Summary: <p>CONGRESS AVOIDS ANOTHER FISCAL CRISIS: Lawmakers this week reached an agreement to fund the federal government through the fall of 2015. The deal ends a cycle of high-stakes budget showdowns in recent years that threatened to destabilize the American economy and federal workforce. But it also puts in place permanent cuts and scales back pension plans for new federal workers. U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-Va.) joins Kojo to explore what's at stake in the deal for both the Washington region and the entire country. (14 min.) TENSIONS OVER TIPPING RESTAURANT WORKERS: Deciding how much to tip your waiter can be a source of confusion and even anxiety. Is the tip meant to convey appreciation for good service, or are you helping pay the waiter a living wage? D.C. decided last week not to raise the minimum wage for tipped workers, but tensions remain between some restaurant workers and owners. We learn how the current system works and explore the debate over the role of tips in the restaurant world. (38 min.)</p>
