Week of July 5th, 2010

John and I have been watching the story about Pfc. Bradley Manning unfold.  He's the soldier who's accused of leaking the video of a 2007 deadly…

This is sad news for my second-cousin-once-removed, and awesome news for all the rest of us sick of fending off virtual plants, teddy bears, and…

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This week on Marketplace Money, we're after your stories about being a cheapskate. Oh no, it's not what you think – we're not looking for the ty…

PT Cruisers were a big deal when they hit the scene a decade ago. One million vehicles later, the last of the once trend-leaders are rolling off the line. Alisa Roth explores what ended the Cruiser's journey and peeks into one particularly tricked-out model.

The US Department of the Interior (DOI) today released details about its plan to award 190 parcels of land in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve…

Part of the city of Cleveland's plea to now ex-Cavaliers superstar LeBron James was that the local economy would tank if he left. But some analysts say there's life after LeBron. Eve Troeh reports.

China renewed Google's license to operate in the country after the search giant made a compromise with the government. The deal could serve as a blueprint for others doing business there.

BP's name is now forever identified with the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. But in the U.K., the oil titan garners a bit more sympathy. Why? Stephen Beard reports.

Fortune Magazine's Leigh Gallagher and Big Money's Heidi Moore review the week on Wall Street with Tess Vigeland.

Posted by Caitlan Carroll For Marketplace July 9, 2010 On today's show, we hear the 1980s hit "Between Something and Nothing" – the first singl…

Tess Vigeland talks to UCLA Professor Suzanne Shu about why we do the seemingly illogical things we do with credit card points.

Host Tess Vigeland reads some of your thoughts on our recent coverage of beer, scams and a study on how handling money makes people feel empowered.

Tess Vigeland talks to author Jeff Yeager about the joys of living below your means.

Tess Vigeland talks to reporter Bob Moon about the protest against JPMorgan Chase by frustrated home owners that he stopped by.

John Hanning is one of the employees at the General Motors plant in Shreveport, La., which will close at some point in the next two years. He took a gamble and opted to stay at the plant instead of transferring.

Tess Vigeland talks to Reuters blogger Felix Salmon about how to make sense of the conflicting headlines coming from business journalism.

Tess Vigeland and Money's economics editor Chris Farrell answer your questions about if a future spouse can also be liable for your debt load, how to budget when you're not sure when your next paycheck is coming and when to refinance your home.

Every year, Americans buy over $750 million worth of organic personal care products. But the labeling protocol isn't as strict as it is for other grocery items. So Whole Foods is changing the rules.

You know the concept of "peak oil," yeah? That we will at some point reach the highest level we'll be able to draw from the ground, and it's all…

We contacted the NSA for our story today about the "Perfect Citizen" program.  They replied last night after our deadline.  Judith Emmel, NSA…

Question: I have been accepted to a graduate MSW [Masters Social Work] program out of my state. The graduate degree would take me a year to…

The Mid-Day Update is a five-day-a-week podcast from the Marketplace Morning Report co-hosted by Bill Radke and Steve Chiotakis that wraps up the…

The Asbury Park City Council put the kibosh on a proposal to make Asbury Park a topless beach. MTV's "Jersey Shores" suggests that orange is the …

Reporter Nancy Marshall Genzer talks with Stacey Vanek-Smith about why the wealthy are more likely to walk away from their homes than other people.

Europe correspondent Stephen Beard talks with Steve Chiotakis about EADS' proposal to build expensive aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, the latest move in a bitter dispute over a $35 billion military contract.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt now says he's "confident" China will all the company to keep operating in China. So if you're keeping score: First the company pulled its search engine out of China. Then it sought to keep its license to operate in the country. Scott Tong reports.

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich talks with Steve Chiotakis about why deregulation has had some benefits and drawbacks, and whether we're headed for a new era of regulation.

San Franciscans argued late into the night about whether to ban the sale of all pets — except fish — in the city limits. After five hours of heated testimony, the city's Commission on Animal Control and Welfare decided to delay a vote on the issue. April Dembosky reports.

Chris Low, chief economist with FTN Financial, talks with Stacey Vanek-Smith about how we're transitioning from a recovery to an expansion, and how the economy is doing.

BP has said it will pay for the oil disaster in the Gulf. And it's asking two partners to help. Anadarko Petroleum and Mitsui Oil Exploration own 35% the destroyed well. And BP contends they're liable for 35% of the costs. Krissy Clark reports the companies aren't necessarily reaching for their checkbooks.

Nine stores in New York have been fined $200 for leaving their doors open on hot days, hoping to lure customers inside with cool air. They are the…

The clock is ticking on Ford's Mercury line. The automaker announced it would end production of Mercurys later this year. Contributor Hank Rosenfeld reflects on the car, which helped make him who he is.

The Obama administration has stopped short of calling China a currency manipulator. The Treasury Department issued the report on China's currency yesterday. Reporter Nancy Marshall Genzer talks the details with Stacey Vanek-Smith.

Marketplace Tech Report for July 09, 2010

Marketplace Morning Report for Friday, July 9, 2010

Marketplace for Friday, July 9, 2010

Marketplace Money for July 9, 2010

The National Security Advisory works on a classified project involving putting sensors on computer networks.

NASA has cleared the robonauts for liftoff and to walk the moon playing golf and planting flags, all by 2013. Here's what they'll look like:…

Submitted by Richard Sheffield Farmington, Mi. Vivaldi's Four Seasons if I can choose, or maybe the Brandenburg Concertos. Maybe even Yo Yo Ma…

Submitted by Roger Millnitz Linclon, Ne. My travel is mostly by car, and I listen to one of three things: First, Nebraska Public Radio, which …

Submitted by Christopher Labbe Portland, Or. Horsethief Moon, By Ian Tyson. It is an uplifting song that takes me to a place that is of slower …

CONVERSATIONS FROM THE CORNER OFFICE: Twitter founders Biz Stone and Evan Williams

Question: I am a public employee in my early 40s and mandated to contribute 5% of my gross salary to a pension plan. I have contributed the max to…

Living in a digital world is changing how we live — everything from how we get our news and information to how much money we carry in our pockets. Janet Babin reports on mobile pay via social media like Twitter or through your cell phone.

State and local governments are still feeling economic uneasiness. Experts say this is creating another wave of layoffs. Mike Moen reports on the situation in Northern Illinois, where some municipalities are shedding jobs in crucial areas — including public safety.

The Veterans Administration is relaxing its strict qualification rules that have left many veterans lost in a paperwork maze. This could help not only hundreds of thousands of vets from Iraq and Afghanistan, but also Vietnam veterans still trying to prove they qualify for benefits. Gregory Warner reports.

Wells Fargo has announced it's closing its 600 or so "financial stores." The bank also said it will stop selling subprime loans. Well, what took so long? Eve Troeh reports.

I've been as delighted as anyone with the original Double Rainbow Oh My God video. I've posted some autotune versions. I certainly enjoyed James…

Submitted by Charles Calvin Denver, Co. 'Bringing it All Back Home' was the first album I ever bought for myself, as a college freshman. Bob Dy…

New retail sales figures show shoppers continued to hold back last month. And a report says that the number of Americans behind on their credit cards is the lowest in eight years. So, are we looking at a new consumer? Frugal, responsible and forever changed? Or are shoppers just holding back on the plastic? Jeff Horwich reports.

In Washington, politicians can't agree if they should wind down the stimulus to keep the deficit under control or give the economy another kick. It turns out a similar debate is happening across town at the nation's central bank. What should the Federal Reserve do? John Dimsdale reports.

Somali pirates are holding an estimated 400 people hostage. Dozens of global Navies have tried to stop them. A small number have been caught and are being tried in Africa. Steve Chiotakis and the BBC's Simon Cox looks at how the problem is being tackled.

Submitted by Angie Hover Lima, Oh. One song is too small of a request. I have to listen to the whole CD. Right now it's Spoon "Transference." …

Google introduced a new option on YouTube that's kind of a mashup of YouTube, Facebook, and Pandora. It's called Leanback and it provides a full…

Because we're your source for Double Rainbow Oh My God coverage. Watch CBS News Videos Online

The Wall Street Journal reports on a project to build a program to detect cyber attacks on utilities, infrastructure, and corporations. Headed by…

***Easy Answer: Louisiana residents have received nearly half of the money handed out so far. Even though they account for only about a quarter…

Submitted by Jefferson Davis Irving, Tx. I have a couple of songs I listen to when I'm traveling). 'Texas' by Chris Rea, 'Zombie Nation' by Ker…

Submitted by Tim Westergren CEO of Pandora.com Road warrior Tim Westergren is CEO of Pandora.com, the online radio company that has made waves …

The Mid-Day Update is a five-day-a-week podcast from the Marketplace Morning Report co-hosted by Bill Radke and Steve Chiotakis that wraps up the…

Gulf states have asked BP for millions of dollars to pay for mental health costs related to the oil spill. Should the company hand over the money?…

An exceptionally good Bordeaux is running at an exceptionally high price, with many buyers coming from China and Hong Kong.

As a barometer for the economy at large, the fact that major investing brand Kohlberg Kravis Roberts to trying to go public again is a good thing.

The International Monetary Fund says the global economy and U.S. will grow faster than expected this year, but will slow down next year.

Some big-name corporations are backing an electric vehicle initiative in Kansas City, Mo. which has $32 million in stimulus support.

Workers in Grand Rapids, Mich. are facing the challenges of entering a new industry.

From the department of not practicing what you preach: The New York Times reports the Energy Department has yet to advance on installing much of…

After a long, dramatic build-up, NBA star LeBron James will unveil his future tonight in an hour-long special. Will that really take an hour?

Marketplace Morning Report for Thursday, July 8, 2010

Marketplace Tech Report for July 08, 2010

Marketplace for Thursday, July 8, 2010

The satire news publication makes its first foray into paid content with an extended newscast about the future.

From the Aspen Ideas Festival, Twitter co-founders Biz Stone and Evan Williams talk about the origins of the social networking service, the value of trivial tweets, and the monetization platform they are launching that involves promoted tweets and trends.

Posted by Melissa Kaplan For Marketplace Morning Report, July 7, 2010 Between NASA's space shuttle layoffs, China's major agricultural bank mov…

Submitted by Susanna Gross Del Norte, Co. Keep Pushin' by REO Speedwagon was essential on April 14 replacing batteries in RG21 above Creede, Co…

In Shreveport, La., a plant that makes Hummers is preparing to close. And employees are faced with a choice: transfer to another plant or get laid off. Kate Archer Kent reports.

President Obama wants to double U.S. exports because he says export jobs are one way we can sail out of our economic doldrums. Our conservative commentator David Frum sees another partial way out of our troubles. He's just not sure the Republican Party wants to hear it.

Egypt is famous for its cotton. Vendors around the world boast of their luxurious Egyptian cotton sheets. But on many small farms, children are involved in all parts of cotton farming. Julia Simon reports.

The state of Louisiana is asking BP to help pay for mental health counseling to residents hit by the oil spill. Richard LaPratt runs a New Orleans call center that tells people where they can get psychological counseling and other disaster relief services. He talks with Bill Radke.

Early this year, President Obama pledged to double U.S. exports over the next five years. Today, he pointed to a 17 percent increase in exports since then, and declared his plan is on track. But with all the jobs we've lost overseas recently, there's a common perception America doesn't make much any more. Bob Moon reports.

President Obama appointed the man who will run Medicare and Medicaid, two of the biggest landmines in the federal budget. John Dimsdale reports that Donald Berwick faces a tough road ahead.

BP CEO Tony Hayward is touring the world asking rich countries to invest, or keep investing, in his beleaguered company as costs for the Gulf oil spill shoot upwards. Apparently, though, this is not just BP's problem. It turns out the U.S. Justice Department is taking a special interest in these meetings. Krissy Clark reports.

If the BP Offshore Oil Strike board game isn't enough oil spill gaming for you–check out the US Minerals Management Service "Drilling for Oil" g…

Photo via Metro Here's one for the awful coincidence category. The blogosphere is buzzing this week after photos of a 1970s board game surfaced …

And Barnes & Noble does not. This could have big implications in the rapidly escalating dedicated book reading device skirmish between the two…

Question: My retirement savings are currently invested only in mutual funds. A financial advisor told me that mutual funds have many hidden fees…

U.K. authorities are criticizing scientists for their defensive approach towards data in an investigation on man-made global warming.

The Justice Department has asked BP for advance warning of any plan it makes that would impact the company's future.

Easy Answer: You Can't….

As Grand Rapids, Mich. continues to shed manufacturing jobs, the city is opening up to opportunities in health care.

It may be far from the traditional use of the term, but right now there's nothing stopping Glenn Beck from calling his new online soapbox a "university".