Staff reports

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Insurance Institute says other auto insurance companies in Ohio are likely to follow State Farm's lead in lowering rates.

State Farm, the largest auto insurer in Ohio, announced Friday it will reduce its rates an average 4.1 percent beginning March 15.

"There's a good chance other companies may adjust their rates as a result of State Farm's action," Mary Bonelli, insurance institute spokeswoman, said.

Adelphia fraud trial in jury selection phase

NEW YORK - With a smile and a nod to potential jurors Monday, Adelphia Communications Corp. founder John Rigas began a trial that will decide if he and his two sons looted the nation's fifth largest cable company, cheating investors of billions of dollars.

Rigas turned to face a group of several dozen prospective jurors as he was introduced to them by his lawyer, Peter Fleming Jr.

3-month T-bill rates highest since November

WASHINGTON - Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills rose in Monday's auction with rates on three-month bills hitting the highest level since mid-November.

The Treasury Department auctioned $19 billion in three-month bills at a discount rate of 0.930 percent. Another $17 billion in six-month bills was auctioned at a discount rate of 0.995 percent.

Film descrambler to be sold separately

NEW YORK - The maker of DVD-duplication software ruled in violation of copyright law is nevertheless pledging to keep selling it - but without a built-in tool for descrambling movies.

In order for the popular DVD Copy Plus and DVD X Copy programs to successfully make copies of DVDs, users will now need to obtain a separate descrambler that is widely available on the Internet, said Robert Moore, founder and president of 321 Studios Inc.