Business & Economy 2006 Archive | PBS NewsHour

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	2006 DECEMBER Dec. 29, 2006 Iraqis Face Challenges Finding Work, Stabilizing Lives In addition to the attacks and sectarian clashes that dominate the headlines in the worldwide media, the average Iraqi is also struggling with a difficult financial reality -- trying to find and keep a job, conducting everyday business and planning a future for their children in a nation wracked by uncertainty and violence.

	Dec. 28, 2006 Milk and Meat from Cloned Animals Safe to Eat, FDA Says The Food and Drug Administration issued a preliminary decision Thursday saying that food products from cloned animals are safe to eat. Under the proposed guidelines, the products would also not be required to carry a special label.

	Dec. 28, 2006 Chavez, Aided by Oil Exports, Remains Larger Than Life on World Stage Fueled by a call for a renewed independence in dealings with the United States and aided by massive oil reserves, Hugo Chavez has built a growing coalition of states and partners bent on standing up to the policies of the Bush administration.

	Dec. 27, 2006 Some Companies Look to Combine Business with Social Conscience NewsHour essayist Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune examines efforts within industry to conduct "fair trade" practices.

	Dec. 25, 2006 New Identification Technology Raises Concerns over Privacy New radio frequency identification, or RFID, technology uses hidden tags to track nearly everything from merchandise to hospital patients but civil libertarians are worried that this technology may be misused and people's privacy violated.

	Dec. 22, 2006 Russia's Economic Boom Strenghtens President Putin's Government Russia is emerging as a regional power with its energy boom. This economic boost has led to President Putin's government becoming even stronger and low chances for fair elections and freedom of speech in the ex-communist country.

	Dec. 22, 2006 Gen Nexters Take Gaming to the Next Level The video gaming industry has boomed in recent years, bringing in casual fans across all generations. But young video gamers are at the forefront of a new movement in the business: taking part in worldwide competitions and earning thousands of dollars in the process.

	Dec. 21, 2006 Small Business in New Orleans Still Struggling for Survival After Katrina Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco announced a plan to provide interest-free loans and $100 million of federal funds in grant money for small businesses in New Orleans. The NewsHour reports on the struggle for survival as the city rebuilds after Hurricane Katrina.

	Dec. 20, 2006 Iraq's Fledgling Free-Market Economy In the first of a two-part series examining Iraq's economy, the Online NewsHour reports on how the country is faring post Saddam Hussein. Part 2, on December 28, will look at how ordinary Iraqis are hashing out an existence in a country broken by daily occurrences of violence.

	Dec. 19, 2006 The Many Legacies of Andrew Carnegie Philanthropist and businessman Andrew Carnegie left a lasting impression on the American landscape. Correspondent Paul Solman looks at Carnegie's life, including how he made and gave away his money.

	Dec. 14, 2006 Generation Next Changes the Face of the Workplace Journalist Judy Woodruff reports on how young Americans are changing the workplace with new ideas on how the professional world should operate.

	Dec. 13, 2006 Conflict Diamonds Receive Attention from Hollywood Conflict diamonds, gems that are illegally sold to fund civil wars and rebel conflicts, are in the spotlight this month with the release of 'Blood Diamond,' a movie based on this underground trade. Experts discuss the films impact on the diamond trade.

	Dec. 11, 2006 Holiday Shopping Season Highlights Increasing Economic Disparity NewsHour Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming reflects on the growing economic gap that is highlighted by consumer spending during the holidays.



	NOVEMBER Nov. 30, 2006 Presidio National Park Must Become Self-sufficient The Presidio of San Francisco, a former military base, is the only national park mandated by Congress to become financially self-sufficient.

	Nov. 23, 2006 Professor Recommends Targeting Sudan Through Economic Means In the third in a series of conversations about the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Eric Reeves, professor at Smith College, argues in favor of a divestment campaign.

	Nov. 23, 2006 New Orleans Homeowners Seek Federal Aid to Rebuild Thousands of homeowners in New Orleans have applied for federal funding to rebuild under a program called "The Road Home," but only a few dozen have received help.

	Nov. 22, 2006 Nobel Prize Winner Yunus Discusses the Impact of Microfinance Mohammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank won the Nobel Peace Prize earlier this year for their work in microfinance. The NewsHour's economics correspondent Paul Solman speaks with Yunus about how micro-entrepreneurs improve the overall health of economies.

	Nov. 22, 2006 Changing Airline Industry Faces Busiest Travel Season of the Year The Air Transport Association expects a record 25 million people will board U.S. airline flights during the holiday weekend, which comes at a time of increased security regulations. Experts discuss how the aviation industry is handling the heavy flow of traffic.

	Nov. 20, 2006 U.S.-Russia Trade Pact Paves Way for Russia to Join WTO A trade agreement signed by the United States and Russia over the weekend clears a major hurdle for the former communist country's entry into the World Trade Organization, the international body that regulates trade rules and disputes.

	Nov. 17, 2006 Slow Housing Market Affects Economic Growth After many years of unprecedented growth, the housing industry's fortune is changing as various indicators show a significant downturn in the market. Economics correspondent Paul Solman investigates what the shifts in the housing market may mean for economic growth.

	Nov. 16, 2006 Nobel Prize-Winning Economist Milton Friedman Dies at Age 94 Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman died Thursday at age 94. He was an expert on the free market and, as one of the nations most prominent economic thinkers, served as an advisor to several Presidents.

	Nov. 16, 2006 President Bush to Focus on Trade in Asia President Bush began an eight-day trip to Asia Thursday to attend the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam. Analysts discuss the politics of free trade and the possible results of the trip.

	Nov. 15, 2006 U.S. Airways Looks to Buy Delta for $8 Billion U.S. Airways proposed an $8 billion takeover of bankrupt Delta Air Lines on Wednesday, which would create one of the world's largest carriers. An expert talks about the impacts on the industry if the deal goes through.

	Nov. 15, 2006 Watchdog Finds Many Iraq Reconstruction Projects Subpar Reviews of the Iraq rebuilding program show many sub-standard facilities, but construction companies say they face unusual challenges in a war zone. The NewsHour presents a report.

	Nov. 10, 2006 L.A. Times, Philadelphia Inquirer Face Pressure of Newsroom Job Cuts Parent Company Tribune Co. ousted L.A. Times editor Dean Baquet this week when he resisted pressure to cut jobs. On the East Coast, rumors were floating that the Philadelphia Inquirer could lose as much as one-third of its newsroom positions. A business reporter for the Washington Post discusses the challenges newspapers face.

	Nov. 1, 2006 Cost-cutting led to BP Refinery Fire, Report Concludes The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said British Petroleum's cost-cutting at its Texas refinery led to a fatal explosion in March 2005. The head of the board discusses the findings.



	OCTOBER Oct. 30, 2006 Global Warming Could Significantly Impact World Economy, Study Says Unchecked global warming could impact the world economy on a scale comparable to world wars and the Great Depression, a report issued Monday by the British government says.

	Oct. 27, 2006 NextFest Unveils High-tech Tools and Toys With more than 130 exhibits from scientists, researchers and inventors around the globe, NextFest brings its vision of a new world's fair to New York City. The NewsHour's economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on the high-tech tools and toys of the future.

	Oct. 24, 2006 Skilling Sentence Marks Latest Crackdown on Corporate Crimes Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling was sentenced Monday to more than 24 years in prison for his part in accounting practices that led to the company's collapse. His is the latest in a series of cases of corporate corruption that have rocked the business world.

	Oct. 23, 2006 Hedge Fund Losses Prompt Calls for Regulation After a drop in natural gas prices caused an Amaranth Advisors hedge fund to lose a record $6.4 billion in September, hedge funds are facing a barrage of criticism from policy-makers who are calling for greater regulation.

	Oct. 23, 2006 Former Enron CEO Sentenced to 24 Years Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling was sentenced Monday to 24 years and three months in prison for his part in crimes that led to the one-time energy giant's collapse.

	Oct. 19, 2006 NBC Universal Undergoes Restructuring That Will Cut 700 at the Network NBC Universal announced Thursday that it would shift spending from tradition broadcast TV to digital entertainment. It will cut 700 jobs because of this restructuring. A media consultant discusses changing times in the media world.

	Oct. 18, 2006 Missouri Debates Increasing Minimum Wage on November Ballot Initiative A referendum to raise the state minimum wage by 25 percent from $5.15 an hour to $6.50 an hour will be on the Missouri ballot at the upcoming midterm election. NewsHour correspondent Paul Solman explains the ballot issue.

	Oct. 18, 2006 Dow Jones Surpassed 12,000 as Inflation Eases and Consumer Prices Fall The Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassed 12,000, for the first time Wednesday. While the peak was only brief, it indicated that inflation and consumer prices were falling. A finance professor discusses the significance of this milestone.

	Oct. 16, 2006 President Bush Signs Law Banning Internet Gambling President Bush's signing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act bans the use of credit cards, checks, and electronic transfers to place bets on gambling websites on the internet. Analysts discuss the implication of the recent law.

	Oct. 16, 2006 Campaign Spending Trends Reveal GOP and Democratic Strategies With midterm elections nearly three weeks away, both the Democratic and Republican parties have raised millions of dollars for their House and Senate candidates' campaigns. Political reporters analyze who is contributing money and its influence on the election.

	Oct. 13, 2006 Bangladeshi Economist Awarded Nobel Peace Prize for Micro-credit Lending Schemes Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh and the Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for their pioneering work developing micro-credit lending schemes for the poor. An expert discusses microfinance schemes.

	Oct. 13, 2006 President Signs Bill Aimed at Limiting Online Gambling The newly approved Safe Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006, which President Bush signed Friday, included a provision aimed at closing the doors of many of the over 2,500 online gambling casino web sites operating in the United States.

	Oct. 12, 2006 Bangladesh Financial Pioneer Awarded Nobel Peace Prize Bangladeshi banker Muhammad Yunus and the bank he founded won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for their use of micro-credit loans to alleviate poverty in his home country.

	Oct. 11, 2006 Essayist Discusses Housing 'Bubble' Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming gives her perspective on the current real estate market.

	Oct. 10, 2006 Google Pays $1.65 Billion for Popular Video Web Site YouTube Google announced this week that it will pay $1.65 billion in stock for the popular video repository and search engine YouTube. Technology and financial analysts discuss the implications of the ground-breaking deal for the future of the Internet.

	Oct. 6, 2006 Job Market Weak But Other Economic Indicators Appear Healthy While other economic indicators remain positive, the number of new jobs created in September was the lowest in almost a year and much fewer than predicted. Two former Labor Department chief economists decipher the mixed signals and the health of the overall economy.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 28, 2006 Authors Debate Effects of Globalization on Society As more U.S. jobs are shipped overseas, Americans grow worried over job security and worker rights. Authors Thomas Friedman and Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., discuss opposing views on the globalization of the economy and its both beneficial and harmful effects.

	Sept. 28, 2006 Hewlett-Packard Officials Testify on Probe into Media Leaks Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Mark Hurd and former Chairwoman Patricia Dunn testified in the House Thursday on the company's possibly illegal tactics when investigating media leaks.

	Sept. 27, 2006 Stock Market High, Dropping Gas Prices Signal Possible Economic Boom Dropping gas prices and a peaking stock market have created hopes for an economic turnaround, yet housing sales continue to fall. Financial experts decode the mixed economic signals.

	Sept. 27, 2006 Officials Investigate CEOs in Stock Options Scandals The NewsHour's economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on the stock scandals embroiling a number of companies and explains how stock option scams work.

	Sept. 26, 2006 Former Enron CFO Fastow Sentenced to Six Years in Prison Former Enron chief financial officer Andrew Fastow, 44, was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday, more than two years after he pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy for his involvement in the energy company's 2001 collapse.

	Sept. 22, 2006 Wal-Mart Cuts Prices of Generic Drugs as Competitors Follow Suit Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, announced it will start selling nearly 300 generic prescription drugs at sharply reduced prices. One of its competitors, Target, responded that it will offer similar cuts. Analysts discuss the new drug plans.

	Sept. 22, 2006 Hewlett-Packard Chairwoman Resigns Amid Investigation Scandal Hewlett-Packard Co.'s Chairwoman Patricia Dunn resigned Friday amid fallout from how she conducted an investigation into possible media leaks by board members. A journalist discusses the brewing scandal.

	Sept. 21, 2006 Los Angeles Times Resists Cost-cutting Measures The board of directors of the Tribune Co., the corporate parent of the Los Angeles Times, met Thursday to discuss cuts at the newspaper. But the editorial staff is fighting back. Media experts discuss the standoff.

	Sept. 21, 2006 Authors Analyze, Criticize Foreign Aid Agencies in New Books The NewsHour's Economics Correspondent Paul Solman reports on the effectiveness of foreign aid in reducing proverty.

	Sept. 21, 2006 Wal-Mart to Test Discount Generic Drug Program Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Thursday it plans to begin selling nearly 300 generic prescription drugs for a sharply discounted rate of $4 for a month's supply.

	Sept. 15, 2006 Ford Cuts 10,000 Workers, Closes Two Factories In a round of new closings and layoffs, The Ford Motor Company announced Friday the elimination of 10,000 white-collar jobs and two more plant closings, up to 16 from previous cuts. Guests discuss the drastic efforts to save the automaker, effects on its workers and the flagging U.S. auto industry.

	Sept. 12, 2006 Hewlett-Packard Chairman Steps Down Amid Media Leaks Scandal Hewlett-Packard's chairman, Patricia Dunn, announced Tuesday that she would step down from the computer company's board in January after apologizing for her use of undercover investigators to discover the source of media leaks among other board members.

	Sept. 7, 2006 BP Officials Testify on Pipeline Leakage British Petroleum in Alaska officials fielded questions at a House hearing on the factors that forced them to shut down pipelines at Prudhoe Bay and what caused a large-scale spill.

	Sept. 4, 2006 Layoffs Cause Self Esteem Problems, Author Finds With the increase in outsourcing jobs to maintain a competitive edge in the global economy, Americans are facing more frequent layoffs at the workplace. This phenomenon is causing low self esteem and other psychological problems among people losing their jobs.



	AUGUST Aug. 31, 2006 Google CEO Joins Apple Computer's Board of Directors The NewsHour's Economics Correspondent Paul Solman reports on Apple Computer's appointment of Google's CEO to its board of directors. A technology expert then discusses the new ties between the computer giants.

	Aug. 31, 2006 California Moves to Be First State to Limit Greenhouse Gases California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic lawmakers reached a landmark agreement on a bill requiring companies to cut output of greenhouse gases by 25 percent by 2020. Experts discuss the national implications of California's move to curb emissions.

	Aug. 29, 2006 Anniversary Raises Questions about Aid to Katrina Survivors President Bush marked the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans Tuesday with a speech where he admitted problems in the federal response to the disaster and pledged more funds for rebuilding efforts.

	Aug. 29, 2006 New Orleans, President Bush Mark Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina New Orleans commemorated the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with church services and jazz processionals while President Bush met with Mayor Ray Nagin and promised a better response to future hurricanes during a speech Tuesday. The NewsHour looks at the day's events.

	Aug. 25, 2006 Reminders of Katrina Linger on Mississippi's Gulf Coast One year after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, the city's infrastructure remains in disarray and businesses are still suffering in parts of the state. The NewsHour provides a report from three recovering cities.

	Aug. 24, 2006 New Orleans Still Recovering One Year After Katrina A year after Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans, residents find that despite promises of aid from local, state and federal governments, the city still lacks adequate medical care and other basic services.

	Aug. 23, 2006 Tower Records Bankruptcy Heralds Industry Changes Music chain Tower Records filed for bankruptcy for the second time on Sunday. An expert discusses how digital downloads and large-scale music distributors are changing the music industry.

	Aug. 23, 2006 Declining House Sales Indicate Slowing Economy As housing inventories reached new highs, existing-home sales in the United States fell in July to its lowest rate in more than two years. Industry economists discuss the drop and the impact of the softening real estate market on the U.S. economy.

	Aug. 22, 2006 Natural Gas Boom Impacts Rural Wyoming Town A natural gas boom in Wyoming has had both positive and negative impacts on a once small town.

	Aug. 18, 2006 Judge Finds Big Tobacco Guilty of Racketeering, Conspiracy A federal judge has ruled that five major tobacco companies violated racketeering laws and conspired to cover up the risks of smoking. Two analysts discuss the verdict.

	Aug. 17, 2006 South Carolina Farmer Discusses Use of Immigrant Workers The third conversation in a series on immigration in the United States features an interview with Chalmers Carr, a South Carolina peach farmer.

	Aug. 17, 2006 New Identification Technology Raises Concerns over Privacy New radio frequency identification, or RFID, technology uses hidden tags to track nearly everything from merchandise to hospital patients but civil libertarians are worried that this technology may be misused and people's privacy violated.

	Aug. 17, 2006 President Bush Signs Overhaul of Pension Plan Laws President Bush signed a pension reform bill into law Thursday, calling it the most sweeping reform in over 30 years at a White House signing ceremony. Economics Correspondent Paul Solman outlines the changes that promise to bolster pension funding and savings.

	Aug. 15, 2006 Dell Issues Largest Electronics Recall After Fire Fears Dell, the world's largest computer maker, announced Monday that it would recall 4.1 million lithium-ion batteries for laptop computers after documenting several cases of overheated batteries bursting into flames. Acting chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission discusses the recall.

	Aug. 8, 2006 Oil, Gas Prices Rise After Alaskan Oil Pipeline Shutdown The shutdown of pipelines in the Prudhoe Bay oil field in Alaska is expected to heavily impact oil and gasoline prices. An oil markets analyst discusses the economic consequences.

	Aug. 8, 2006 Alaskan Oil Pipeline Leak Raises Environmental Concerns The oil giant British Petroleum will shut down most of its production at the Prudhoe Bay oil field in Alaska because of corroded pipelines. An industry specialist outlines the environmental problems with the BP site and the president of BP Exploration Alaska explains the company's response.

	Aug. 7, 2006 How Does Your Vehicle Measure Up? Input the price of gas in your area, and see how your vehicle compares to other gas-electric hybrids, diesel-powered cars and trucks, and "flex-fuel" vehicles in cost and carbon dioxide emissions.

	Aug. 7, 2006 Focus on Fuel Standards Increases Along with Price of Gas As the price of oil balloons and trips to the gas pump cost more, U.S. fuel economy standards are coming under renewed scrutiny for their impact on global warming.

	Aug. 7, 2006 Fuel Economy Chart View fuel economy standards and actual road results for cars and light trucks since 1978.

	Aug. 7, 2006 Alaska Oil Pipeline Shutdown May Force Government to Open Emergency Stockpile Britain's BP PLC, a major international oil company, was forced to begin shutting down production at the largest oil field in the United States on Sunday.

	Aug. 4, 2006 Senate Democrats Block Vote on Minimum Wage, Estate Tax Bill In a 56-42 vote in the Senate, the GOP fell four votes shy of limiting debate on a bill containing a "trifecta" of parts, including a minimum wage increase and an estate tax cut, preventing a floor vote before the August recess.

	Aug. 3, 2006 AOL to Offer Free Services as Part of Company Restructuring In an effort to take advantage of the "explosive rise in broadband use and online advertising," Time Warner's Internet arm, AOL, plans to offer free e-mail and other services as it moves away from its dial-up Internet service and cuts some 5,000 jobs.

	Aug. 2, 2006 Nationwide Heat Wave Strains U.S. Power Grid Utility companies warned Wednesday that rising demand may place a strain on the nation's power grid over the next few days. An expert discusses the impact of the heat wave on electricity demand and ways to conserve energy.



	JULY July 25, 2006 Expert Explains Collapse of Global Free Trade Talks An expert discusses the failure of global free trade talks, known as the Doha round, and assesses what countries may do from here.

	July 25, 2006 After Faltering for Months, Global Free Trade Talks Suspended After several months of acrimonious debate and failed negotiations, international trade representatives officially suspended the Doha round of free trade talks, marking a major setback to efforts to reduce trade barriers throughout the globe.

	July 21, 2006 Oil Market Focuses Attention on Mideast Conflict The NewsHour's economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on how the Middle East crisis is affecting the price of oil in other countries.

	July 13, 2006 Owners of Philadelphia Newspapers Struggle to Reverse Declining Profits In reporting second quarter earnings Thursday, a number of the nation's largest newspaper chains showed a decline in profits, circulation and ad revenue. Philadelphia newspaper owners are working to reverse recent misfortunes.

	July 11, 2006 Economists Divided over Impact of Improved Deficit Numbers President Bush said larger than expected tax revenue has cut the federal deficit, validating his tax cuts. Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich and Wall Street Journal writer Stephen Moore debate what the new numbers mean for the health of the economy.

	July 6, 2006 Death of Kenneth Lay Leaves Questions Unanswered Widely condemned for his role in the largest corporate bankruptcy in history, Enron founder Kenneth Lay, who died Wednesday at the age of 64, leaves behind many unanswered questions. Two experts discuss the unaswered questions of Lay's life and the Enron trial.

	July 6, 2006 New Jersey Governor, Legislature Reach Budget Deal New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and state lawmakers reached a budget agreement Thursday, ending a six-day shutdown of the government and Atlantic City's state-inspected casinos.

	July 5, 2006 Convicted Enron Founder Kenneth Lay Dies at 64 Enron founder Kenneth Lay, who was awaiting sentencing after being convicted in one of the most high profile business fraud trials in history, died Wednesday at the age of 64.

	July 4, 2006 High Pension Costs Hurt Business In an excerpt from a Frontline report, Hedrick Smith examines the problems that maintaining traditional pensions is having on middle-class Americans.



	JUNE June 26, 2006 Warren Buffett Pledges around $30 Billion to Gates Foundation Warren Buffett, the world's second richest person, has donated nearly 85 percent of his fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help fight disease and poverty and improve education.

	June 22, 2006 Congress Addresses Net Neutrality in Telecommunications Bill The Senate Commerce Committee started deliberations Thursday on a bill overhauling the 1996 Telecommunications Act that could allow broadband providers to use a tiered pricing plan on Internet content.

	June 21, 2006 Bill to Raise Minimum Wage Fails in Senate In a 52-46 vote, the Senate rejected a Democrat-proposed bill to increase the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over two years, marking the ninth time since 1997 that legislation to raise the limit has been defeated.

	June 14, 2006 Increase in Consumer Prices Raises Fears of Inflation A Labor Department report released Wednesday shows an increase in consumer prices due to significant raises in energy and gas costs, prompting concerns that the Federal Reserve will again raise interest rates to fight inflation.

	June 8, 2006 Researchers Scramble to Create CO2-Busting Technologies With carbon dioxide comprising 80 percent of greenhouse gases, researchers are creating technologies to neutralize emissions and reverse their effects on global warming.

	June 7, 2006 The Repeal of the Estate Tax Ignites Debate in Congress The Senate has been debating the possible repeal of the tax on high-value estates that are to be handed down to heirs. If Congress does not act, the threshold for qualifying for the tax will rise to $3.5 million for an estate and continue increasing until 2010, when it returns to pre-2002 rates.

	June 7, 2006 Emissions Exchange Program Aims to Reduce Greenhouse Gases Among businesses addressing the global warming issue, the Chicago Climate Exchange is creating a trading market with financial incentives to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases.

	June 6, 2006 Higher Interest Rates Are Forcing Housing Foreclosures across the Country Foreclosure rates are increasing as many homeowners struggle to make their mortgage payments on time.

	June 6, 2006 Dow Continues Dive After Fed Chief Expresses Inflation Concerns Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke this week expressed concerns over core inflation and noted a slowing economy, cooling housing market, and lower consumer spending, leading investors to expect another interest rate hike.

	June 5, 2006 Global Warming Presents New Business Opportunities As various groups push to raise awareness of the adverse effects of global warming and energy prices continue to rise, companies are advertising greener, cleaner products that may cost a little more.



	MAY May 30, 2006 President Bush Taps Goldman Sachs Chief for Treasury Secretary President Bush nominated Goldman Sachs Chairman Henry Paulson to serve as the secretary of treasury, marking the first time the president has turned to Wall Street for a key position. Analysts consider what the selection may say about the president's economic plans.

	May 26, 2006 Political Analysts Shields and Brooks Discuss Blair Visit, Iraq and FBI Raids Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss Prime Minister Blair's visit to the White House, immigration reform, Iraq, recent FBI raids on Capitol Hill and the Enron verdict.

	May 26, 2006 Mexico's President Tours Northwest U.S., Urges Immigration Reform President Vicente Fox traveled to the Pacific Northwest to visit migrant workers and meet with business leaders as the Mexican leader continues to call for humane and border-friendly reform to the American immigration laws.

	May 25, 2006 Lay, Skilling Convicted in Sweeping Enron Verdict The former top two officials at the failed energy giant Enron were convicted of fraud and conspiracy Thursday for their role in the company's 2001 financial collapse. Guests analyze the verdict and possible implications for the business world.

	May 25, 2006 Enron Top Officials Found Guilty of Fraud and Conspiracy Bethany Mclean of Fortune Magazine reports on the guilty verdict former top officials, Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, former top officials. They were convicted of fraud and conspiracy Thursday for their role in the company's 2001 financial collapse.

	May 23, 2006 The Mortgage Giant Fannie Mae Accused of Deception and Mismanagement The mortgage giant Fannie Mae received a $400 million dollar fine and a scathing report on its "unethical corporate culture."

	May 17, 2006 Enron Executives Finish Closing Arguments Lawyers in the trial of former Enron executives Jeffrey Skilling and Kenneth Lay finished their closing arguments Wednesday and the jury began deliberations.

	May 15, 2006 Apple's IPod a Technological, Cultural Phenomenon Apple's iPod has become a technological phenomenon tha has been growing since it first hit store shelves in 2001. Senior Correspondent Jeffrey Brown reports on its technical and cultural impact.

	May 15, 2006 Seniors Rush to Sign Up for Medicare's Drug Benefit Before Deadline The Bush administration made one last push Monday to persuade seniors to sign up for Medicare's drug benefit before a financial penalty kicks in. Two experts discuss the deadline and what it means for seniors and others struggling to pay for drugs.

	May 15, 2006 Chinese Investment Sparks Economic Boom in Sudan With a 40 percent stake in Sudan's oil industry, China has become Sudan's largest investor, financing part of a major economic boom and in exchange exporting one-third of the resource-rich African nation's oil output. Margaret Warner reports from Khartoum about the challenges facing Sudan's economy.

	May 11, 2006 Senate Votes to Extend Tax Cuts For Five Years The U.S. Senate voted to extend $70 billion dollars in tax cuts, first enacted in 2003, for five years. While Republicans credit these tax cuts with a surging economy, Democrats believe a majority of Americans are being left out.

	May 10, 2006 Federal Reserve Hikes Key Interest Rate to 5 Percent In an effort to curb the growing rate of inflation, the Federal Reserve raised a key short-term rate to a five-year high of 5 percent and warned that future interest rate increases may be needed. Economics correspondent Paul Solman discusses the reasoning behind the Fed's rate hike.

	May 9, 2006 Post-Katrina Home Insurance Hard to Get Nine months after Hurricane Katrina destroyed homes in Mississippi and Louisiana, real estate agents and residents of the area are having big problems obtaining homeowners insurance.

	May 5, 2006 U.S. Labor Department Reports Job Growth Slowed The U.S. Labor Department reported Friday that the growth of new jobs slowed last month. However, other indicators in the last few weeks suggest that the economy has been steadily improving.

	May 3, 2006 ConocoPhillips CEO Defends Oil Company Profits Oil prices have risen nearly 50 percent in the last year raising questions about oil company profits and who benefits from higher prices at the pump. ConocoPhillips CEO James Mulva discusses his company's revenues and reinvesting in energy production.

	May 3, 2006 President Bush Theatens Veto of Senate's Emergency Spending Bill A $92 billion emergency spending bill already has the support of President Bush and approval by the House. However, the Senate has added $14 billion dollars for projects they consider emergencies, and the president is threatening to veto the bill. Kwame Holman reports on putting a price tag on emergencies.

	May 3, 2006 Louis Rukeyser, Longtime Wall Street Week Host, Dies at 73 Louis Rukeyser, for years a fixture on Friday nights as the host of the PBS series "Wall $treet Week," died Tuesday at his home in Connecticut after a battle with a rare bone marrow cancer.

	May 2, 2006 Bolivia Moves to Nationalize Oil and Gas Industries Bolivian President Evo Morales sent troops to gas fields on Monday after nationalizing the gas and oil industries. The European Union warned the move could put additional pressure on energy markets. Two policy researchers discuss the reasons behind the decree and Bolivia's future.

	May 2, 2006 Former Enron CEO Battles Lawyers During Final Testimony Former Enron CEO Kenneth Lay faced off his prosecutors and his own defense lawyers during his sixth, and last, day testifying in his fraud and conspiracy trial. A reporter covering the trial discusses the events of the day.

	May 2, 2006 Debate Continues in Congress About Fixing Big Oil Although the nationwide average price for gas fell by a penny over the weekend, the debate returned to Capitol Hill today. Two senators discuss current and future legislation in Congress to stop rising gas prices.

	May 1, 2006 Eminent Domain Law Upsets Californians California has been fighting over eminent domain laws since the Supreme Court's Kelo case resolved that a city could seize private homes for economic development projects.

	May 1, 2006 Remembering J.K. Galbraith Harvard economist and behind-the-scenes presidential adviser John Kenneth Galbraith died Saturday at age 97. NewsHour Economics Correspondent Paul Solman talks with biographer Richard Parker and reviews an earlier interview he had with Galbraith.

	May 1, 2006 Immigrants Organize Economic Boycotts Across United States Hundreds of thousands of immigrants participated in economic boycotts across the United States. Two guests discuss the motivations of the protesters and the future of illegal immigrants in the U.S.

	May 1, 2006 Immigrants Protest Across U.S. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants protested across the United States in response to congressional battles over immigration reform. Correspondents from Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C. report on the protests and workplace boycotts.



	APRIL April 28, 2006 Republicans Struggle Ahead of Fall Election NewsHour analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss challenges facing the Republican Party ahead of November's midterm election, high gasoline prices and President Bush's appointment of new White House Press Secretary Tony Snow.

	April 27, 2006 Lawmakers Struggle to Respond to Rising Gas Prices As oil companies report huge profits for the first quarter of 2006, lawmakers have responded to rising gas prices with varying proposals including rebates and increased fuel efficiency standards. Two experts discuss the connection between oil, gas prices and profits.

	April 27, 2006 Reefs Near the Maldives Continue Decline Coral reefs provide both the foundations and the protection for the Maldives Islands in the Indian Ocean. Yet due to global warming, they could all be gone within 50 years. Lawrence McGinty of Independent Television News provides a report.

	April 26, 2006 20 Years Later, Chernobyl Still Weighs on Nuclear Efforts Twenty years after Chernobyl, the world's worst nuclear disaster, debate resumes over the use of nuclear power. Two experts discuss the what happened at Chernobyl and current concerns over nuclear power.

	April 25, 2006 Founder Kenneth Lay Testifies in Enron Case Enron founder Kenneth Lay spent a second day on the witness stand Tuesday. He has been charged with six counts of fraud in connection with the company's 2001 collapse. Frank Ahrens of The Washington Post, who has been at the courthouse in Houston covering the trial, discusses the testimony.

	April 25, 2006 President Bush Outlines Plan to Lower Rising Gas Prices President Bush set forth plans to temporarily halt deposits into the nation's emergency reserve of oil, ease environmental standards and investigate price gouging in an attempt to lower gas prices.

	April 25, 2006 China-Sudan Trade Relations Complicate Darfur Crisis When Chinese President Hu Jintao visited the White House last week, among other things, President Bush urged Hu to cooperate with the U.S. government in its effort to end the ongoing crisis in Sudan's Darfur region.

	April 21, 2006 Analysts Consider Political Implications of Hu Visit Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and National Review editor Rich Lowry speak about the shakeups at the White House, and the impact of President Hu's U.S. visit on trade, diplomacy and the media.

	April 20, 2006 Presidents Hu and Bush Discuss Trade, Human Rights President Bush welcomed China's President Hu Jintao to the White House Thursday while anti-China protesters gathered outside. Experts discuss the political and economic implications of the visit.

	April 20, 2006 Wagoner Attempts to Pave Road Ahead for GM In response to continued profit losses, General Motor's CEO Rich Wagoner plans a restructuring of the company to cut operating costs and compete in global markets. Paul Solman discusses the plans with Wagoner.

	April 19, 2006 Chinese President's Visit Focuses on Trade Issues Chinese President Hu Jintao meets with President Bush this week to discuss issues ranging from trade to piracy. Paul Solman discusses the issues facing the two leaders in a conversation with Jim Lehrer.

	April 18, 2006 China Continues Efforts to Limit Access to the Internet In Northern California, a Chinese-born computer scientist is waging a technological war on the Chinese government's Internet restrictions. Following a report on their efforts, two regional experts assess the Chinese government's efforts to control information within its borders.

	April 17, 2006 Former Enron CEO Faces Stormy Time on Stand The defense questioned former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling about his role in the collapse of the energy giant. Fortune Magazine's Bethany McLean discusses the case and Skilling's changed demeanor.

	April 17, 2006 Paper Chronicles New Orleans Recovery, Advocates for City's Survival The 169-year-old New Orleans Times-Picayune has found itself tested by Hurricane Katrina in unprecedented ways. A report on the newspaper's changing role after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

	April 17, 2006 Supreme Court Hears Discrimination Retaliation Case The Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that tests whether an employee who successfully sued for discrimination can also sue for the resulting retaliation. A law journalist who was in the courtroom discusses the case.

	April 17, 2006 Illinois Community Struggles with Continued Industrial Pollution Exelon Corporation didn't publicly acknowledge at least six spills of water containing radioactive tritium until recently--even though the first one happened in 1996. Residents of Will County, Illinois are now outraged and worried about tritium's effect on their health.

	April 14, 2006 Old Tax Places New Burdens on Politicians, Taxpayers Created as a patch to the tax law in 1967, the Alternative Minimum tax law's growing complexity and effect on Americans has caused policy-makers and tax experts to reevaluate.

	April 14, 2006 IRS Weighs the Status of Some Religious Organizations The Internal Revenue Service is reviewing the tax-free status of churches and ministers who preach politics from the pulpit. NewsHour correspondent Jeffrey Kaye of KCET-Los Angeles explores the issue in a report first aired in February 2006.

	April 13, 2006 Rising Gas Costs Increase Appeal of Biofuels Rising gas prices have increased the interest in alternative fuel sources such as biodiesel made from old cooking oil and ethanol made from corn. Paul Solman reports.

	April 13, 2006 Government Unveils New Orleans Rebuilding Documents Government officials released an analysis of flood risk in New Orleans and four nearby parishes Thursday -- the first such assessment since the 1980s -- and offered guidelines for rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina.

	April 12, 2006 Gas Prices Continue to Soar The U.S. Energy Department forecast Tuesday that gasoline will average two dollars and sixty two cents a gallon this summer. An expert explains what's behind the higher prices.

	April 12, 2006 California Works to Prepare for Next 'Big One' The 1906 earthquake killed about 3,000 San Franciscans, yet despite modern building codes and materials, scientists fear a similar earthquake could be even more devastating today.

	April 10, 2006 Latino Communities Rally Over Immigration Reform With a controversial overhaul of immigration laws stalled in Congress, demonstrators marched in record numbers across the country as the growing Latino community mobilized into action.

	April 10, 2006 Refugees Return to Pakistan Six months after a devastating earthquake, refugees are returning home to Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. NewsHour correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro of Twin Cities Public Television reports on their progress and how a relatively warm winter and massive relief effort helped avert a second wave of deaths.

	April 10, 2006 Former Enron Official Testifies He Is 'Absolutely Innocent' Former Enron Corp. Chief Executive Jeffrey Skilling took the witness stand for the first time Monday in the Enron criminal trial, saying he is innocent of more than two dozen conspiracy, fraud and insider trading charges.

	April 7, 2006 Immigration Deal Falls Apart in Senate The Senate's efforts to pass a bipartisan immigration reform bill fell apart as involved parties failed to agree on details of the new leglislation. Kwame Holman reports.

	April 7, 2006 Levee Repair Costs Could Reach $6 Billion A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimate predicts an additional $6 billion will be needed to make the levees in Louisiana strong enough to meet the standards of the federal flood insurance program.

	April 6, 2006 Senators Hopeful About Immigration Deal After a week of debate, the Senate reached an agreement on an immigration bill. Following a report on the Senate's proposed reforms, two senators debate the deal as well as the potential compromise with a House immigration bill.

	April 5, 2006 Massachusetts Announces Universal Healthcare Plan The Massachusetts legislature overwhelmingly passed a bill Tuesday which will allow 99% of individuals in the state to obtain health insurance. An expert examines the state's unique approach to handle the problem with those uninsured.

	April 5, 2006 Couric To Anchor CBS Evening News Katie Couric, co-host of NBC's "Today" show, is leaving to become the anchor of CBS's "Evening News", making her the first woman to be sole anchor of a network nightly news broadcast.

	April 4, 2006 America's Infrastructure Needs Crucial Repairs Ray Suarez discusses infrastructure problems and a new proposal that calls for significant investment and less politicization with Felix Rohatyn, a trustee at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

	April 4, 2006 Salmon Fisheries in Northwest See Trouble Ahead Salmon fisheries in the Pacific Northwest are worried that conservation efforts and environmental problems could devastate the lucrative spring season.

	April 4, 2006 French Youth Take To Streets Over Labor Law The strike against France's new employment law began peacefully Tuesday with more than a million people taking part in marches across the country. But late in the day, young men began throwing stones, tearing street signs, and scuffling with plainclothes police. Margaret Warner reports on the labor protests in France.



	MARCH March 31, 2006 Immigration Debate Highlights Role of Low-skill Workers in U.S. The debate over immigration reform has called into question the role of low-wage workers in the U.S. economy. Two experts discuss the role of immigrants in filling important gaps in the American job market.

	March 30, 2006 House Minority Leader Pelosi Blasts GOP's Iraq Policy House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi discusses the Democratic plan for Iraq, immigration, and plans to take back the House of Representatives in November of 2006.

	March 30, 2006 Mexico Looks At The U.S. Immigration Debate Mexico is paying close attention to the debate in Congress over immigration reform. Following a report on the ongoing Congressional debate, analysts consider how the political fight looks to those south of the American border.

	March 30, 2006 UAE and the United States Work to Mend Fences after the Failed Ports Deal A Senate committee began drafting legislation to change how business deals involving America's so-called "national security assets" are reviewed, in an effort to heal bruised relations between the United Arab Emirates and the United States. A report on the broader campaign to mend fences.

	March 29, 2006 New Report Concludes Many Black Men Are Strugging in Amerca A new report from the National Urban League concludes that many black Americans are struggling to live as well as white Americans. A report on the plight of black men, who have not kept up with the income, health, education, civil justice and civic engagement of other groups.

	March 29, 2006 Students Help Rebuild Houses After Hurricane Katrina Some teenagers chose to spend their spring break helping gut homes in Biloxi, Miss., that were severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

	March 28, 2006 French Labor Law Sparks Youth Riots A nationwide strike in France brought the country to a virtual standstill Tuesday. More than one million people protested a new law that makes it easier to fire young workers. A report on the clashes in the streets of France.

	March 27, 2006 Immigration Debate Pours onto the Streets The Senate debates an immigration bill already passed by the House, as protesters take to the streets around the country for a third straight day. A discussion on the implications of the bill and the brewing immigration controversy in the United States.

	March 27, 2006 Paper Chronicles New Orleans Recovery, Advocates for City's Survival The 169-year-old New Orleans Times-Picayune has found itself tested by Hurricane Katrina in unprecedented ways. A report on the newspaper's changing role after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

	March 24, 2006 Clashes Grow in France Over Labor Law Police clashed with hundreds of students in Paris Thursday during demonstrations over new laws passed in French parliament last month. Two guests discuss the causes of the latest unrest in France.

	March 23, 2006 General Motors Announces Sale of Mortgage Division General Motors, the world's largest automaker, announced that it will sell a majority interest in its commercial mortgage division after it offered to buyout more than 115,000 hourly workers on Wednesday. Two guests discuss what this means for the future of General Motors and other auto companies.

	March 22, 2006 Minnesota Tackles Tough Immigration Issues Immigrant communities have grown to record levels in Minneapolis and St. Paul in recent years. NewsHour correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro of Twin Cities Public Television reports on Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty's crackdown on illegal immigration and the debate over the issue in Minnesota.

	March 21, 2006 Search Effort Continues for Katrina's Missing Nearly seven months after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, 1,400 people are still missing. A report from Baton Rouge traces the continuing search for lost loved ones and the efforts to identify the dead bodies.

	March 20, 2006 Pass Christian, Miss. Rebuilds After Katrina Private grants and state funding have allowed the Mississippi Gulf Coast town of Pass Christian to recreate itself. NewsHour correspondent Tom Bearden reports on a town in search of a new image after Hurricane Katrina.

	March 15, 2006 Guest Worker Program at Heart of Immigration Fight The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would focus enforcement efforts on illegal workers, which would include building 700 miles of physical barriers along the Mexican border. The Senate is considering a plan to let undocumented workers stay in the country as "guest workers."

	March 13, 2006 House Majority Leader Defends GOP Policies House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, discusses lobbying reform, the Dubai ports management deal, the future of the Republican party, President Bush's popularity and the war in Iraq.

	March 13, 2006 McClatchy Co. Buys Knight Ridder Inc. A reports on Monday's deal by the McClatchy Co. to buy Knight-Ridder Inc., the second largest U.S. newspaper publisher, for about $4.5 billion in cash and stock. Experts consider the sale and what it says about the future of the newspaper industry.

	March 10, 2006 Baltimore Port Safety Examined Ray Suarez reports from the port of Baltimore about the state of security at U.S. ports.

	March 10, 2006 Companies, Countries Weigh Fallout from Dubai Ports Deal President Bush warned Friday of a potential international fallout after Thursday's announcement by Dubai Ports World that it would cede control of six U.S. ports. Two financial experts about what this announcement could mean for foreign investment in the United States.

	March 10, 2006 Political Shockwaves Continue from Dubai Ports Deal Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks speak with Jim Lehrer about the political and economical fallout from the U.S. Ports controversy, President Bush's trip to New Orleans and other leading stories from the week.

	March 9, 2006 Defense Blasts Fastow's Enron Trial Testimony Enron's former Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fastow acknowledged Thursday that he had no record of conversations that proved he and former executive Jeffrey Skilling made secret deals to hide losses and inflate earnings.

	March 9, 2006 Newspaper Chains Face Tough Financial Challenges Thursday was the final day for companies to submit their financial plans for bids on the Knight Ridder Co., the nation's second largest newspaper chain. Jeffrey Brown gives a Media Unit report on the financial pressures at large newspaper chains.

	March 9, 2006 Iran Continues to Claim Civilian Pursuit of Nuclear Technology Julian Rush of Independent Television News reports from the port town of Bushehr in southern Iran on the country's argument for developing nuclear power.

	March 9, 2006 Dubai Ports Pledges to Transfer Ports to U.S. Entity Under intense political pressure, Dubai Ports World announced Thursday it would transfer the operations of its U.S. ports to an American firm. Two experts assess the political and business forces shaping Thursday's announcement and what may be next in the ongoing fight over the control of American ports.

	March 8, 2006 Port Deal Roils Republican Ranks House Republicans have drafted legislation that would block a Dubai company from managing several U.S. ports, despite President Bush's promise to veto any such measures. Republican Reps. Jack Kingston of Georgia and Darrell Issa of California discuss the developing chasm.

	March 8, 2006 Domino Sugar Plant Reopens After Rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina Six months after Hurricane Katrina, Domino Sugar reopened its facilities after setting up temporary trailer parks to house its workers and their families.

	March 8, 2006 President Visits Gulf Coast Six months after Hurricane Katrina hit, President Bush made his 10th trip to the Gulf Cost to see how communities were rebuilding.

	March 7, 2006 Fastow Testifies Against Former Enron Bosses Enron Corp.'s former chief financial officer Andrew Fastow took the stand in Houston Tuesday to testify against his former bosses. Ray Suarez discusses the Enron trial and Fastow's role as key witness with New York Times reporter Kurt Eichenwald.

	March 6, 2006 ATT Proposes BellSouth Buyout Telecom giant AT&T is planning the acquisition of BellSouth Corp. in a $67 billion deal that would make AT&T the largest U.S. provider of telephone services.

	March 2, 2006 Houston Struggles to Accomodate Katrina Evacuees NewsHour correspondent Lee Hochberg of Oregon Public Broadcasting reports on Houston's growing pains from sheltering more than 150,000 evacuees displaced by Hurricane Katrina

	March 2, 2006 U.S. and India Agree to Nuclear Partnership President Bush met with Indian Prime Minister Singh on Thursday and agreed to share nuclear technology despite reservations from some worried about the spread of atomic weapons. Three experts discuss if the deal will spur economic growth or reward a country that has opposed nuclear non-proliferation efforts.



	FEBRUARY Feb. 28, 2006 Senate Holds Hearings on Dubai Port Deal Bush administration officials were questioned closely at two Senate hearings Tuesday about a seaport deal that would allow a Dubai company to take over shipping operations at six major U.S. ports. Kwame Holman reports on port politics at the capital.

	Feb. 28, 2006 Museums Face Criticism Over Stolen Art Jeff Brown reports on the efforts of some museums to make deals with foreign governments over the display and ownership of stolen and disputed artwork.

	Feb. 27, 2006 Debate Highlights Spotty Nature of U.S. Port Security The debate over allowing a company from the United Arab Emirates to run six U.S. seaports has raised questions about overall security inspections at America's major seaports. Two guests discuss current safety precautions.

	Feb. 27, 2006 Olympics Ratings Lowest Since 1992 NBC aired hundreds of hours of prime time coverage of this year's Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, but saw the lowest overall ratings since the 1992 games in Albertville, France. Two guests discuss NBC's Olympic coverage and the reasons for low primetime ratings.

	Feb. 24, 2006 Unrest Raises Concerns over Stability of Oil Supplies Concerns about the stability of global oil production are heightened following a failied attack on a key Saudi oil refinery, and attacks on oil workers and production facilities in Nigeria. Two industry experts consider the stability of the world's oil supply.

	Feb. 24, 2006 Dubai, Iraqi Violence Dominate Political Debate Political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the reaction to the Dubai port deal and sectarian tensions in Iraq.

	Feb. 24, 2006 Subdued Mardi Gras Returns to Big Easy With so much devastation and loss in New Orleans, some residents resent this year's Mardi Gras celebration, while others say it is important to get on with life. NewsHour correspondent Betty Ann Bowser reports from the Big Easy.

	Feb. 24, 2006 Arab Company Agrees to Delay Port Takeover A United Arab Emirates company has agreed to delay its takeover of operations at six major U.S. seaports, giving the Bush administration time to convince skeptical lawmakers the handover would not threaten port security.

	Feb. 23, 2006 Experts Debate the Security of Foreign-Run Ports After a background report, experts debate a controversial deal to transfer management of terminals at six U.S. ports to a state-owned company in the United Arab Emirates.

	Feb. 23, 2006 Congress Mulls Lobbying Reform Since former lobbyist Jack Abramoff pled guilty to bribery charges a month ago and other issues have taken priority on Capitol Hill, some members of Congress no longer believe lobbying reform needs to be rushed.

	Feb. 22, 2006 Political Pressure Grows to Stop Dubai Ports Deal Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers called on President Bush to stop a contract that would put a state owned company in the United Arab Emirates in charge of America's largest seaports.

	Feb. 21, 2006 Officials Debate Impact of Dubai Port Deal President Bush defended a deal to allow a state-run business in the United Arab Emirates to run six U.S. ports despite opposition from Congress over domestic security concerns. Following a background report, two guests give their opposing views on the controversy.

	Feb. 17, 2006 Houston Struggles with FEMA to Provide Shelter for Katrina Evacuees Gulf Coast residents who fled to Houston, Texas after Hurricane Katrina found emergency housing but are now facing problems receiving help from the federal government months after the storm.

	Feb. 16, 2006 Bernanke Makes Inaugural Appearance Before Congress New Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke made his first appearance before Congress this week since taking over the job from Alan Greenspan.

	Feb. 16, 2006 President Bush Proposes Health Savings Accounts In an effort to help people cope with higher costs and declining coverage, President Bush has proposed greatly expanding the use of health savings accounts with high deductibles. Following a background report on the president's proposal, two guests offer differing opinions on how to fix America's health care system.

	Feb. 15, 2006 House Passes Legislation Calling for Fenced Border Correspondent Jeffrey Kaye of KCET-Los Angeles reports on the effort to build a barrier to stop illegal immigrants from entering the United States from Mexico.

	Feb. 14, 2006 Firms Outsourcing Drug Research to India The decision by many pharmaceutical companies to conduct clinical drug trials in India, a country with a large number of scientists, doctors and patients has sparked an ethical debate over whether the trials will benefit the participants, many of them who are poor and cannot afford medical attention otherwise.

	Feb. 13, 2006 Maryland Bill Requires Health Care Changes for Wal-Mart A Maryland law, scheduled to go into effect in 2007, aims to force large employers, and specifically the Wal-Mart chain, to improve health benefits for employees.

	Feb. 12, 2006 Hamas Victory Sheds Light on Palestinian Finances Hamas' victory over the ruling Fatah Party in recent Palestinian elections has prompted Western governments to consider cutting off their economic aid, a move that would financially cripple the fledgling government.

	Feb. 10, 2006 President Declares America 'Addicted' to Oil In his 2006 State of the Union address, President Bush called for an end to the U.S. 'addiction' to foreign oil. Energy analysts assess his proposals and their chances for success in a highly politicized climate.

	Feb. 9, 2006 Senate Debates Compensation for Asbestos Victims A proposed Senate bill would create a $140 billion trust fund to compensate victims of asbestos exposure. Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah provide opposing viewpoints on the effectiveness of the plan to help around 700,000 people who have claimed health problems as a result of asbestos exposure.

	Feb. 9, 2006 Residents Weigh Return to New Orleans Five months after Hurricane Katrina struck, two reports from New Orleans track one family's struggle over whether to move back and a prominent musician's battle to retain the city's jazz tradition.

	Feb. 2, 2006 Start to Medicare Prescription Drug Program Troubled Tens of thousands of seniors have encountered problems with Medicare's new prescription drug benefit program since its launch Jan. 1, prompting a debate over the plan's design, implementation and effectiveness.

	Feb. 1, 2006 Coal Towns React to Recent Fatal Accidents Lee Hochberg of Oregon Public Broadcasting reports from West Virginia on the search for answers to last month's mining disasters.



	JANUARY Jan. 31, 2006 President Urges Fight on 'Tyranny', Steps to Keep U.S. Competitive President Bush, in his State of the Union speech Tuesday, said U.S. security depends on ending tyranny in the world, while maintaining U.S. competitiveness requires investments in technology and scientific learning.

	Jan. 31, 2006 Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan Retires Three longtime Fed observers comment on the end of Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's 18-year tenure as the nation's chief architect of economic policy.

	Jan. 26, 2006 Auto Parts Supplier Experiences Cutbacks General Motors announced Thursday that it lost $8.6 billion last year -- the most since 1992. A report from Flint, Mich. examines the struggles of the union at Delphi, a parts supplier formerly owned by GM where workers are preparing for the worst.

	Jan. 25, 2006 Experts Discuss Drug Company Gifts A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association says 90 percent of the $21 billion pharmaceutical companies spend on marketing goes directly to physicians. Two experts discusses the debate concerning whether free samples from drug companies influence patients' care.

	Jan. 25, 2006 Google Agrees to Censor Chinese Version Google has agreed to censor its search engine in China. In return for blocking politically sensitive terms, Google gains access to the world's No. 2 Internet market. Following a background report, an expert discusses censorship for business interests and the implications this decision may have on the Internet.

	Jan. 24, 2006 Post Web Site Halts Comments Section The Washington Post's Web site recently shut down the viewer comments section of one of its weblogs after an article by the Post's ombudsman caused a flood of complaints.

	Jan. 23, 2006 Ford to Cut Up to 30,000 Jobs The Ford Motor Co. announced restructuring plans that will cut 25,000 to 30,000 jobs and idle 14 plants by 2012. Two guests discuss the potential impact of the layoffs as well as Ford's new business plan.

	Jan. 23, 2006 PBS Names New York Public Broadcasting Exec New President PBS announced Monday that Paula Kerger, an executive with more than a decade of experience working with public television in New York City, would take the helm of the national public broadcaster on March 21.

	Jan. 23, 2006 Ford to Cut Up to 30,000 Jobs Ford Motor Co., America's second largest automaker, announced restructuring plans Monday that will cut 25,000 to 30,000 jobs and idle 14 plants by 2012.

	Jan. 20, 2006 Google Rebuffs Government Subpoena A Media Unit report examines Google's fight against a government subpoena requesting access to the search records of millions of people. Two guests discuss what the case could mean for individual privacy protection in the 21st century.

	Jan. 20, 2006 New Orleans Businesses Struggle to Rebuild A commission called Bring New Orleans Back is charged with helping struggling business owners get back on their feet after much of their property and the city's tourist industry were damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

	Jan. 18, 2006 Tokyo Stock Exchange Shuts Down Due to Heavy Trading The Tokyo Stock Exchange shut down Wednesday following a flood of sell orders spurred by a prosecutors' raid on the offices of livedoor.com, a popular Japanese web portal.

	Jan. 17, 2006 SEC Announces Companies Must Disclose Pay and Benefits The Securities and Exchange Commission said Tuesday that companies must spell out total pay and benefits for top executives, including stock options. Following a background report, two experts discuss the possible ramifications for companies.

	Jan. 13, 2006 Hotel Crunch Hinders Rebirth of New Orleans A report from New Orleans about the hotel crunch created by residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina and tourists hoping to visit the Crescent City.

	Jan. 12, 2006 General Motors Faces Financial Hurdles Pensions, health care benefits and a costly jobs bank create steep cost disadvantages for General Motors compared to foreign car manufacturers. Paul Solman of WGBH-Boston provides a report.

	Jan. 11, 2006 New Orleans Residents React to City Revitalization Plan A report on how residents of New Orleans are reacting to the recommendations of a city revitalization commission, whose members were appointed by Mayor Ray Nagin.

	Jan. 11, 2006 New Orleans Plan Would Allow Low-lying Areas to Rebuild A sweeping plan to rebuild New Orleans unveiled Wednesday would give all residents a chance to rebuild, including those in low-lying areas, marking a departure from past proposals.

	Jan. 10, 2006 Health Care Costs Doubled Between 1993 and 2004 The overall cost of health care doubled between 1993 and 2004, and in 2004, health care spending topped $1.9 trillion or 16 percent of the nation's economic output -- the largest share on record, according to a report released Monday by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

	Jan. 9, 2006 IBM and Verizon Replace Pension Plans With 401K Recent announcements by IBM and Verizon that they plan to replace pension plans with 401(k) retirement plans have raised questions about the future of employee benefits at other companies. After a background report, two guests offer opposing views on the shift from traditional pension plans.

	Jan. 8, 2006 High-Definition DVD Wars Take Shape In a competition reminiscent of the Betamax/VHS battle 20 years ago, two new high-definition DVD formats are set for a high-stakes showdown in 2006.

	Jan. 5, 2006 Rise and Fall of Independence Air The low-cost airline Independence Air made its last flight on Thursday. A report looks at the rise and fall of the airline and what its closure means for the industry.

	Jan. 4, 2006 Attacks Across Iraq Kill At Least 53, Damage Oil Convoy A wave of attacks across Iraq Wednesday killed at least 53 people and wounded more than 40 others in the country's deadliest day of violence since elections on Dec. 15.

	Jan. 3, 2006 Rescue Teams Struggle to Reach Trapped Miners in West Virginia Rescue workers continued Tuesday evening to dig into the mine shaft in Tallmansville, W.Va., where 13 coal miners have been trapped since Monday morning when an explosion blocked their path.