Thursday, July 3, 2003 The Marketplace Morning Report with Kai Ryssdal and Tess Vigeland is a series of seven 9-minute business news modules airing weekdays. This timely report delivers a global business newscast and a hard-hitting feature report. Visit the archive to browse previous stories. Note: Each of the broadcasts contains some of the newscast items below and one of the features. Since only a few radio markets get all seven broadcasts, we've made them available below.

Broadcasts Listen: 2:50 | 3:50 | 4:50 | 5:50 | 6:50 | 7:50 | 8:50 (times are a.m., Pacific Standard Time)

Newscast Stories From New York: Following Wal-Mart's announcement about extending its anti-discrimination policy to protect gays, Ashley Milne-Tyte looks at new data on pay equity between straight and gay men in the workplace. From New York: Judy Martin talks with Internet security experts on how prepared businesses are in the event of a hacker attack, and whether early-warning systems do any good. From New York: As Atlantic City prepares to open a new casino, Rachel Dornhelm examines the prospects for the gambling industry in a weak economy. From Los Angeles: Salvo Lavis reports that laptops are giving desktops a run for their money. From Washington, DC: John Dimsdale has details on why some states object to the federal government’s new "Do Not Call List." From Beijing: China has a law promoting popular science education to support a high-tech economy, but science museums are closing for lack of money. But now, as Jocelyn Ford reports, they can get special tax breaks. From London: Stephen Beard has details on a new British survey that found that low-paid workers enjoy their jobs far more than the higher-paid. From the Arts Desk: Kyle James reports that Germany’s government has come up with money to keep three of the country's renowned opera houses open. From Washington, DC: Julie Small has the story on MCI, aka WorldCom, offering to boost the fine it pays shareholders by $250 million to settle SEC fraud charges. Features Choosing bee stings over prescription drugs Allergists say July starts the peak of the insect biting and stinging season. What once was a nuisance is now more of a worry, with concerns over West Nile virus and Lyme disease. But as Helen Palmer reports from the Health Desk at WGBH, some people welcome insect stings.

MLB looks to raise All-Star Game ratings The ratings have been trailing off in recent years for Major League Baseball's All-Star Game. Sports commentator Andrew Zimbalist tells host Cheryl Glaser about what the league’s trying to do to change that.

The effect of the Fed's rate cuts The recent cut by the Federal Reserve of its Fed Funds and Discount Rates to 1%, the lowest since 1958,is designed to stimulate the economy. But as personal finance expert Jordan Goodman tells host Kai Ryssdal, depending on whether you are a saver or borrower, it may actually end up doing more harm than good.