Business News

The rules of tipping in restaurants vary among nations and culture. In the United States, 15 percent is considered customary for average service. However, a new ’60 Minutes’/Vanity Fair Poll 990 American adults has found that a good chunk of diners typically give more or less than that percentage.

Last year, the 17 largest airlines in the US made $3.3 billion in baggage-related fees, and now American Airlines would like a little bigger slice of the pie. It’s just announced a new luggage service that might make your life a little easier — but of course it’ll cost you.

For the past couple of weeks, fried chicken has dominated the culture wars. It all started when Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy harshly criticized gay marriage, drawing the ire of cause’s supporters. The eatery has further stirred controversy by donating millions of dollars to groups that don’t support gay marriage.

For the past couple years, many American workers have been putting in longer hours to help cover the productivity gap left by the massive layoffs that took place after the recession hit. Now maybe they’ll be seeing some rewards for all that hard work — a new survey shows a lot of companies will be handing out bigger raises in 2013 than they have in recent years.

In another sign that the national recession is easing up -- at least here in Texas -- the Lufkin News reports retail home prices are trending upward.  Local realtors say after several years of a "buyer's market", they're seeing clear signs of a turnaround. It's a "seller's market" again.

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip, that started from a tropic port aboard this tiny ship.  OK, it's not "The Minnow" that made Gilligan's Island famous, but she is a tiny ship and she's been parked next to the Jack in the Box on 69-South at Denman Avenue for longer than anybody can remember. She may as well be on a desert island.

Storm chasers?  Aren't they the people who get their thrills by video'ing themselves chasing tornadoes?  Well, yes, but that's not who this story is about.  There's another group known as "storm chasers", and the Better Business Bureau says they are to be avoided at all cost, if possible.  They're crooks.

While some executives seem to care only about themselves and their bottom lines, others feel that the benefit comes from giving some of their fortune away. At least that is what the CEO of the China-based technology firm Lenovo seems to think.