DELAY STEPS DOWN  —  Former Majority Leader Tom DeLay apparently has announced that he will not seek re-election in the fall.  No indication, yet, of his reasons.  —  It's too bad, I think.  DeLay was an effective leader, albeit too liberal in recent years.  It's possible, of course, that he did something wrong along the way.

NBC: STAGING THE NEWS AGAIN?  —  ***update: a reader sends another message notifying Muslim activists that taping will take place April 8...see below...update: NBC confirms Dateline is working on the story...***  —  A source who monitors political e-mail lists sent me an intriguing message disseminated …

Islam's Imperial Dreams  —  Muslim political ambitions aren't a reaction to Western encroachments.  —  When satirical depictions of the prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper sparked a worldwide wave of Muslim violence early this year, observers naturally focused on the wanton destruction …

CBS Prepares to Land a New Anchor  —  Katie Couric Set to Leave NBC's 'Today'  —  NBC executives expect Katie Couric to leave the "Today" show and accept an offer from CBS to become the first woman to anchor a network evening newscast on her own, with an announcement of her departure likely …

Sex tourism thriving in Bible Belt  —  ATLANTA (Reuters) - In a sleazy hotel room, "Brittany," then aged 16 and drugged into oblivion, waited for the men to arrive.  Her pimps sent as many as 17 clients an evening through the door.  —  A "john" could even pre-book the pretty young blonde …

Jesus Could Have Walked on Ice, Scientist Says  —  Rare conditions could have conspired to create hard-to-see ice on the Sea of Galilee that a person could have walked on back when Jesus is said to have walked on water, a scientist said today.  —  The study, which examines a combination …

McCain: Not Enough Guest-Worker Backing  —  WASHINGTON - Supporters of a guest worker program that would let illegal immigrants stay in the United States said Tuesday they don't have enough Senate votes to overcome objections from conservatives who oppose the measure on grounds it amounts to amnesty.

To Become an American  —  Seven years ago, when I was visiting Germany, I met with an official who explained to me that the country had a foolproof solution to its economic woes.  Watching the U.S. economy soar during the 1990s, the Germans had decided that they, too, needed to go the high-technology route.

The Right-wing Seeks to Take Your Internet  —  You can follow this in detail on Public Knowledge's blog or on the special section of Ed Markey's site dedicated to Net Neutrality.  —  Remember this interview with Edward Whiteacre, the CEO of SBC Communications?

Virginia Beach agrees to change the way it scores police math exams  —  VIRGINIA BEACH — The city has reached a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department to resolve allegations that it discriminated against black and Hispanic police recruits.  —  Under a consent decree filed Monday …

Union Leaders Boo McCain on Immigration  —  WASHINGTON - Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) threatened on Tuesday to cut short a speech to union leaders who booed his immigration views and later challenged his statements on organized labor and the Iraq war.

Hillary at the Gate  —  "The trade issue is crippling the Democrats," says Jagdish Bhagwati, the Columbia economist who wrote In Defense of Globalization.  "The unions are terrified by trade, and they're still a major Democratic constituency.  Hillary Clinton will be caught in this dilemma unless …

The Case Against Weight-Loss Dieting  —  Probably no piece of medical advice is so frequently given, and with so little rational basis, as the pressure on fat people to lose weight.  —  1. For The Vast Majority Of Fat People, Weight Loss Dieting Doesn't Work

Iran: Stealth 'Flying Boat' Successfully Tested  —  TEHRAN, Iran — Iran said Tuesday it had tested what it called a "super-modern flying boat" capable of evading radar.  State TV showed a brief clip of the boat's launch.  —  "Due to its advanced design, no radar at sea or in the air can detect it.

Abramoff Offered to Aid Sudan, Envoy Says  —  The former lobbyist sought millions to help the sanctioned nation clean up its image, the country's ambassador and an ex-associate say.  —  WASHINGTON — Two eyewitnesses say that former lobbyist Jack Abramoff proposed to sell his services …