Costa Ricans Wary of Free Trade Agreement
Support among Costa Ricans for the Tratado Libre de Comercio (TLC) - the Central American Free Trade Agreement - with the United States fell from 57 percent in 2004, to 41 percent in April according to a poll published by the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) on Friday.

Alajuela Hospital Builder Sues CCSS
In a turnaround of events, the Spanish company Obrascón Huarte Laín (OHL), is suing the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) for us$6 million dollars for additional costs the company say it had to incurr to build the newly opend Alajuela Hospital.

Aló, This Prison Calling!
Beginning the middle of May, inmates at the country's prisons will not be able to use the public telephones installed in the institutions to harass and scam those on the outside.

Prices Skyrocket
The cost of the "Basic Basket" - which contains the essential foods that Costa Ricans eat - increased 21 percent last March, as compared to the same month in 2004.

More Dollars
The amount of dollars locally bought by Costa Rican banks increased drastically the first four months this year, since the amount surpassed by us$750 million that of the dollars sold.