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NPR's Scott Horsley reports on a commercial database that keeps track of millions of Americans who have bounced checks. More than 85-thousand bank branches subscribe to the database, called Chexsystem, and use it to screen potential customers. But critics say a single bad check can place someone's name on the database, and once listed, it's unlikely they'll be able to open an account for up to five years.

NPR's Snigdha Prakash reports on a Massachusetts-based internet startup that plans to take the idea behind frequent flyer programs and apply it to an entirely new area: college savings. UPROMISE says it is signing up credit card companies, grocery chains, car companies and will take the rebates these companies offer and put them in a college savings investment account. Financial advisors are skeptical that such programs are a good idea for most people.

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.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) calls for an investigation of SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt's handling of the appointment of ex-FBI and CIA chief William Webster to head a new accounting oversight agency. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports.

Harvey Pitt resigns as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pitt had a stormy 15-month tenure as SEC chief and was recently under fire for his handling of the appointment of William Webster to head an accounting oversight board. Hear NPR's Jim Zarroli and James Cox of Duke University.

Commentator Morton Dean is puzzled that voters did not hold members of Congress and President Bush accountable for the security lapses that resulted in the September 11th terrorist attacks. Dean says he's surprised that the attacks were not raised as an issue in the election campaign.

A new report released today by the General Accounting Office says the Internal Revenue Service had botched a multi-billion dollar modernization project. The project, to replace the agency's thirty-year-old computer system, has already cost taxpayers more than four billion dollars. The GAO says the new system is way over budget, far from being finished, and riddled with problems. NPR's John Nielsen reports.

Writer LAWRENCE SHAINBERG. His new book, "Ambivalent Zen: A Memoir," (Pantheon) is about his years practicing Zen buddism, and centers on SHAINBERG's relationship with his Zen teacher, Kyudo Nakagawa Roshi. "Both master and student live on in this hilarious, provocative account of what being a student of Zen has been." writes Gretel Ehrlich in her review

NPR's John Ydstie concludes his series on reforming the social security system with an examination of the plan favored by the advisory council's chairman, Ned Gramlich. Gramlich's proposal occupies the middle ground between the other two plans. It also relies on the financial markets to boost retiree benefits, but without redirecting a large chunk of the payroll tax into personal retirement accounts.

the Clinton Administration out of expanding a law requiring them to detail all the chemicals that go into plants and factories. Environmentalists are pushing for the expansion, to hold the chemical industry accountable for accidents and toxic pollution.

Harvey Pitt resigns as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pitt had a stormy 15-month tenure as SEC chief and was recently under fire for his handling of the appointment of William Webster to head an accounting oversight board. Hear NPR's Jim Zarroli.

Six University of Maryland students admit they got extra help on an accounting exam by surreptitious use of cell phones. (At least they weren't driving.) Also, a Norwegian lawmaker apologizes for playing a war game on a pocket computer at a most inappropriate time.