Officials in South Dakota, Utah and 10 other states are tired of waiting for Congress to write national rules to let them collect sales taxes from out-of-state Internet retailers. So, in a loosely coordinated effort, they are moving to impose those taxes themselves and daring merchants to challenge them.

Since the start of the most recent recession in December 2007, the share of older working women has grown while the percentage of every other category of U.S. worker-by gender and age-has declined or is flat.

Government subsidies are fueling an electric car boom in China, driving hopes for the industry’s global future as the world’s biggest car market offers economies of scale that could make the technology mainstream.

Much more is highlighted in A Look Around the Nation and the World.