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The Federal Election Commission has rejected a bid by conservatives to weaken the campaign-finance disclosure law. A Tea Party group had asked for a precedent-changing decision to keep its donor lists secret. It said members are being targeted for harassment and intimidation.

If you want to raise money, charge a sales tax. If you want people to smoke less, tax producers. Traditional economics says this shouldn't make a difference, but it does.

The Shenzhen-based company BYD started producing cellphone batteries and moved to electric cars. Now, it's rolling out a fleet of electric buses in the U.S., a first for a Chinese auto manufacturer.

This week, the Justice Department signed a $13 billion settlement with JPMorgan Chase over the bank's mortgage practices. But it's not the first multibillion-dollar deal. Five banks, including JPMorgan, reached an agreement in 2012. Not all of the results are in, but there are some lessons learned — and lingering concerns.

On the 80th birthday of Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki — whose music helped make The Shining so terrifying — NPR's Arun Rath considers how the classical music of Penderecki's generation has been shaped by real-life horror.

Charles Hunt — that's not his real name — works for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. To prevent contract killings, he and colleagues pose as killers themselves. Journalist Jeanne Marie Laskas, who wrote a profile of the agent for GQ, says in real life he's a "lovely man" playing a "bit of a superman role."

Iconic Disney moments aren't just about the characters, but the songs they sing. Husband-and-wife team Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez composed music for the new Disney film Frozen, capturing the friendship of sisters Elsa and Anna.

The Scotch whisky is the ninth best-selling brand of distilled spirit in the world. Journalist Afshin Molavi says it has grown globally by appealing to the expanding middle classes in places like Mexico, Brazil, South Africa and India.

Indeed, the gaming industry is not recession-proof. The financial collapse hit Las Vegas hard, and casino revenues dropped for 22 straight months. The city is now taking steps to claw its way back. In doing so, it may emerge as more than a one-economy town.

American studios are working hard to play well in China's gigantic — and growing — movie market, all while negotiating complex rules and competing with popular domestic films.