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The 10 most expensive US natural disasters

Here are the top 10 priciest US natural disasters in billions of 2013 dollars adjusted for inflation, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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The Simple Dollar Back-to-school shopping? Do it the frugal way.

Buying your children school supplies can quickly get expensive. Hamm offers six essential tips for saving money through the process.
Ash borer beetle shows up in Iowa (again)

Ash borer beetle, first spotted in Iowa three years ago, has now appeared in a second location in the state, officials announced Tuesday. Most ash borer beetle infestations have been caused by people unknowingly moving infested firewood, nursery plants and sawmill logs across county and state lines.
Woman fired for sex appeal: Unfair, but not gender bias, Iowa court rules

An Iowa dentist did not unlawfully discriminate when he fired an employee he found attractive, fearing they might have an extramarital affair, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday in a case examining a murky area of employment law.
Year after drought, wettest Midwest spring in 40 years delays crop planting

Last year, Midwest farmers struggled with drought; this year, it's heavy rain and sodden farmlands, which have pushed back the planting season. By contrast, farmers in the South worry about too little rain.
Opinion Gag the 'ag-gag' laws that bar undercover recording of cruelty to farm animals

Several states have passed 'ag-gag' laws that make it illegal to gather undercover documentation and videos of cruelty to animals at factory farms and in other areas of industrial agriculture. But it is precisely this kind of reporting that exposes and can help stop abuse of animals.
The 10 most expensive US natural disasters

Here are the top 10 priciest US natural disasters in billions of 2013 dollars adjusted for inflation, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Olive Press Home-cooking lures Palestinian expat home

The opportunity to own a restaurant in his homeland brought Mazen Saadeh back to the West Bank, where he is serving food that comes straight from his backyard.
Decoder Wire Immigration reform: Can a supporter win GOP nomination in 2016?

Although Republicans in general have been under pressure to warm up to immigration reform, such an approach might not resonate in early-primary states, where GOP voters tend to be socially conservative and largely white.
Nickelodeon TV channel is asked by senators to stop airing sugary food ads

Nickelodeon, a children's cable network, has been asked by four US senators to ban ads that promote sugar and junk food.
'Very dangerous' storm rattles Midwest

Hail and high winds struck the Midwest region on Wednesday. The weather inconvenienced many commuters in Chicago and elsewhere. There were, however, no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries.
Derecho threat: Storms batter Midwest with wind, hail

A violent weather system – threatening a severe event called a derecho – moved through the Midwest Wednesday dumping hail and rain. Some 12 million people in four states live in the area at high risk of the storms and a potential derecho, according to the National Weather Service.
Derecho windstorms could sweep the midwest: Who is in its path?

Derecho windstorms can blow 75 mph winds for hours, across vast distances. This derecho could affect Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and maybe Washington, D.C.
The Simple Dollar Going shopping? Know your target.

Shopping costs you money, Hamm writes, but shopping without a very specific purpose really costs you money.
Oklahoma tornado was stronger than Hiroshima bomb: How?

When the conditions are exactly right – and they were, for the tornado that devastated Oklahoma City yesterday – a tornado can unleash more power than the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
'Bishop' gets 37 years: He could have gotten 200

'The Bishop' gets a 37-year sentence after his conviction for 12 counts related to his construction and mailing of pipe bombs. The bombs failed to explode, but 'The Bishop' still faced up to 200 years in prison.
Tornado season off to a late but deadly start

Tornado season usually starts in mid-April, but this year's first big tornado will go down in the record books not only for its tardiness but for its deadly scale: It reached half a mile wide and killed at least 51, including 20 children.
Oklahoma braces for more tornadoes, as severe storm system lingers (+video)

Oklahoma, northwest Arkansas, and southern Missouri faced a new series of tornadoes, heavy rain, and hail on Monday, as a massive storm system takes longer than usual to move through the nation's midsection.
Oklahoma tornadoes: More forecast for Monday (+video)

Oklahoma tornadoes leave one dead on Sunday. But tornado warnings saved lives in Oklahoma, say officials. The National Weather Service says more tornadoes are forecast for Monday afternoon.
Can Democrats find moderate candidates in time for midterms?

Democrats may struggle to recruit moderate and conservative-leaning candidates for the 2014 midterm elections in states with the most competitive Senate races.
Whites-only scholarship: Columbia tries to change it

Whites-only scholarship for Columbia University dates from 1920 – and is only for Iowans. Columbia is going to court to change race provisions of whites-only scholarship.
The New Economy Bloomberg snooping: Just looking at data can break the law

The Federal Reserve and the US Treasury are investigating whether Bloomberg reporters used the company's terminals to glean inappropriate information about officials' data use. Just viewing the information can be a felony, under federal law.
Why wind farms kill eagles with federal impunity

Oil companies are prosecuted when a bird drowns in a waste pit. But the Obama administration has never fined or prosecuted a wind-energy company for similar protected bird deaths. An estimated 573,000 birds are killed by US wind farms each year.
Rand Paul for president? Why else is he in Iowa? (+video)

US Sen. Rand Paul is making a splash in Iowa this weekend, and he'll soon visit New Hampshire and South Carolina. Can the libertarian-tinged maverick Republican successfully run for president?
Energy Voices Why the US military should continue biofuel research

The sequester should not excuse the US military from making the important investments into the future, Holland writes. It is strategically important for the military to develop new sources of energy like biofuels.
Immigration reform bill: Top 8 changes GOP senators want

More than 300 amendments were submitted for possible inclusion in a sweeping immigration reform package – at least 100 of them from two Republicans, Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa and Jeff Sessions of Alabama. Here are eight notable changes GOP lawmakers want to see in bill, as the Senate Judiciary Committee takes up amendments between now and Memorial Day.