Former Bush Aide Charged in Felony Theft  —  Claude Allen had recently resigned as White House domestic-policy adviser.  —  When Claude Allen, President Bush's longtime domestic-policy adviser, resigned suddenly on Feb. 9, it baffled administration critics and fans.

Happy Now?  —  THEY SPEND drunkenly, they fail at oversight and they can't stop the administration from abusing detainees or tapping phones.  But never call the members of Congress powerless: Yesterday, in the exalted name of anti-terrorism, the Senate rebelled against its Republican leadership …

Thousands protest immigration bill  —  Tens of thousands of immigrants from throughout the Chicago area, many carrying U.S. flags, marched into downtown Chicago on Friday in a show of support for immigrant rights.  —  The rally came as the U.S. Senate struggles with a bill to stiffen border enforcement …

U.S. Hostage Tom Fox Killed in Iraq  —  WASHINGTON - An American who was among four Christian activists kidnapped last year in Iraq has been killed, a State Department spokesman said Friday.  —  The FBI verified that a body found in Iraq Friday morning was that of Tom Fox, 54, of Clear Brook, Va., spokesman Noel Clay said.

Bush says diplomacy way to tackle Iran  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday called Iran a "grave national security concern," but said he sought a diplomatic way to cap its nuclear goals.  —  A hard-line Iranian cleric told a Friday prayers congregation …

President Bush on the Straw Ballot  —  Hardball learns of a McCain-led initiative aimed at supporting the president  —  Posters, like this one, and lapel buttons supporting President Bush are being distributed around the Southern Republican Leadership Conference today in Memphis.  —  Host of 'Hardball'

President Addresses National Newspaper Association Conference  —  Washington, D.C.  —  THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.  Jerry likes to give a short introduction.  (Laughter.)  I appreciate you letting me come by to visit with you some, and I look forward to answering some questions you might have.

Symbol of Abu Ghraib Seeks to Spare Others His Nightmare  —  AMMAN, Jordan, March 8 — Almost two years later, Ali Shalal Qaissi's wounds are still raw.  —  There is the mangled hand, an old injury that became infected by the shackles chafing his skin.  There is the slight limp, made worse by days tied in uncomfortable positions.

For Muslim Who Says Violence Destroys Islam, Violent Threats  —  LOS ANGELES, March 10 — Three weeks ago, Dr. Wafa Sultan was a largely unknown Syrian-American psychiatrist living outside Los Angeles, nursing a deep anger and despair about her fellow Muslims.

U.S. firms are few for operating ports  —  Congress may want American companies to operate the U.S. ports that Dubai has agreed to unload, but good luck finding them.  —  There's only a handfull of home-grown outfits big enough to take over the six port operations that state-owned DP World has agreed to …

Documents raise questions about decision on morning-after pill  —  WASHINGTON - Internal documents made public Thursday have raised new questions about the federal government's continued refusal to allow over-the-counter sales of the emergency contraceptive known as "Plan B."

Driver's ed for blind kids?  —  Students wonder why city schools make them take course  —  Mayra Ramirez scored an A in driver's education this year, but sitting through the 10-week class felt like a bad joke to the Curie Metropolitan High School sophomore.  —  Ramirez is blind.

Zogby's Bogus Poll on U.S. Military in Iraq  —  For anyone following the Iraq war, now may be the time to take off those rose-colored glasses.  According to a recent Zogby poll, 72 percent of U.S. troops say it's time to withdraw from Iraq.  Another stunner is that only three in five soldiers in Iraq have a clear sense of the mission.

Who'll Let the Docs Out?  —  On February 16, President George W. Bush assembled a small group of congressional Republicans for a briefing on Iraq.  Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley were there, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad participated via teleconference from Baghdad.