Week of April 24th, 2006

Is the answer to immigration reform to send illegal aliens back? Should we offer undocumented workers amnesty and a chance to become citizens? Commentator Ben Barber says we're looking at this the wrong way.

The government says the US gross domestic product for the first quarter grew by almost 5%, doubling the growth from last year at this time. But Bob Moon reports that everyone's got a different read on what the numbers mean.

As immigrant-rights groups called for street protests next Monday and an economic boycott, federal agents arrested hundreds of illegal immigrants in Florida this week. Dan Grech reports that the events have immigrant workers on edge.

Hasbro announced today that new versions of the popular board game Monopoly will no longer feature Atlantic City as its locale. Steve Tripoli reports.

The White House has approved another Dubai purchase of another American company doing some sensitive stuff. But the administration says this time is different, and it looks like — so far — Congress is buying it. Scott Tong reports.

New numbers out this morning reveal that the economy grew 4.8-percent this month. That's the strongest rate of growth since the third quarter of 2003. However Amy Scott says enjoy it now, because it probably won't last.

Not all newspapers are feeling the squeeze from the rise of Internet news. Ashley Milne-Tyte looks at one sector of old media that's actually growing.

After posting disappointing earnings, Intel Inc. announced a massive restructuring Thursday. As Rachel Dornhelm reports, the company is hoping to trim $1 billion in cost.

President Bush is expected to meet with the heads of the Big Three automakers next month. Bob Moon has a preview of what they're expected to talk about.

Another White House deal with a Dubai company. Last time it was ports and congressional heat burned it. This time it's a maker of parts for US tanks and military planes. Scott Tong reports the word from the administration: This one's different.

This installment of The Job Files looks at Kenneth Grindell, manager of the Shady Dell Vintage RV Park in Bisbee, Ariz.

Marketplace Money for April 28, 2006

House Republicans abruptly yanked a lobbying and ethics bill off the floor today. Democrats say the bill isn't going to do much to end abuses anyway. Writer and commentator Jeff Birnbaum has low expectations for reform on the Hill.

The US military has a payroll problem. Turns out that some injured soldiers have gotten overpaid, and then received debt collection notices from the government months later. Scott Tong reports.

As the public grows more uneasy about rising gasoline prices, Republicans and Democrats are scrambling to out-press conference each other and minimize the political damage. Will it do you any good at the pump? Hillary Wicai reports.

Russia has been nationalizing its petroleum industry for the past year and now it's looking for more. Vladimir Putin today hailed a deal with Germany and as Alasdair Sandford reports, Russia doesn't plan to stop there.

A year ago, Iraq formed its first democratically-elected government in more than 50 years. But tackling corruption has not been high on the Iraqi government's to do list. As Ben Gilbert reports from Baghdad, corruption is more pervasive than ever.

One way the FCC monitors content on public airwaves is fielding complaints from listeners and viewers. But while many are genuine, a lot of complaints are actually generated by fake grassroots campaigns attempting to influence decision makers. Jeff Tyler reports.

Personal finance expert Chris Farrell talks to host Lisa Napoli about the implications of a new study that finds the U.S. labor pool is shrinking.

The publishers of Harlequin romance novels have teamed with a creator of cell phone applications to offer mobile phone features aimed at women. Rachel Dornhelm has the 411.

The US and Canada are close to settling a years-old dispute over the importation of cheap Canadian lumber into the US. Steve McNalley has the details.

ExxonMobil releases its quarterly earnings today, and Alisa Roth reports that the information isn't likely to quell increased calls for a windfall profits tax on oil companies.

Russians are making all the runs to the International Space Station because the US space shuttle is still grounded. Congress is hammering out next year's federal budget and a Senate committee spent the day taking a long hard look at NASA. Amy Scott reports.

Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened today to strike at US interests if his country is attacked. Meanwhile, the House approved a bill that would block loans and export licenses to companies doing business with Iran's oil industry. John Dimsdale reports.

Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl power station in Ukraine blew up 20 years ago today. The health effects here weren't large, but the disaster put the US nuclear power industry into a deep freeze. Now there's real talk of a resurgence. Sam Eaton looks at what's changed.

Research out today says even moderate-income Americans are getting priced out of decent health coverage. Helen Palmer reports.

Congress could soon take up the issue of whether to extend the president's tax cuts through 2010 and whether to do away with the estate tax forever. Critics have complained those tax cuts benefit only the rich, but commentator Steve Moore says, not so.

President Bush proposes to bring down the growing cost of gasoline by diverting oil tapped for reserves and streamlining the approval process for new refineries. Sarah Gardner looks at whether these steps will offer relief at the pump this summer.

It's now up to the FDIC to decide whether Wal-Mart can go into the banking business. Commentator Robert Reich asks, what's wrong with a Bank of Wal-Mart anyway?

Lawmakers are set to begin discussing ways to tighten scrutiny of business deals involving foreign companies in the wake of the Dubai Ports World imbroglio. But as Steve Tripoli reports, some businesses are saying not so fast.

Microsoft has bought an advertising agency that has a modern day twist. Think ad placement in your video games. Scott Tong explains.

For the average American taxpayer, wages earned between the start of the year and today will all go toward paying off his tax bill. This year's Tax Freedom Day falls three days later than last year's. Are we paying more taxes? Hillary Wicai has the answer.

The oft-criticized head of the Small Business Administration Hector Baretto has stepped down. Rachel Dornhelm looks at the challenges his likely successor, Steven Preston, will face.

Although President Bush said the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice would investigate possible price gouging, he blamed the escalation of fuel costs on the growing demand for oil and lack of new US refineries. Scott Tong reports.

This year marks the 50-year anniversary of the shipping cargo container. Commentator and business historian John Steele Gordon explains the importance of these containers to the economy.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been cracking down on foreign oil companies doing business in his country, the world's fifth largest producer of oil. The question is how far can he push before the foreign companies get fed up and leave? Alisa Roth reports.

Wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan often receive the most technologically-advanced computerized prosthetics available. But for civilians in need of similar care, these limbs can be nearly impossible to obtain. Ann Hepperman reports.

A growing number of young professionals say they won't work for companies that don't provide employees flexibility to balance their work and private lives. Hillary Wicai reports.

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox testifies before the Senate Banking Committee today. When he took the reins of the SEC last year, many thought Cox would be a friend to Big Business. As Scott Tong reports, that hasn't been the case.

Now that Brazil's on target to achieve energy self sufficiency by mid-year, it wants to work with its neighbors to reach the same goal for the region. Paolo Prado reports.

Commentator Matthew Bishop says the US risks hamstringing small business if strict accounting rules to prevent another Enron collapse aren't loosened.

The Internet auctioneer is trying to offer a more traditional shopping experience by test driving a new Web site that offers products at fixed prices. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.

You might find something unexpected when you open your issue of Time or People today — the table of contents. As Amy Scott reports, an advertiser paid big money to make it easy to find.

The Uncola is ditching sodium and chemical preservatives in an effort to attract health-conscious consumers, but will it be enough to revive slumping sales? Alex Cohen reports.

In this edition of The Sloan Sessions, Newsweek's Wall Street editor Allan Sloan talks to host Lisa Napoli about the recent ups and downs of new and old media.

Former Enron chairman Kenneth Lay takes the witness stand in the Enron fraud trial today. And as Alisa Roth reports, his main defense is likely to be: "I had no idea what was going on."