Marketplace Morning Report for Thursday, May 5, 2011

Segments From This Episode

• States squeezed in cutting Medicaid payments

  by Gregory Warner

  Obama administration rule would make it more difficult for states to reduce payments to doctors who treat patients in the program for the poor.

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• ‘Flash Crash’ anniversary leaves unanswered questions

  by Heidi Moore

  Regulators have put in place rules to keep stocks from tumbling to zero, but skeptics question their adequacy.

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• Biden, White House deficit panel to discuss budget

  by Nancy Marshall-Genzer

  Vice President Joe Biden will lead a bipartisan meeting today in hopes of cutting the ballooning federal deficit and avoiding the national debt ceiling.

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• Welcoming more immigrants could help boost the U.S. economy

  by Marketplace Staff

  Immigration policy may be a place to look for economic growth in the U.S.

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• Rental company spies on Wyoming couple through webcam

  by Steve Henn

  Aaron's calls the incident a fluke, but privacy advocate says there are no laws to prevent the practice.

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• Oil prices fall to $109 a barrel

  by Christopher Werth

  Crude oil futures have slipped to $109 a barrel after government reports point to a slowdown in the economic recovery.

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• Using the carrot and the stick with Libya and the Arab World

  by Rebecca Singer

  International diplomats are meeting today in Rome to discuss how best to support Libya's rebels. And one proposal would create a new Marshall Plan for the Arab World.

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• GM profits soar to $3.2 billion in first quarter

  by Marketplace Staff

  General Motors said today that its profit tripled in the last quarter. Michelle Krebs from Edmunds.com explains how demand in China and small vehicles fit into the numbers.

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• Congressional leaders meet to discuss long term debt

  by Marketplace Staff

  Members of Congress meet with the White House today on how to raise the debt ceiling and come up with a long-term deficit solution. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) explains.

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• U.S. jobless claims hit 8-month high

  by Marketplace Staff

  New claims for unemployment benefits rose to 474,000 — the highest level in eight months. Diane Swonk from Mesirow Financial explains.

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• CIGNA reports 52% increase in first quarter earnings

  by Marketplace Staff

  David Cordani, CEO of CIGNA, explains the company's recent profits, and how it plans to keep up with potential changes in the health care landscape.

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