Marketplace: Wednesday, September 29, 2004

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A look at today's markets (closing numbers)
DOW 58.84 (0.58%) ; NASDAQ 27.07 (1.29%) ; S&P 500 4.74 (0.43%)

Newscast If you want to understand how the economy is doing overall, the broadest gauge to look at is what's called the Gross Domestic Product. The GDP. A month ago, the government told us it was 2.8 percent in the second quarter. Robust? No. In fact, the federal reserve called it a 'soft patch'. Today, the Treasury Department released the fine-tuned version of those numbers- - and they were up - to 3.3 percent. Perhaps the 'soft patch' wasn't so soft after all. But with a few hours to think about it, a more complicated truth began to sink in... If those oil prices don't slack up a bit, it's hard to imagine that the third quarter numbers will be anywhere close to the 4.5 percent growth rate we saw in the first quarter of this year. Today oil prices slipped a bit - but not much: $49.50... As the White House did its best to celebrate the GDP, it suffered a setback in its war against terror today. The Patriot Act has allowed the FBI to demand that companies provide confidential financial records without having to prove why they need the information. But on this Wednesday a district judge ruled that's unconstitutional. The case was brought by the ACLU, and it has no immediate impact. The judge has given the feds 90 days to appeal. But it could have huge implications for some businesses and their customers... Each year the Department of Defense awards about half its budget to outside contractors. Last year, private companies got more than $200 billion in contracts. This increasingly private military has drawn attention with those headlines about kidnappings and murders of independent contractors in Iraq. Today a major new study questions the process that landed those contractors there in the first place... Listen to all newscast items

Features Fighting over a nation's safety Senate Republicans met behind closed doors today. On the table - legislation to reform the country's intelligence services. The big battle is over how much power a new national intelligence director should have. Commentator and writer Mark Hertsgaard argues they're ignoring a better, cheaper way to help make the nation safer. Commentator: Mark Hertsgaard Related Story: GOP Accused of Padding Intelligence Bill Choking You - Prefuse 73 Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource "Atomic" veterans in need of answers This week, a group of veterans has been meeting in San Diego. Not just any veterans: these are Atomic Vets. Some of the 400,000 men who were exposed to radiation from nuclear bomb tests. Between World War Two and the mid-1960's, a thousand of these tests were conducted. The effects of radiation exposure were little understood then... but since, many Atomic Vets have developed serious illnesses. They've battled for years to get government help, but many of them don't even know about one important tool available to them. Reporter Debra Baer explains. Reporter: Debra Baer Related Story: 'Atomic veterans' fight for benefits Such Great Heights - The Postal Service Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Strangling an economy? As of tomorrow, most visitors to the U.S will have to put their index fingers on a glass plate for an electronic scan. A digital photo will be taken, too. This is an expansion of a surveillance system put in place after 9-11. Abroad, there are complaints about civil liberties. But in the new edition of the Harvard Business Review, Professor Richard Florida of George Mason University makes the argument that the tightening of borders threatens to strangle something unique that's made America's economy remarkably strong. Q + A: Host David Brown with Richard Florida Web Resource: "America's Looming Creativity Crisis" by Richard Florida Leave Them All Behind - Ride Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Battling over the delivery of aid In recent weeks we've been hearing quite a bit about the tragedy in Darfur, Sudan. Arab militia attacks on the mostly black population there have left thousands dead and displaced. The United Nations calls it the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today. There are countries and organizations that want to send aid... but the place has no roads, no working economy, and few trained people to help. Megan Williams traces the logistical challenge in getting food to Darfur refugees - beginning at a food warehouse in Italy. Reporter: Megan Williams Related Story: U.N. Wants African Monitors in Darfur Camps Magenta - Hooverphonic Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource

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