BRIEFCASE.

Byline: -- Daily News wire services

Medicare open enrollment starts

Beginning today, seniors will have six weeks to switch Medicare drug plans or sign up for coverage for the first time.

It's the second open enrollment for the drug plans since the benefit's passage by Congress, and Medicare officials expect it to be quieter than the initial one a year ago.

More than 39 million of Medicare's 43 million beneficiaries now have prescription coverage, but some will use the next six weeks to change to another plan that better fits their drug needs or pocketbook.

Though this year's enrollment period runs until Dec. 31, Medicare officials say seniors should try to switch plans by Dec. 8 to give insurers enough time to process applications before coverage begins Jan 1. Seniors may sign up for a plan by calling Medicare at 1-800-633-4227, or visiting Medicare's Web site at www.medicare.gov.

Diesel trucks to be replaced

A $2 billion plan to dramatically reduce pollution at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach calls for replacing an aging fleet of diesel trucks and improving emission standards in the harbor areas.

The trucks would be replaced within five years, possibly at industry cost, according to a draft of the proposal released Monday.

``The ports will explore the use of pollution-based impact fees, such as gate fees assessed on `dirty' trucks, so that polluters pay their part to improve air quality,'' Long Beach officials said in a statement.

The trucks, many owned and operated by low-income immigrant workers, are a leading cause of unhealthy air around the ports.

The plan, which the ports commissions were scheduled to vote on Monday, aims to reduce pollution from ships, trains, terminal equipment and harbor craft by 45 percent.

Apple iPods taking flight

Apple has teamed with six major airlines on allowing passengers to plug in their iPods in-flight, enabling them to watch their own downloaded videos on seat-back displays while the devices recharge.

Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United will offer iPod connections on flights starting in mid-2007, Apple announced Tuesday.

``It's one more reason why a consumer would want to choose an iPod over a competing device,'' said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at JupiterResearch in New York.

Apple made the announcement on the same day that Microsoft Corp. released its rival Zune player.

Home Depot profits drop

Home Depot blamed a slowing housing market and a relatively calm hurricane season as it reported Tuesday a 3.1 percent drop in third-quarter profit. The nation's largest home improvement store chain also lowered its earnings-per-share growth guidance for the year and said 2007 will be challenging, too.

The results missed Wall Street expectations. After falling for most of the day, shares of The Home Depot Inc. reversed direction and rose $1.56, or 4.3 percent, to close at $37.96 on the New York Stock Exchange.