Business and Economic News

Spinal-cord stimulators help some patients, injure others
Spinal-cord stimulators — devices that use electrical currents to block pain signals before they reach the brain — are more dangerous than many patients know, an Associated Press investigation found.
GM to slash 14,700 jobs in North America
General Motors will lay off 14,700 factory and white-collar workers in North America and put five plants up for possible closure as it restructures to cut costs and focus more on autonomous and electric vehicles.
Spinal-cord stimulators mean big business for device makers
Few medical devices hold as much potential for explosive growth as spinal-cord stimulators, especially in the United States, where they are being pushed as the answer to the country's opioid epidemic.
Digging deep into local news, a small newspaper in rural Oregon is thriving
In far eastern Oregon, a small weekly newspaper is bucking an industry trend. The Malheur Enterprise was languishing, but recently it's won several national awards and circulation is surging.
Hit the mall or buy online? Holiday shopping strategies vary widely
Shoppers are expected to open their wallets wide this holiday season. While some will hit stores early to avoid crowds, others plan to wait until the last minute to score big deals. Some Minnesotans are giving experiences instead of material gifts, while others plan to make charitable donations instead.
It's been a year since the Keystone pipeline leaked about 407,000 gallons of oil in northeastern South Dakota, and while the damage has been mitigated, a final federal investigation report has yet to be released.
EU endorses Brexit deal and warns: there's no better offer
European Union leaders on Sunday sealed a divorce deal with Britain, and issued a warning to U.K. politicians who within weeks will approve or reject it — this offer is as good as it gets.
French protesters angry over fuel taxes clash with police
French police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse violent demonstrators in Paris on Saturday, as thousands gathered in the capital and beyond and staged road blockades to vent anger against rising fuel taxes.
Outgoing Michigan governor pushing for Great Lakes pipeline
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder hopes to use the final weeks of his tenure to lock in a deal allowing construction of a hotly debated oil pipeline tunnel beneath a channel linking two of the Great Lakes — a plan his successor opposes but may be powerless to stop.