Probe Into Iraq Deaths Finds False Reports  —  Pentagon to Review Training After Alleged Massacre in Haditha  —  The U.S. military investigation of how Marine commanders handled the reporting of events last November in the Iraqi town of Haditha, where troops allegedly killed 24 Iraqi civilians …

FEC Adopts Hands-Off Stance on '527' Spending  —  The same rules that allowed independent "527" groups such as America Coming Together and Swift Boat Veterans for Truth to pump more than $400 million into the 2004 election campaigns will remain in place for now, the Federal Election Commission …

Security Grants Are Made; Criticism Follows  —  WASHINGTON, May 31 — After vowing to steer a greater share of antiterrorism money to the highest-risk communities, Department of Homeland Security officials on Wednesday announced 2006 grants that slashed money for New York and Washington 40 percent …

Bush's Realization on Iran: No Good Choice Left Except Talks  —  WASHINGTON, May 31 — After 27 years in which the United States has refused substantive talks with Iran, President Bush reversed course on Wednesday because it was made clear to him — by his allies, by the Russians, by the Chinese …

Justice Dept. Is Criticized by Ex-Official on Subpoenas  —  Subpoenas issued last month to reporters for The San Francisco Chronicle were criticized yesterday by a former chief spokesman for Attorney General John Ashcroft as a "reckless abuse of power."  —  The former spokesman, Mark Corallo …

Reid Says He Won't Accept Free Tickets  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - Reversing course, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid's office acknowledged Wednesday night he misstated the ethics rules governing his acceptance of free boxing tickets and has decided to avoid taking such gifts in the future.

Studies Portray Tropical Arctic in Distant Past  —  The first detailed analysis of an extraordinary climatic and biological record from the seabed near the North Pole shows that 55 million years ago the Arctic Ocean was much warmer than scientists imagined — a Floridian year-round average of 74 degrees.

Glass Artists Face Off in Court  —  SEATTLE, May 31 — As an ever-moving maestro in the world where fine art and commerce converge, Dale Chihuly is perhaps the world's most successful glass artist.  —  His clients include Bill Gates and Bill Clinton, and his elaborate installations …

An Accidental Tax Boon  —  Sometimes in Washington, good things are more likely to happen by accident than by congressional or executive design.  Treasury secretary nominee Henry M. Paulson Jr. is no doubt aware of this fact, but it's one worth keeping in mind in the continuing debate over tax reform …

Third Time  —  America may be ready for a new political party.  —  Something's happening.  I have a feeling we're at some new beginning, that a big breakup's coming, and that though it isn't and will not be immediately apparent, we'll someday look back on this era as the time when a shift began.

History's Paragraph for the 2006 Election  —  Lengthy and dramatic or brief and underwhelming?  —  Director, U.Va. Center for Politics  —  It's humbling for all involved in America's electoral process to realize that each midterm election season—all the contests put together—comprises no more than a paragraph in the history books.

In Paris Suburbs, Worrying Attack by Youths  —  PARIS, May 31 — Youths in two Paris suburbs threw rocks at police officers and set a dozen cars ablaze overnight Tuesday, in the second night of violence reminiscent of the unrest that swept France in October and November.

Batwoman is back as a lesbian  —  NEW YORK - Years after she first emerged from the Batcave, Batwoman is coming out of the closet.  DC Comics is resurrecting the classic comic book character as a lesbian, unveiling the new Batwoman in July as part of an ongoing weekly series that began this year.

Iraq veteran sues Moore over 9/11 film  —  BOSTON - A veteran who lost both arms in the war in Iraq is suing filmmaker Michael Moore for $85 million, alleging that Moore used snippets of a television interview without his permission to falsely portray him as anti-war in "Fahrenheit 9/11."

The Blogfather  —  Netroots guru Jerome Armstrong says he's a freethinking pragmatist.  But lefty bloggers say his backing of centrist Mark Warner shows he's become just another political consultant.  —  Jerome Armstrong, aka "The Blogfather," greeted me recently in the office of former Virginia …