Nov 21st, 2008 · Private law firms charge their clients a fortune in billable hours. Now, some firms are doing away with this way of billing because clients just can't afford it any more. With the economy failing, some lawyers are finding themselves out of a job too.
Nov 20th, 2008 · Washington Post reporter Steve Fainaru has extensively covered the "parallel army" of private security contractors. His book Big Boy Rules: America's Mercenaries Fighting In Iraq, details the tens of thousands of "mercs" who arrived in Iraq in the absence of sufficient levels of U.S. troops.
Nov 17th, 2008 · American experts are at work in Beijing's Forbidden City, helping preserve a long-neglected treasure: the elaborate private retreat of the 18th-century Chinese emperor Qianlong.
Nov 17th, 2008 · As the Obama family prepares to transition into the White House, one of the most pressing matters is choosing a school for their two daughters, Sasha and Malia. Mary Lord, of D.C. State Board of Education; Mark Gooden, an education professor and Jay Matthews, education columnist for the Washington Post talk about the sometimes complicated choice between public or private schooling for children.
Oct 24th, 2008 · To probe deeper into race and its impact on the 2008 election, Michele Norris and Steve Inskeep are interviewing 15 voters from York, Pa. Inskeep has found that blacks seem to speak more comfortably about race than whites. He asks: "Whether we are white or black, do we really know ourselves?"
Oct 22nd, 2008 · Both presidential candidates embraced different approaches to improve public education. Democratic nominee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and Republican nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona have sparred over the issue of giving students vouchers to attend private schools.
Oct 13th, 2008 · The Bush administration plans to spend as much as $250 billion of the $700 billion bailout buying stock in private banks, greatly expanding protections for the U.S. financial system out of deep concern for the faltering economy.
Oct 13th, 2008 · Stock markets soared after European governments announced a series of giant financial rescue plans. The packages were unveiled by Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and others. They involve government guarantees of bank lending, as well as cash injections into troubled banks. The rescue plans may involve pay limits for CEOs, and the government taking equity stakes. Great Britain's plan involves the government buying shares in three big financial institutions, and becoming an owner of these once-private banks. The U.S. Treasury is also working on a similar plan.