Week of November 14th, 2005

Here we go again. A New York woman is suing Dunkin' Donuts, saying she suffered second- and third-degree burns when her coffee tray fell over. And she's asking for $15 million. Amy Scott reports.

President Bush arrives in China tomorrow, and Ruth Kirchner looks at how the trip is being viewed from the Chinese perspective.

A new report out shows doctors frequently ignore so-called "black box" warnings on medications that include serious side effects. Helen Palmer reports.

A new Web site has pooled day-after-Thanksgiving sale information from major retailers to give shoppers a (turkey) leg up. But as Scott Jagow reports, retailers are crying foul.

Those infamous Alaskan bridges to sparsely populated areas drew lots of criticism as egregious examples of pork. In response, Congress has pulled the earmarked funds for the bridges. But as Hillary Wicai reports, that doesn't mean taxpayers won't still be paying for them.

Marketplace Money for November 18, 2005

Personal finance expert Chris Farrell gives host Cheryl Glaser an update on the US housing market.

A coalition of major Internet companies has announced a plan to weed out advertisers who infect computers with unwanted code. But how effective will it be? Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.

A National Academy of Science report out today calls for reforms in the US patent system to encourage development of genomic technology. Janet Babin reports.

The House is expected to vote today on changes to the USAPATRIOT act that would restrict the ability of federal officials to seize business records in terrorism investigations. Amy Scott reports.

Many states use lottery proceeds to improve public schools. In Georgia, lotto revenue has been used to create a model public pre-kindergarten program. But as Sarah Gardner reports, the program's advocates wonder if the money will keep rolling in.

A Congressional committee today takes up the issue of whether big industrial farms can fall under Superfund cleanup oversight. Sam Eaton reports.

Senators from both side of the aisle unveil a new bill today aimed at, in part, increasing the number of alternative-fuel vehicles on US roads. Jeff Tyler reports.

Today a bankruptcy judge decides whether Delta can void its labor contract with its pilots. Andrea Gardner looks at the precedent for this kind of action, and what factors the judge is likely to consider.

The government's retail sales figures for October are expected to be released today, and as Rachel Dornhelm reports, it doesn't appear that higher gas prices have put much of a crimp in consumer spending.

The Getty Center's former antiquities curator is going on trial in Italy for conspiring to loot Roman artifacts. It's part of Italy's efforts to curb the illicit art trade, but as Megan Williams reports, not everyone in the art world is happy.

Western Union has announced a series of steps designed to discourage consumers from wiring money to fraudulent telemarketers. Scott Jagow reports.

The Senate Banking Committee opens hearings today on Ben Bernanke's nomination as chairman of the Federal Reserve board. John Dimsdale reports.

Newsweek Wall Street editor Alan Sloan tells host Cheryl Glaser about new accounting standards for pension obligations.

While airlines queue up to buy the new Airbus A380, the world's biggest plane, some private individuals have also placed an order for the $300 million airliner. Brian Watt looks at who they might be.

Stung by the collapse of hemispheric free trade talks, the Bush Administration looks to walk before it can run, launching trade negotiations with just three Andean nations Monday. Dan Grech reports.