Intense cold strained, but didn't break, the U.S. electric grid. That was lucky An intense cold snap caused rolling blackouts in some regions. But a more profound catastrophe didn't unfold, thanks partly to good fortune. Camila Domonoske
From the great resignation to unionizing: Starbucks reflects 2022's labor journey Worker shortages, rising wages, unionization and automation. In 2022, Starbucks embodied all these trends in the workplace, perhaps more than any other company. Stacey Vanek Smith
2022 was a big year for EV battery plants in the U.S. How big? $73 billion big As the auto industry goes electric, there have been so many massive battery projects announced that it can be hard to keep track of them all. So we added them up for you. Camila Domonoske
Flight fare prices skyrocketed following Southwest's meltdown. Was it price gouging? Passengers who looked for last-minute tickets encountered sky-high prices — in some cases, triple or quadruple the rate for the same route in the last few months. Experts say it's fairly normal. Emily Olson
New York opens its first legal recreational marijuana dispensary The first legal dispensary for recreational marijuana in New York rung up its first sales on Thursday, opening up what is expected to be one of the country's most lucrative markets for cannabis. The Associated Press
Southwest Airlines' #epicfail takes social media by storm Thousands of cancellations, lost bags and endless lines have angry customers taking to social media to voice their discontent. Stacey Vanek Smith
For 3 big Alabama newspapers, the presses are grinding to a halt The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times and Mobile's Press-Register will soon go all-digital. In Birmingham, where people have been reading the paper since the late 1800s, the news hasn't been easy. Debbie Elliott
Southwest plans on near-normal operations Friday after widespread cancellations Ahead of the New Year's weekend, the airline said that Friday will see minimal disruptions after its slashed schedule stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers during a wintery holiday stretch. Emma Bowman
At a French factory, the newest employees come from Ukraine A luxury leather goods manufacturer in the Burgundy region has hired two dozen Ukrainians since the war began. The CEO says it's partly because he can't find enough French workers to fill the jobs. Eleanor Beardsley
Unclaimed luggage piles up at airports following Southwest cancellations After Southwest Airlines canceled thousands of flights over the week, travelers are scrambling to reunite with their luggage. Giulia Heyward
