Nov 18th, 2008 · As Americans trim their budgets, some businesses are ready for thrifty activity. In St. Louis, a shoe repair shop has seen business skyrocket as the economy prompts more customers to have shoes fixed instead of buying new ones. Jeff Lipson of Cobblestone Shoe Repair is a third generation cobbler, and he's seeing a new type of customer. Adam Allington of member station KWMU reports.
Oct 30th, 2008 · Barack Obama shoots hoops for good luck, and John McCain has been known to break out his special L.L. Bean shoes. Guests and listeners discuss the role of superstition in politics. Which "lucky charms" will be brought into the White House?
Oct 27th, 2008 · In Ohio, a swing state that helped decide the election in 2004, the McCain and Obama campaigns are wielding high-tech gadgetry and low-tech shoe leather to ensure voters turn out on Election Day.
Sep 29th, 2008 · Okkervil River frontman Will Sheff shares some of his favorite (and fairly obscure) music with All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen. The two talk about Okkervil River's latest album, The Stand-Ins and listen to some of the songs Sheff has loved and been inspired by over the years. Hear music from soul singer Lorraine Ellison, the 1960s Jamaican group Carlton and the Shoes, former teen idol-turned introspective singer Dion, and The Penetrators — a 1970s band some would call punk, others would call garage rock.
Sep 29th, 2008 · Wachovia is the latest bank to fall victim to the global financial crisis. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. announced Monday that Citigroup will acquire the banking operations of Wachovia. The FDIC says Wachovia says all depositors are protected and there will be no cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund.
Sep 17th, 2008 · Stepping on dog droppings is one of the more irritating aspects of life. In Israel, a suburb of Tel Aviv is testing a new way to determine who isn't scooping the poop. The local vet is collecting samples of doggie DNA, using a mouth swab from the pets. If droppings end up on someone's shoe, the city can check it against its database and fine the owner. Owners contribute the DNA sample voluntarily, but the city is considering making it the law.
Sep 12th, 2008 · Steve Inskeep has today's Last Word in business.
Jul 28th, 2008 · Army Cpl. Jon Ayers was a by-the-book kind of guy. At age 3, he got upset when his dad's church shoes were unpolished. In high school, he joined ROTC and honed his attention to detail. Ayers was killed as he defended his post in Afghanistan this month during the deadliest Taliban attack on U.S. forces in three years.