Tape: Bush, Chertoff Warned Before Katrina  —  WASHINGTON - In dramatic and sometimes agonizing terms, federal disaster officials warned President Bush and his homeland security chief before Hurricane Katrina struck that the storm could breach levees, put lives at risk in New Orleans' Superdome …

High Court Tackles Political Boundry Case  —  WASHINGTON - A key Supreme Court justice said Wednesday that Texas Republicans appeared to hurt minority voters when they redrew congressional boundaries that helped the GOP entrench its power in Congress.  —  But despite Justice Anthony M …

U.S. Is Reducing Safety Penalties for Mine Flaws  —  CRAIGSVILLE, W.Va. — In its drive to foster a more cooperative relationship with mining companies, the Bush administration has decreased major fines for safety violations since 2001, and in nearly half the cases, it has not collected the fines …

Alleged rape victim won't have to view tape  —  A Naperville woman who alleges she was videotaped while being raped four years ago will not be forced to view the tape at a defendant's trial, a judge decided today.  —  After a brief hearing on the issue in the Bridgeview branch of Cook County Circuit Court …

Bill Clinton helped Dubai on ports deal  —  Bill Clinton, former US president, advised top officials from Dubai two weeks ago on how to address growing US concerns over the acquisition of five US container terminals by DP World.  —  It came even as his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, was leading efforts to derail the deal.

Atlantic Monthly Selects Times Reporter as New Editor  —  After a lengthy search, The Atlantic Monthly today named a new editor — James Bennet, a reporter for The New York Times, who will be following a long line of storied editors from James Russell Lowell and William Dean Howells to Michael Kelly.

So Much Swill  —  John Zogby took a poll of the troops in Iraq and claims that 72% want the war ended in 2006.  The poll was paid for by anti-war activists and the methodology is secret.  Yet this lie is sailing around the world through the ravening wolves of the media who chew on anti-Bush agitprop …

Bombing Outside U.S. Consulate in Karachi, American Diplomat Killed in Blast  —  Two explosions including a deadly suicide car bombing ripped through Karachi, Pakistan on Thursday morning and left at least four dead - including a U.S. diplomat - and dozens wounded as President Bush prepares to visit Pakistan on Saturday.