Protester Disrupts Hu Arrival Ceremony  —  President Bush expressed personal regret to Chinese President Hu Jintao for a protest during an elaborate welcoming ceremony on the White House lawn Thursday.  —  The protester interrupted the ceremony by shouting to Bush to stop the Chinese president from "persecuting the Falun Gong."

Hiltzik's Blog Suspension Should Not End the L.A. Times's Interactivity with Readers  —  The top post at Michael Hiltzik's L.A. Times-sponsored Golden State blog reads as follows: … I have mixed feelings about this.  —  On one hand, I was very disappointed when I read Hiltzik's response …

04/20/06 FOX Poll: Gloomy Economic Views; Bush Approval at New Low  —  NEW YORK — More Americans disapprove than approve of how George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and Congress are doing their jobs, while a majority approves of Condoleezza Rice.  President Bush's approval hits a record low …

Bush Counsel May Be Next in White House Shake-Up  —  WASHINGTON, April 20 — Joshua B. Bolten, the new White House chief of staff, has raised the possibility of moving Harriet E. Miers from her job as President Bush's counsel as part of a continuing shake-up of the West Wing …

Tech student charged with supporting terror group  —  Another Atlanta area man arrested in Bangladesh  —  A 21-year-old Georgia Tech student taken into federal custody last month has been charged with giving "material support" to a terrorist organization, according to a federal indictment unsealed Thursday.

Shiite Drops Bid to Keep His Post as Iraqi Premier  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 20 — Under intense domestic and American pressure, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari dropped his bid to retain his job on Thursday, removing a major obstacle to forming a new government during a time of rising sectarian violence.

Bloggers fanning the controversy over Rumsfeld  —  Pentagon studies proliferation of military Web logs  —  WASHINGTON — The war of words between Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and former generals has spread to the lower ranks as soldiers, recent war vets, and Pentagon civilians alike use …

F.D.A. Dismisses Medical Benefit From Marijuana  —  WASHINGTON, April 20 — The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that "no sound scientific studies" supported the medical use of marijuana, contradicting a 1999 review by a panel of highly regarded scientists.

Seeing red over 'green scare'  —  MEET AL GORE, scaremonger.  In 2004, Gore denounced President Bush for "playing on our fears."  Today, he is at the forefront of a "green scare" about global warming intended to terrify Americans into submitting to his environmental policies.

Introducing the Purple Party  —  Depressed about the Democrats?  Revolted by the Republicans?  You're not alone.  Here in New York (with its Republican mayor and Democratic voters), a third way is being plotted.  Follow the purple-brick road.  —  B  —  efore I was old enough to vote …

New Orleans Police to Return Seized Guns  —  NEW ORLEANS - Under pressure from the National Rifle Association, police this week began returning guns confiscated after Hurricane Katrina.  —  The police department is making the guns available three days a week.

Harry Reid: No Good Military Options in Iran  —  Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has joined the long list of national security officials, Iran experts, and others who argue that no good military options exist in Iran.  (Read the full list HERE.) … The right wing is already on the attack.

SORRY, YOUR VIEWPOINT IS EXCLUDED FROM FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTION: That's what the Ninth Circuit holds today, as to student speech in K-12 schools, in a remarkable — and in my view deeply unsound — decision (Harper v. Poway Unified School Dist.).  —  Tyler Harper wore an anti-homosexuality T-shirt …

Phony doctor gives free breast exams  —  MIAMI (Reuters) - A 76-year-old man claiming to be a doctor went door-to-door in a Florida neighborhood offering free breast exams, and was charged with sexually assaulting two women who accepted the offer, police said on Thursday.