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01/16/2017: A $50 billion eyewear merger
Jan 16, 2017

01/16/2017: A $50 billion eyewear merger

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Eyewear maker Luxottica — known for its Ray-Ban shades — is merging with lens maker Essilor to create a company worth $50 billion. We'll explore the future of the eyewear market and explain why a deal between these two types of companies is so unusual. Next, we'll talk about Amazon's job growth plans, and then look at how Los Angeles plans to allocate $1.2 billion of funds dedicated to the homeless. 

Segments From this episode

Los Angeles plans for spending $1.2 billion to help homeless

Jan 16, 2017
Priority for much of the housing money will go to people who’ve been on the streets for a long time, with no respite. But some think more of the money should go to help homeless families.
Manuel Compito, a homeless advocate, at a restaurant on the border of Skid Row in Los Angeles, an area that has become emblematic of the city's homelessness crisis.
Carla Green

Amazon to add 100,000 jobs as companies increasingly outsource fulfillment operations

Jan 16, 2017
Amazon has announced plans to add more than 100,000 full-time jobs over the next 18 months. The news comes as U.S. companies try to burnish their credentials as a job-creator — a priority of the incoming Trump administration. Amazon’s growth isn’t a complete surprise, however, for a company expanding into so many different product categories. […]

University food pantries aim to provide food assistance to students

Jan 16, 2017
The College and University Food Bank Alliance fights student hunger. Since 2014, its membership has doubled, with almost 400 campuses participating.

Students at the University of Washington food pantry. 
Jennie Cecil Moore

Davos opens as worries over free trade’s future mount

Jan 16, 2017
Business and political  leaders descend on the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos this week for the latest annual World Economic Forum. They do so against a backdrop of rising populism, and opposition to some of things that Davos has promoted, like globalization. Some critics have attacked the event itself as elitist and blamed it for […]

Days off to volunteer is an increasingly attractive benefit for workers

Jan 16, 2017
MLK Day has become a day of service for many. Those that are off may take the time to volunteer. For others, their employers may provide a day for annual volunteering, a benefit that is especially attractive to younger workers. Click the above audio player to hear the full story. Stories You Might Like 12/15/2017: […]

01/16/17: Why are investors punishing the pound?

Jan 16, 2017
The British pound's sizable fall on Monday; pushback against the World Economic Forum; and the rise of food insecurity on college campuses.

Eyewear maker Luxottica — known for its Ray-Ban shades — is merging with lens maker Essilor to create a company worth $50 billion. We’ll explore the future of the eyewear market and explain why a deal between these two types of companies is so unusual. Next, we’ll talk about Amazon’s job growth plans, and then look at how Los Angeles plans to allocate $1.2 billion of funds dedicated to the homeless.