The food-stamp economy
On the last day of every month, shoppers at Walmart load their carts with food and household items and wait for the midnight hour. Is this the new normal in America? Full Article
Tropical depression less likely in Atlantic: NHC
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Tuesday environmental conditions were becoming less favorable for the low-pressure system about 950 miles east of the Lesser Antilles to develop into a tropical depression.
But the NHC noted the system still has the potential to become a tropical depression within the next day or so.
On Monday and early Tuesday, the NHC said the system could develop into a tropical depression over the next day or so.
Earlier Tuesday, the NHC said the system was moving westward at about 15 miles per hour across the Central Atlantic.
If it strengthens into a tropical storm, with winds of 39 to 73 mph, the NHC will name it Cristobal.
Weather models forecast the system will cross the Lesser Antilles and reach the central or western Caribbean Sea south of the Greater Antilles over the next five days or so.
The Lesser Antilles include the Caribbean Islands from the Virgin Islands south to Trinidad.
The Greater Antilles include Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico.
Energy traders watch for storms that could enter the Gulf of Mexico and threaten U.S. oil and gas production facilities.
Commodities traders also watch storms that could hit agriculture crops like citrus and cotton in Florida and other states along the Gulf Coast.
(Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by John Picinich)
