Tourism can spark economic growth, but public funding of the industry is questionable.

Leisure travel has been hit hard in many parts of the district. Tourism businesses and promoters have been forced to adapt.

District universities strive to license technology to industry, but their efforts may not yield the desired results.

Offsetting greenhouse-gas emissions is a burgeoning district industry with an uncertain future

Wind farming is booming again in the district, but the industry remains dependent on federal subsidy

Food processing in the district is doing surprisingly well. But its future-and that of rural areas that attract food plants-depends on economic forces that run much deeper than the recent downturn

Rural telephone companies in the district collect millions of dollars annually in universal service subsidies. Has the time come to let them fend for themselves?

Immigration is changing the face of the Ninth District, though still slowly in many parts

Proposed measures would curb the costs of subsidizing rural phone service.

The consequences of commercial timberland sales may not be as dire as some fear.