Renee Montagne talks to Morgan Downey, editor of the Downey Obesity Report about employers using carrots — and sticks — to improve the health of their employees.

Renee Montagne gets an update from freelance radio reporter Jean-Jacques Cornish on the pre-trial hearings for South African Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius. He is charged with murdering his supermodel girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Bipartisan groups of lawmakers are working together on overhauling immigration. On Tuesday, President Obama spoke with several of the senators involved. But there's been some controversy over a draft White House proposal on immigration that was made public. For more, Steve Inskeep talks to NPR's Mara Liasson.

A massive civil lawsuit over liability for the worst oil disaster in U.S. history goes to trial next week in New Orleans. The U.S. Justice Department and Gulf states say BP was grossly negligent and put profits over safety, leading to the 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon. Eleven rig workers were killed. Settlement talks have continued but states say they are pushing for a trial to make sure BP is held accountable and pays to restore the Gulf Coast environment and economy. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports.

Renee Montagne has business news.

The Pentagon plans to notify members of Congress Wednesday about its plans to furlough some 800,000 civilian employees later this spring. That's just one consequence of the federal government's automatic spending cuts which are due to take effect next week. President Obama is urging Congress to halt the cuts, at least temporarily, while lawmakers try to craft a more lasting budget agreement. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

The case has raised new questions about the value of military censorship in Israel. The case was under a judicial gag order for two years, making it impossible for attorneys or the press to raise questions about the secret detention of the Mossad agent. But many Israelis say censorship in general works well, and even buys the media some advantages. NPR's Larry Abramson reports.

As another round of nuclear talks approaches, Iran is again blowing hot and cold on the prospects for progress. After officials signaled a willingness to talk directly with U.S. negotiators, Iran's supreme leader quashed that idea. NPR's Peter Kenyon has the story.

Renee Montagne and Steve Inskeep have the Last Word in Business.

Just ahead of the Oscars, Steve Inskeep takes a look at two of the acting nominees who portrayed real people.

Renee Montagne talks to Morgan Downey of the Downey Obesity Report about employers using carrots — and sticks — to improve the health of their employees.

Boeing has its hands full right now. It is still trying to get to the bottom of a battery fire on one of its new 787s, and now technical workers have authorized a strike. Ashley Gross of member station KPLU reports they'll negotiate again before a walkout.

Renee Montagne gets an update from freelance radio reporter Jean-Jacques Cornish on the pre-trial hearings for South African Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius. He is charged with murdering his supermodel girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp for a burglar.

Janet Sims-Wood, 67, is like millions of other seniors still working in order to make ends meet. For the part-time librarian, the recession put a huge dent in her savings, so she expects she'll have to work as long as her health allows.

A group of nurses is competing for $10,000 in a weight-loss contest. A New York man motivated himself by pledging to donate to a cause he hated. Both approaches use money to reach a target weight. But which is better — the carrot or the stick?

Following the lead of cities like San Francisco and Washington, D.C., New York wants to permit passengers to use smartphone apps to find a yellow cab. But the prospect of change has prompted a lawsuit from private car services, whose passengers already use smartphones to hail drivers.

Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri returned to his home country late last year, after spending eight years in Canada. The cleric, who draws huge crowds to his rallies, says he wants to enlighten people about their democratic rights. His critics call him a demagogue, who's more interested in the limelight.

We often put athletes on a pedestal. But after the latest accusations of bad behavior — accusations that include a murder charge against Oscar Pistorius — it may be time to lower that pedestal several notches, says Frank Deford.

Hospitals are partnering with pharmacies to keep discharged patients from returning too soon. Walgreens, for one, is helping hospitals to manage patients' medications after they go home.

President Obama spoke Tuesday about the impacts of deep spending cuts scheduled to take effect March 1. With a group of first responders in uniform standing behind him in the White House, he said if Congress doesn't stop the cuts, responders won't be able to help communities respond to disasters.