Business

Problem With The Product: Mom Protests 'Breaking Bad' Merchandise

7:32am October 22, 2014

Toys R Us has given up selling figures based on the show Breaking Bad. A Florida mom protested the making of toys based on the story of a dying teacher who becomes a meth dealer.

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Duke Energy CEO: 'I Don't Think Of Myself As A Powerful Woman'

7:01am October 22, 2014

by Yuki Noguchi

Female executives are a rarity in the energy industry. But Lynn Good, CEO of Duke Energy, took the helm of the utility giant just as it was grappling with some very public challenges.

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"Never needs changing. Not once. ... Put this on when they're born, sit back, and watch the joy that every baby gives off."

Books
Arts

You Definitely Need This Condo Pony, And Other Products From 'SkyMaul'

7:01am October 22, 2014

by NPR Staff

"The Hot Dog Clock" and "The Forever Diaper" are also must-haves. A San Francisco comedy group is once again poking fun at the in-flight catalog SkyMall.

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Books
Arts

Amazon Deal With Simon & Schuster Raises Questions For Other Publishers

7:01am October 22, 2014

by Lynn Neary

Amazon has received a fair amount of bad press lately over its long-running dispute with the Hachette publishing house. So Monday's announcement of a deal with Simon & Schuster took some industry watchers by surprise.

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Bryan Cranston (left) starred as chemistry teacher turned meth dealer Walter White, and Aaron Paul played former student and drug-dealing co-conspirator Jesse Pinkman in AMC's Breaking Bad.

UPDATED: After Controversy, Toys R Us Pulls 'Breaking Bad' Action Figures

7:45pm October 21, 2014

by Sam Sanders

One Florida mom started a petition calling on the retailer to stop selling action figures based on drug dealers in its stores. Toys R Us had said the Breaking Bad toys were meant for adults.

National

From NFL To 'Scandal,' Whole Foods Buys TV Ads To Boost Its Brand

4:34pm October 21, 2014

by Allison Aubrey

A pioneer in selling organic, sustainable groceries, Whole Foods now finds itself beset by competitors. So it's launching its first national ad blitz to sell socially conscious consumers on its story.

The California Public Employees' Retirement System has capped how much it will pay for some common medical procedures and tests.

More Insurers Put Spending Limits On Medical Treatments

3:29pm October 21, 2014

by Michelle Andrews

To contain costs, some plans are capping how much they will pay for certain routine procedures, such as knee replacements. Patients can be on the hook for anything over the limit.

Your Car Won't Start. Did You Make The Loan Payment?

1:10pm October 21, 2014

by Robert Szypko

Growing numbers of lenders are getting tech savvy, remotely disabling debtors' cars and tracking customer data to ensure timely payment of subprime auto loans.

A technician opens a vessel containing women's frozen egg cells in April 2011 in Amsterdam.

Silicon Valley Companies Add New Benefit For Women: Egg-Freezing

1:10pm October 21, 2014

by Laura Sydell

The addition of the benefit by Facebook and Apple comes as tech companies face mounting pressure to hire more women, but some warn it may increase pressure those employees feel to put off having kids.

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National

Unrest In Ferguson May Speed Up Decline Of Real Estate

1:09pm October 21, 2014

by Durrie Bouscaren

Many in the Missouri city are worried about its future, and there's speculation there will be a "mass migration" should violence erupt again. But some residents remain committed to the city.

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