Jul 31, 2006

Marketplace PM for July 31, 2006

Segments From this episode

Congress sticking head in sand on pension reform

by Marketplace Staff

Jul 31, 2006

The Senate's expected to pass a long-awaited pension reform bill this week. Businesses say it will let them hold onto pensions that were becoming too expensive. But commentator and economist Jeremy Bulow says don't believe the hype.

Too many kids, not enough seats

by Janet Babin

Jul 31, 2006

School districts in fast-growing communities are having a hard time keeping up with the demand, so some districts are studying public-private partnerships — hiring businesses to build or lease them school buildings. Janet Babin reports.

Affordable airplanes taking off

by Marketplace Staff

Jul 31, 2006

Sky-high price tags have long grounded the dreams of wannabe pilots. But now the aviation industry hopes to bring flying to the masses with new kinds of low-cost aircraft. Jason Paur reports.

UK, CA join forces to fight global warming

by Amy Scott

Jul 31, 2006

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will bypass the Bush administration and jointly develop a trans-Atlantic carbon trading market. Amy Scott has the story.

Offshore drilling debate goes on

by Scott Tong

Jul 31, 2006

The Senate votes today on whether to expand offshore drilling in the US, but the bill's not quite as generous as the version the House passed. Scott Tong reports.

Will Hollywood forgive Mel?

by Lisa Napoli

Jul 31, 2006

Some are speculating that Mel Gibson's drunken anti-Semitic tirade over the weekend will tank his career. But the actor and director has apologized — and he's got plenty of cash. Is that enough for Tinseltown? Depends who you ask, reports Lisa Napoli.

Chinese investing in Zambia's Copper Belt

by Gretchen Wilson

Jul 31, 2006

In the 1970s and '80s copper prices plummeted worldwide and Zambia's mines closed, crippling that country's economy. Gretchen Wilson visits one mine that's now booming at the hands of Chinese investors.