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PODCAST: Matchmaking in Mexico

The new Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker is going on a trade mission to Mexico to find new business partners to match with U.S. companies. And, investing in iPads to help schoolchildren learn carries some costs that may be getting overlooked.

Today, the new Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will lead her first trade mission abroad. Over the next few days, Pritzker visits Mexico along with business leaders from 17 American companies. And what are some metrics for judging whether one of these trips is worth the money?

Plus, if the lopsided Super Bowl didn’t fill your sports needs, just wait a few days. The Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, kicks off Friday. Athletes are pumping themselves up, but so is law enforcement, including those in Russia doing counter-terrorism.  Beyond that, the international crime-fighters at Interpol have a $20 million deal with the International Olympic Committee to crack down on dopers, match-fixers, and corrupt betting schemes.

Meanwhile, if you think your internet bill is high, try paying to keep 680,000 computers online. As schools try to make sure that every student has a computer or a tablet at their disposal, one often overlooked cost is access to the network itself.  The country’s second largest school district, Los Angeles Unified, is learning the real costs of connecting students to the world of data. 

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