# Business

GE Teams Up With EPA to Keep Appliances Out of Landfills

GE has begun a partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency to work on refrigeration appliance recycling best practices. It doesn't sound sexy, but GE estimates that its new recycling technology could cut refrigerator landfill waste by 85%.

# Business

Toys R Us Launches "Be A Hero For Autism" Fundraising Campaign

ToysRUs yesterday announced the launch of its nine-week in-store fundraising campaign to benefit Autism Speaks, North America's largest autism science and advocacy organization.The company will collect donations in its stores through April 30 and provide a $400,000 grant to kick off its fifth annual campaign.

# Business

Coffee Shop's Incredible Response To Neighborhood Robberies

Where a string of robberies in local shops might have made Lexington, Kentucky a more sad place, one coffee shop has conjured up a few pay-it-forward Christmas miracles. After thieves broke into A Cup of Common Wealth, the coffee shop's owners were blown away by the outpouring of love and support. Reports of additional robberies inspired the owners to rally the community, and give a free beverage to whoever spends money in those affected businesses. They also started a Community Christmas Tree that is spreading gifts to any in need -- even the burglars.

# Business

GM Teams Up With Hawaii to Push Hydrogen Cars

With the new Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative, that state may be the first in the US to successfully build a fueling infrastructure that will support thousands of hydrogen fuel cell cars. expected to come on the market in 2015.

# Business

Rise in US Orders for Core Capital Goods Best in 5 Months

Orders by U.S. companies for core capital goods like machinery, considered a proxy for business investment, rose 1.7 percent in October, the best showing since a 2.3 percent rise in May, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

# Business

Surprise! U.S. Economy Improving Better Than Anyone Expected

The economy is improving more than professional forecasters anticipated. It isn't only the federal government's Bureau of Labor Statistics that is issuing surprisingly good news about the U.S. economy these days… It's also auto dealers, real estate agents, the Federal Reserve and corporate America's 96-year-old Conference Board.

# Business

Chipotle Offers New Benefits to Hourly Workers, Including Tuition Payments

Chipotle is extending its worker benefits to part-time employees by giving them sick pay, paid vacation time, and even helping pay their college tuition.

# Business

Dow Hits 12,000, Consumers Confidence Soars, too

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has once again topped 12,000 -- a level not seen since the summer of 2008, and the consumer confidence level shot up this month to its highest level in 8 months.