Tuesday, March 30, 2004 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 Los Angeles: The number two video chain is going private. A private investment firm has offered to pay $840 million for Hollywood Video. It appears that the rental business isn't what it used to be. Lisa Naploli reports. From Washington: Ireland is the latest locale to legislate smoke-free work places. That means -- smoke-free Irish pubs. Other U.S. states and major cities are considering similar moves, but the opposition often insists it would be economic bad news. Hillary Wicai has the details. From Los Angeles: Computers, software, servers, and routers - A new report shows businesses spent more than expected last year on these goodies and on other information technology. The upswing has convinced some analysts that companies will loosen their I.T. purse strings even further this year. More from Brian Watt. From London: Oil analysts are predicting that OPEC will postpone its planned cut in output this week because of fears that the price of crude could go through the roof. Stephen Beard has that story. From Washington: The U.S. Department of Labor has issued new rules, which will make it harder for some unions to use their dues on political campaigns. More from Steve Henn. Features Liberal Talk Radio? Air America takes off tomorrow. No, we're not talking about a new discount airline. Air America is a new liberal radio network that bills itself as an alternative to the conservative talk shows that seem to dominate the commercial airwaves. But Air America's future hinges not on politics, but on profitability.

Homeland High-tech Security Government leaders are attending a conference today in Washington to look at some new homeland security technology. They include things like sensors and other devices to help ensure the safety of incoming cargo at the nation's ports and borders. But these new gizmos may be just the first of a long line of products needed to do the job.