing industry in Massachusetts, Phillip Martin explores the history of Federal regulation of fishing.

Rough Waters: From "Days at Sea" to "Sectors"

By Rachel Gotbaum

To comply with federal regulations meants to restore US fish stocks to sustainable levels, new quotas were set in New England for the first time on all species of groundfish. Rachel Gotbaum examines if these rules will lead to the end or the survival of New England's fishing industry.

Economy

Rough Waters: Declining Fish Populations

By Phillip Martin

Phillip Martin looks at the alarming decline in local fish populations.

Economy

Rough Waters: Port Clyde

By Rachel Gotbaum

Rachel Gotbaum profiles the historic fishing village of Port Clyde Maine--one of only three commercial groundfishing ports left in the state and where a group of fishermen are determined to save their fishery by trying some unorthodox ways of doing business.

Boston

Rough Waters: Local Fishing Industry

By Phillip Martin

Phillip Martin reports on how new conservation rules are affecting the lives of those in the local fishing industry.

Business

Nightly Business Report

WATCH ONLINE

Veteran business journalists Paul Kangas and Susie Gharib coanchor television’s most watched daily business news program, Nightly Business Report. The award-winning series combines business and economic news, extensive financial market coverage, corporate profiles, and commentaries by economists in a fast-paced format.

Books

In 'Amityville,' A True Real Estate Horror Story

FULL ARTICLE

By Josh Kilmer-Purcell
In 1975, the Lutz family moved into their dream home on Long Island -- and barely lasted a year. Jay Anson chronicles their paranormal experiences in a 1977 pulp horror classic. Josh Kilmer-Purcell says Amityville's hyperbole and hackneyed plotlines keep his mind off of his own anxieties.

Boston

Suburban, Rural Foreclosures Increase In Mass.

By WGBH News
The number of foreclosures in suburbs and rural areas is now higher than that in urban communities.

The Emily Rooney Show

BPD: Homicide Increase Due To Drug Activity

LISTEN TO THE SHOW
MORE: WGBH ON BLUE HILL AVENUE

By Jess Bidgood
Boston's murder rate is up almost 50 percent over this time last year -- and Police Commissioner Ed Davis says it's because of an up-tick in drug-related gang activity.

Economy

Boston Factory Takes Training Into Its Own Hands

By Chris Arnold
Experts say the current educational system and private-sector training efforts aren't preparing workers for job opportunities. So, a metal parts factory near Boston has done something unusual to ensure its workers have the necessary training: It started its own school.

ECONOMY

Mass. May Return To Pre-Recession Job Levels By 2013

By Sarah Birnbaum
The economic outlook is precarious – but New England is weathering the tepid economy better than the rest of the country.

Economy

Defense Spending In Mass. Rockets Upward

By Sarah Birnbaum
Defense spending in Massachusetts has tripled since 2001, bringing 115,000 jobs to the Bay State.

Local Politics

Capuano: 'Where Is The Compromise?'

Rep. Michael Capuano is criticizing President Obama for what he says was the failure to play hardball with Congressional Republicans on a tax deal announced Tuesday.
HEAR THE INTERVIEW

Boston

Food Trucks May Be Rolling Toward Boston

READ THE CITY COUNCIL'S FOOD TRUCK REPORT

By Jess Bidgood
A proposed City Council ordinance would license up to 25 new food trucks in Boston -- and trucks could start rolling out by the summer.

Best Of 2010

Counting Down The 10 Favorite Financial Stupidities Of 2010

MORE BEST OF 2010

By Sheryl Marshall
Everyone from Congress to the Fed, multi-national corporations to small businesses, have had some serious financial decisions to make in 2010. Not all of those decisions have been… shall we say…. wise.

Government

Mass. Tax Revenue Will Grow -- But Not Enough

By Sarah Birnbaum
Economists are predicting Massachusetts revenue will grow by as much as $700 million next year, a 5 percent gain over 2010.
CUTS PREDICTED AS MASS. FACES $2B GAP

Local Politics

Gov. Will Cut Legislative Salaries

By Phillip Martin
There is little opposition to Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to shrink the paychecks of the state's legislators -- except for some lawmakers and watchdogs who say the cuts aren't big enough.

Economy

Shaws Will Shutter Five Stores

By Jess Bidgood

The Shaws grocery store chain is closing five New England Stores. It's the latest in a string of major retail closures across the state.

Economy

Lawmaker Wants To "Claw Back" State Aid

By Jess Bidgood
Evergreen Solar is closing its Massachusetts manufacturing plant, terminating 800 jobs it was given $68 million in state aid to create. One lawmaker is filing legislation that would help the state get its money back when companies fail to deliver on state aid.

Local Politics

State Revenue Estimates Still Leave Budget Gap

By Sarah Birnbaum
Massachusetts budget-builders agree they will have $20.5 billion to work with for the coming fiscal year. That's $740 million more than their estimate for this year — but it still leaves the state with a budget gap of at least $1.5 billion.

WGBH Local News

Study Finds Renters' Worries Impacts Health

By Sarah Birnbaum
A study released in Boston Thursday finds that falling behind on rent has a significant impact on health. Health and housing advocates are calling on the state to provide additional funding to help families stay in their homes. WGBH's Sarah Birnbaum reports.

LOCAL BUSINESS

In Davis Square, Businesses Weather Snow-Related Downturn

STORM COULD BRING 'FLASH-FREEZING'
WHAT TO DO WITH THE SNOW?

By Jared Bowen
On the heels of the holidays, the winter months tend to be slow for restaurants. But season that with a batch of snowstorms and, in the words of one restaurateur, it’s a killer. But some restaurants are trying to take advantage of the snow -- and succeeding.

CLIMATIDE

Setting Catch Limits With Limited Information

LAWMAKERS PLEAD FISHERMAN'S CASE

By Heather Goldstone
At the heart of fisheries management is a delicate balancing act – weighing the needs of fishermen against those of fish. Unfortunately, managers often don’t have the quantity or quality of data one would wish for.

Local Politics

Gov. Patrick Will Lead Trade Mission To Britain, Israel

By Sarah Birnbaum
Gov. Deval Patrick is off to to Israel and England next month, leading a trade mission he says will focus on growing businesses and jobs in the state’s innovation sector.

89.7 WGBH

Obama's Budget Is Mixed Bag For Massachusetts

OBAMA UNVEILS 2012 BUDGET

By Sarah Birnbaum
The president's $3.7 billion budget cuts much-needed heating aid for the cold Northeast, but it includes continued spending that could help the state's academic and tech sectors.

Economy

Mass. Unemployment Rate Drops To 8.2 Percent

By The Associated Press
State officials say the Massachusetts unemployment rate dropped by a percentage point to 8.2 percent in February as the state added more than 15,000 jobs. The rate, which fell from 8.3 percent in January, remains below the national average of 8.9 percent.

89.7 WGBH

Ferry Company Reverses Course On Cape Wind

By Ralph Ranalli
Lawmakers on Beacon Hill are holding a hearing Thursday on a proposal to close the legal loophole that allows major Internet retailers like Amazon.com and Overstock.com to avoid charging sales tax. But local affiliates of those big online retailers say it will hurt their business.

Business

Cambridge-Based Zipcar Shares Soar In Market Debut

By The Associated Press
Shares of Zipcar Inc. are soaring in their market debut after the initial public offering priced better than the company had predicted.

Economy

Mass. Unemployment Drops To 8 Percent

By The Associated Press
State officials say the Massachusetts unemployment rate dropped to 8 percent in March as 3,200 jobs were added during the month.

Local Politics

Patrick: Tone Down Muni-Health Rhetoric

EARLIER: UNIONS MOVE AGAINST HOUSE PLAN TO CURB COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS

By WGBH News
The Massachusetts House has voted to strip police officers, teachers and other local government workers of most of their collective bargaining rights over health care.

U.S. NEWS

Bernanke Upbeat On Jobs Outlook

NPR: LIVE-BLOGGING BERNANKE

By The Associated Press
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is speaking at a historic news conference, the first time in the Fed's 98-year history that a chairman has begun holding regular sessions with reporters.

WHERE WE LIVE: HARWICH

One Year Old, Catch-Share Sectors 'Effective For Business'

By Bob Seay
It has been one year since fishermen in the Northeast began using a new system, called "sectors," for regulating catch shares. Fishermen are split on whether the system of cooperative fishing rights an improvement over old regulations. WGBH's Bob Seay spoke to one fisherman who supports the new system.

Economy

Jobs Added, But Unemployment Rises To 9 Percent

WITHOUT A COLLEGE DEGREE, HARD-PRESSED FOR JOBS

By The Associated Press
Employers added more than 200,000 jobs in April for the third straight month, the biggest hiring spree in five years. But the unemployment rate rose to 9 percent in part because some people resumed looking for work.

Business

Fisherman: Catch-Share Sectors 'Eliminate' Some Business

ONE YEAR OLD, CATCH SECTORS 'EFFECTIVE FOR BUSINESS'

By Bob Seay
Fisherman are wrapping up their first full year of compliance with a new set of federal regulations intended to prevent overfishing, called "sectors." Some fisherman say it's helped their businesses, but WGBH's Bob Seay speaks to a Plymouth fisherman who says he's lost 60 percent of his income because of the rules.

Economy

Bankruptcies At Record High In Mass.

By Bob Seay
Bankruptcy filings in Massachusetts are up -- way up. There were 23,000 filings last year, up 16 percent from 2009. The national rate, meanwhile, rose just 9 percent. In an interview with WGBH's Bob Seay, bankruptcy trustee Carolyn Bankowski cited the sluggish economy and slow housing market as factors in the rise.

CLIMATIDE

A Look At The 2010 Fishing Season

MORE CLIMATIDE

By Heather Goldstone
Scientists from NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Center in Woods Hole have released an upbeat preliminary report on the 2010 fishing season — the first to be managed by catch-shares management. They say the year saw no overfishing and higher revenues for fishermen.

Local Politics

Senate Budget Cuts: The Question Isn't If, But How Much

By Sarah Birnbaum
The state Senate is well into its second day of debate on its budget for the next fiscal year, which begins in July. Budget cuts and municipal health costs are emerging as the bigger sticking points in debate. EARLIER: SENATE BUDGET GIVES UNIONS 'VOICE, NO VETO'

Economy

May Unemployment Up To 9.1 Percent

NPR: TRACKING MONTHLY UNEMPLOYMENT

By The Associated Press
Employers hired only 54,000 new workers in May, the fewest in eight months, and the unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent.

89.7 WGBH

Where We Live: April 2011 Coverage

By WGBH News
Here we compile the complete coverage from the April 2011 installment of our Where We Live series: our features on towns and cities across the state, selected responses from listeners and readers, and some related stories that touch on community and economic life.

Boston

Boston Has Nation's Highest Ratio Of 20-34 Year-Olds

By Jess Bidgood
Boston is home to a bigger proportion of adults ages 20-34 than any other city in America, with 35 percent of its population falling into the age group. Both Mayor Menino and an independent economist agree that's good for the city.

Local Politics

Sales-Tax Holiday Moves Foward

By Sarah Birnbaum
Bay State shoppers could be getting a break next month. Massachusetts lawmakers held a public hearing Monday on a bill to establish a sales tax holiday in August.

Boston

Gov. Patrick Set To Negotiate On Mass. Casino Plans

By Sarah Birnbaum

89.7 WGBH

How Can We Fix Mass. Transit System?

By Bob Seay

Yesterday Richard Dimino President and CEO of A Better City outlined the scope of the fiscal problems facing the MBTA and other Massachusetts transit infrastructure. Today he talks about his ideas on how to fix them.

Economy

U.S. Jobs Up 117,000; July Unemployment 9.1 Percent

By The Associated Press
Hiring picked up slightly in July and the unemployment rate dipped to 9.1 percent. The modest improvement may quiet fears of another recession after the worst losses on Wall Street in nearly three years.

Economy

World News

European Stocks Rebound As Banks Recover

By The Associated Press
European stocks rebounded Thursday as banks recouped some hefty losses despite ongoing concerns over their exposure to the debt of countries like Greece and Italy, while Wall Street was poised for a rebound following another rout.

GREATER BOSTON VIDEO

Frank: To Cut Deficit, Cut Military Spending

MORE GREATER BOSTON

With the stock market still feeling the aftershocks of last week’s S&P downgrade, Congressman Barney Frank says it’s time to, quote “stop being the world’s policeman” if it wants to stabilize the economy.

Economy

Mass.'s Unchanged Unemployment Rate Could Belie August Market Turmoil

By Sarah Birnbaum
Despite anxiety about the national economy during the debt-ceiling talks last month, employers in Massachusetts added jobs, according to state labor data released Thursday.

Boston

Springfield Approves Tough Anti-Foreclosure Laws

By The Associated Press
The Springfield City Council has passed what advocates are calling the toughest municipal anti-foreclosure legislation in the country.

Economy

July Encouraging For Mass. Home Sales

By The Associated Press
Sales of single-family home in Massachusetts jumped in July for the first time in six months when compared to the year-ago period, an encouraging sign for the state's real estate market.

Economy

Innovation Economy Growth Leaves Parts Of State Behind

Business

Gambling Bill Looks Good For Mashpee Wampanoags

By Sarah Birnbaum
The casino gambling bill unveiled by Massachusetts legislative leaders earlier this week could give a boost to the Mashpee Wampanoag Native American tribe, but there are caveats.

89.7 WGBH

State Treasurer Considers Legalizing Online Poker

By Sarah Birnbaum
Momentum may be growing behind efforts to legalize online poker in Massachusetts. State Treasurer Steve Grossman’s Office is considering plans to legalize online poker for state residents.

Business

Patrick Touts Massachusetts At Biotech Conference

By Phillip Martin
Thousands of biotech and pharmaceutical dealmakers from around the work gathered in Boston this week for a Bio-Pharm America 2011 conference in Boston — and Gov. Deval Patrick is stressing the importance of their work to the Massachusetts economy.

Local Politics

After Credit Bump, Mass Gets Low Bond Interest Rate

By Sarah Birnbaum
After securing what officials say is the highest credit rating in the state’s history, Massachusetts has sold $500 million in bonds at an interest rate of slightly below 3 percent.

Boston

'Occupy Boston' Demonstrators Bring Wall Street Protests North

By Phillip Martin
Calling themselves Occupy Boston, a group of demonstrators inspired by the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York City took to the streets of Boston this weekend and on Monday continued to camp out at Boston's Dewey Square.

Economy

Unemployment Inequality Is Stark In Massachusetts

By Phillip Martin
Massachusetts' high-tech and biotech industries have helped keep it ahead of 44 other states in terms of employment. But in recent days, economists are warning that even the high-tech and biotech engines are starting to slow down. And that industry doesn't help some parts of the state.

Greater Boston

Can Obama's Jobs Bill Help The Long-term Unemployed?

MORE GREATER BOSTON

By Toni Waterman
Across the country, millions of people have been out of work for months at a time. President Obama is urging Congress to pass his Jobs Bill, which includes incentives for small businesses to hire anyone who's been out of work for over six months. But even if it passes, will President Obama's bill succeed in getting the long-term unemployed to work?

Economy

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