MoneyWatch

Missoula, Mont. — A federal jury ruled Wednesday that a health clinic in a Montana town where hundreds of people have died from asbestos exposure submitted 337 false asbestos claims that made patients eligible for Medicare and other benefits they shouldn’t have received. The seven-person jury said that the fraudulent …

One boss got so angry after a former employee contacted government labor regulators about a missing paycheck that he delivered the money in the form of 91,000 greasy pennies dropped on the worker’s driveway.  Now, the Labor Department has found that Miles Walker, the owner of A OK Walker Autoworks in …

A biotechnology company selling a $949 blood test that it bills as a “first of its kind” to detect cancer said it incorrectly informed about 400 customers that they might have the disease.  The Menlo Park, California, company, called Grail, said it sent a form letter to some customers who …

A key element of the debt ceiling negotiations in Washington, D.C., are demands from Republican lawmakers that the nation chop federal spending, including outlays that ballooned during the pandemic.  The push for cuts comes as the U.S. has been spending more each year than it has received in taxes and other …

The screens are seemingly everywhere — coffee shops, sports stadiums, online travel sites, even self-service kiosks — asking customers if they want to offer a tip and leaving shoppers confused about when to give.  Historically, tips were designed to reward, and sometimes ensure, good service, and were typically only expected in settings …

A weekend weather reporter claims she was fired from her on-air job at a Knoxville, Tennessee, TV station for her physical appearance on air, including having hair that her managers said was too curly.  Tabitha Bartoe worked at WATE, an ABC station in Knoxville, since February. It was her first …

Real estate developers appear to smell financial opportunity in a badly dilapidated Florida home that comes fully ventilated via sizable holes in its ceiling. The single-family house in Miami Shores Village is listed for $650,000. It has drawn multiple offers and is currently under contract, according to Robin Bird Realty, …

Lawmakers in Iowa passed a bill this week that, among other things, would allow children to work an additional two hours on school days and grant some underage teenagers permission to serve alcohol in restaurants.  Senate File 542 now awaits approval from Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds — who expressed support …

Renters with a budget of $1,500 per month to spend on an apartment will get the most bang for their buck in Nebraska, Oklahoma or Texas, according to a new analysis.  Researchers at RentCafe examined how much square footage renters get for that sum in 200 U.S. cities. The takeaway: …

If you’re among the millions of American who bought I-bonds last year, you may be looking around for a better place to park your cash.  I-bonds, the breakout investment star of 2022, are offering a 6.9% return for the next few days, but that rate is set to drop sharply …