Across America, a new breed of pedal-powered trash haulers sees green in commercial food waste they hope to pick up and turn to compost. But the upstarts find their plans ensnared in a web of regulations that reflect other concerns.

Marriage preparation classes are mandatory for couples who want to get married in the Catholic Church. More and more Lutheran and Orthodox Jewish parishes offer them as well. But what do couples who have gone through marriage prep think about it? And does it really make for longer-lasting marriages?

As more U.S. towns and villages choose to dissolve their local governments, residents confront what it means to their identities to be without a seat of government.

The sharing of breast milk has existed in different forms for millennia. In recent months, however, milk exchange has exploded online as new websites link overly lactating mothers with women, and men, desirous of breast milk. While some of these websites enforce a commerce-free community, others provide a forum for the buying and selling of what can be an expensive commodity.

Tipping was once associated with restaurants’ serving and delivering food to customers. But tip boxes now often appear at delis, coffee shops, food carts, car washes and even dry cleaners. And while they may stir annoyance or guilt in some customers, others now routinely toss their change in the jars. Society may have reached a tipping point — where tips have evolved from simply a reward for good service to an expected part of the payment process.

As the price of a barrel of oil tops $110, drivers across the country are looking for alternative ways to get to work. The trend is benefiting bicycle retailers, who are experiencing an increase in sales for commuter goods and services from Sacramento to St. Louis.

Polaroid stopped producing its instant film four years ago, yet its mystique endures and a small, enthusiastic and often deep-pocketed niche has created a new and sometimes expensive market for instant film.

With small digital devices capable of holding tens of thousands of songs, we are carrying virtual music libraries in our pockets and bags. But with so many songs and so little time, how much of our collections do we actually listen to?

Cities prepare for most standard emergencies, like fires, harsh weather, earthquakes and the sort, plans that can be adapted to a situation’s specific needs. But emergency managers also plan for, well, much more than what’s expected.

Many products on the market, from food to personal care, are not appropriately packaged to suit people who are colorblind, neglecting more than 250 million people worldwide.