ENRON'S KEN LAY DIES: 'HIS HEART SIMPLY GAVE OUT'  —  Convicted Enron Corp. founder Ken Lay, who was found guilty of helping perpetuate one of the most sprawling business frauds in U.S. history, has died of a massive coronary.  He was 64.  —  Nicknamed "Kenny Boy'' by President Bush …

North Korea Test-Fires Seventh Missile  —  Launch Comes After Controversial Long-Range Rocket Fails; U.N. Session Set After U.S., Japan Condemn Action  —  North Korea test-fired another missile today, at least its seventh such launch in 48 hours, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters in Tokyo.

In blow to Lieberman, senior party official says campaign committee will back winner of Democratic party in Connecticut  —  In a serious blow to Sen. Joseph Lieberman's (D-CT) reelection campaign, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is likely to back the winner of the Democratic primary …

Security Cabinet approves deeper incursion into Gaza  —  The Security Cabinet called for prolonged and gradual military action in Gaza and the West Bank, at a meeting Wednesday morning to discuss the Shalit crisis and how to respond to Tuesday's rocket attack on Ashkelon.

Global Warming's Real Inconvenient Truth  —  "Global warming may or may not be the great environmental crisis of the next century, but — regardless of whether it is or isn't — we won't do much about it.  We will (I am sure) argue ferociously over it and may even, as a nation, make some fairly solemn-sounding commitments to avoid it.

Iraq considers arming insurgents  —  BAGHDAD — Iraq's government is studying a request from some local insurgent leaders to supply them with weapons so they can turn on the heavily armed foreign fighters who were once their allies, according to two Iraqi lawmakers.

Bush Signaling Shift in Stance on Immigration  —  WASHINGTON, July 4 — On the eve of nationwide hearings that could determine the fate of his immigration bill, President Bush is signaling a new willingness to negotiate with House Republicans in an effort to revise the stalled legislation before Election Day.

Tax cuts losing force as rallying cry on the Hill  —  Lawmakers say constituents wary of deficit, help for rich  —  WASHINGTON — Support for tax cuts — a signature campaign issue for congressional Republicans — is waning on Capitol Hill, with the GOP-led Congress reaching its Independence …

Jewish Family "Forced to Move" Over School Lawsuit  —  "Stop the ACLU Coalition" Publicised Home Address, Phone Number … Back in 2004, the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ (based at Dr D. James Kennedy's Coral Ridge Ministries) praised the efforts of a school board in Delaware …

Judicial nominee asked about club  —  Just six months after quitting the all-male social club to which he belonged for 50 years, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy is questioning one of President Bush's nominees to the federal bench about his membership in an all-male dining club.

A House Divided  —  John Tierney, the right-leaning New York Times columnist, celebrated Independence Day with a column posing the classic what-if question: What if the South had won the Civil War and there were now two republics sharing the slice of continent between Canada and Mexico, instead of only one?