In our area, we’re above the state average of 9% with an 11% increase since last year in the number of people enrolled in food stamps. There are also more people in the Women, Infant and Children program, known as WIC. More: continued here

The cruise industry plans a heightened lobbying and media blitz to counteract a recent spate of damaging publicity, according to an internal memo obtained through e-mail exclusively by the Post. The negative headlines began with the highly publicized disappearance of a 26-year-old Greenwich man, George Smith, from his Royal Caribbean …

After decades of basically being a one-presenter town, a third set of concert promoters has planted their flag in San Francisco by nailing down the lease at a key venue. That maneuver has set the stage for a battle royal among three competitive contenders for… More: continued here

Telegraph.co.uk How to spot a fake on eBayTelegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom –4 hours agoEarlier this week eBay, the popular online auction website, was fined €38.6 million (£30 million) by a French court for allowing the sale of fake goods …CheckMEND Service Addresses Online Auction Sites' ProblemsBusiness Wire (press release)all 12 news articles More: …

eBay has cancelled plans to go to a PayPal-only marketplace in Australia. It had intended to limit buyers and sellers to using its own payment service exclusively, but withdrew its notification to government regulators after the agency indicated its intention to prohibit eBay from doing so. More: continued here

Going cheap on eBay: MetroFi's Wi-Fi geaBizjournals.com, NC –4 hours agoIf you're quick, you can buy a piece of it on eBay. For the next 22 hours or so, bids will be taken on the Skypilot units that California-based MetroFi Inc. … More: continued here

LONDON — Prince Charles, whose passion for environmental advocacy has been common knowledge at least as long as Al Gore’s, has taken a very public step to reduce his royal carbon footprint. More: continued here

LAS VEGAS—-The Las Vegas City Council today approved an agreement with CIM Group to develop the land adjacent to the museum planned for the historic Post Office Building on Stewart Avenue in the downtown district. More: continued here

CBS News Food Stamp Crunch IntensifiesCBS News, NY –3 hours agoMaranatha Mays is just one Chicago grocery store customer who relies on food stamps – and they don't always last until the end of the month for her family. …Video: Food Stamp FrenzyCBSall 3 news articles More: continued here

Ebay ordered to pay €40m to LVMH over counterfeit goodsFinancial Times, UK –20 hours agoA French court yesterday ordered Ebay to pay almost €40m (£31m) to luxury goods maker LVMH for failing to do enough to block sales of counterfeit goods, … More: continued here