Marketplace: Thursday, June 17, 2004

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A look at today's markets (closing numbers)
DOW 2.06 (.02%) ; NASDAQ 14.56 (.73%) ; S&P 500 1.51 (.13%)

Newscast Strength in numbers, yet weakness on Wall Street. An interesting combo on this June 17th. Today we learned producer prices rose at their fastest pace in a year last month. A more than expected 8-tenths of a percent. Translation: inflation. And that's what had the markets second-guessing themselves. For the first time in the war on terror, a civilian contractor is charged with the physical abuse of a detainee. David Passaro of Lillington, North Carolina, was arrested and indicted for last year's beating death of a prisoner in Afghanistan. The announcement was made by Attorney General John Ashcroft. Listen to all newscast items

Features Some Healthy Air Force Competition America's defense industry has been taking some flak... from the U.S. Air Force. Secretary James Roche recently said that the industry needs shaking up. He's called for European defense companies to get more access to Pentagon contracts to stimulate competition. The U.S. buys so little of its military equipment from abroad that European companies call it: "Fortress America." Might the Pentagon's drawbridge be dropped anytime soon? Reporter: Stephen Beard Related Story: Trade organization asks Air Force to clairfy hemp policy Black Eyed Pea - Galatic Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource The Enron and Energy Debacle More trouble for energy trader Enron. You may remember hearing audio tapes of Enron traders joking and bragging about how they could tie up energy supplies to the West Coast. Those recordings made two years ago in the thick of a western energy shortage have only recently come to light. As a result, California's Attorney General today announced the state's suing Enron to return hundreds of millions of dollars for fraudulent practices...and also today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission asked its attorneys to look at whether Washington should take further action. Reporter: John Dimsdale Related Story: Senator: FERC Web site hosts pornographic Enron e-mails Hit That - Offspring Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource More Thoughts on Enron ... Perhaps even more surprising than the news that California still owes Enron money is the mere fact of Enron’s continued existence. Commentator: Robert Bryce Related Story: Utility: Enron manipulated energy market practically every day during power crisis Stormtrooper in Drag - St. Etien Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Non-profit Hospital -- Or a Scam? You Decide... A shameless attempt to sell smokes to young people, especially young African-Americans. That's the thrust of the complaint filed by New York's Attorney general Elliott Spitzer today against Brown and Williamson, maker of Kool cigarettes. He's suing the company over a promotional campaign called "Kool Maxx 2004". Spitzer claims it targets young people by focusing on hip-hop culture. He's demanding at least $15 million for violating the Master Settlement Agreement between dozens of states and the tobacco industry over smoking-related health costs. The attorney who launched the landmark legal attack on tobacco companies is, himself, back in the news. Dick Scruggs is lead attorney in a class action filed late yesterday. He's accusing non-profit hospitals of overcharging uninsured patients. Reporter: Steven Henn Related Story: Suits Challenge Billing Practices of Non-Profit Hospitals Leave Them All Behind - Ride Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Will the Democratic Convention Benefit Boston? Maybe Not ... The Democrats are holding their convention next month - in one of the most Democratic cities in the country. You'd think the mood in Boston would be celebratory, right? Ambivalent might be a better word. Only last week unionized workers prepping the convention site picketed the Fleet Center. Today Boston's cabbies threatened a boycott. This time the issue's a plan to to pay cabbies with ten-dollar vouchers to bring delegates into the city from the airport. Reporter: Helen Plamer Related Story: Mayor says Democrats responsible for convention overruns The Final Comedown - Grant Green Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource

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