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NPR's Tom Goldman reports on the economics of small-market baseball. Unlike major league football, professional baseball revenues aren't widely shared among franchises. Teams like the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves earn significant money from TV contracts, and that allows them to afford the sport's top talent. But smaller-market teams must rely on fan loyalty to fill the ballpark. And while they may nurture young, rising stars, these teams know that talented players are likely to go where the money takes them.

NPR's Debbie Elliott reports a Florida jury will soon decide how much in punitive damages the tobacco industry should pay to some half-million Florida smokers. The same jury has already found that the tobacco companies made a dangerous and defective product. It awarded nearly thirteen-million dollars in compensatory damages to three plaintiffs. Now, the attorney for the smokers is asking for a judgement of as much as 196-billion dollars to punish the industry for its past conduct. But lawyers for the cigarette companies say that kind of an award would put the companies out of business.

Host Madeleine Brand talks to NPR's Rob Gifford about today's meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen and China's President, Jiang Zemin. The issues they will be discussing include Taiwan, U.S. plans for a missile defense system, and arms proliferation.

Host Bob Edwards talks to NPR's Ted Clark about the latest developments at the Middle East Summit at Camp David. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is reportedly preparing to leave Camp David.

Commentator Mary Swander bought an abandoned Amish schoolhouse and turned it into a home. When the students returned for a reunion, she found it served as common ground between them.

NPR's Mary Ann Akers reports on what has become the most controversial party scheduled before next month's Democratic National Convention -- a fundraiser for a Hispanic vote political action committee to be held at the Playboy Mansion. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, a California Democrat, defends the event as a way of obtaining money for her cause. The money will go to her PAC, not the Democratic National Committee. Vice President Al Gore insists he will not attend. But some Democrats are still grumbling at what the fundraiser may say about their party.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports on earnings for the latest quarter by two major computer companies, Microsoft and Intel. Microsoft's announced earnings indicated solid growth, but analysts say they're unexceptional.

Host Bob Edwards talks to Paul Eisenstein, editor of The Car Connection.Com, about a new car buying concept called, Build to Order. Using the Internet, car buyers will be able to specify which options they want on their new car, and to get delivery in a reasonably short time, perhaps as little as a week. Presently, the dealership has to order a customized car from the factory, and it can take months to deliver.

NPR's Eric Westervelt examines the fallout from last week's video taped beating of a Philadelphia man by police. The incident has heightened concerns about police training nationwide, and is another setback for the Philadelphia Police Department, already being watched by the federal government for racial bias.

Inflation remained in check last month as consumer prices rose at the same pace as in five of the past six months. As NPR's Jack Speer reports, core prices rose just two-tenths of a percent last month, when food and energy prices are NOT taken into account. Even though gas prices escalated sharply in June, many economists see inflation remaining tame and believe the Federal Reserve is successfully engineering a "soft landing" for the booming economy.