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 broader IDF operation in Gaza  —  The security cabinet, convened by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the wake of a Tuesday evening Qassam rocket strike on Ashkelon, approved Wednesday morning an expansion of the ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip.

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.

Limbaugh will not be charged over Viagra  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Rush Limbaugh will not face charges in Palm Beach County for the bottle of Viagra found in his luggage that was prescribed in his doctor's name, prosecutors said Wednesday.  —  Charges could have nullified …

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 …

Update: Company to Probe Coulter Plagiarism Charges  —  I heard back from Universal Press Syndicate's Kathie Kerr.  Her company distributes Ann Coulter's column to over 100 newspapers around the country — columns which, according to recent news, may have contained plagiarized material.

In Ramadi, Fetid Quarters and Unrelenting Battles  —  RAMADI, Iraq, July 4 — The Government Center in the middle of this devastated town resembles a fortress on the wild edge of some frontier: it is sandbagged, barricaded, full of men ready to shoot, surrounded by rubble and enemies eager to get inside.

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 …

SWIFT Deposits  —  According to Treasury and Justice Department officials familiar with the briefings their senior leadership undertook with editors and reporters from the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, the media outlets were told that their reports on the SWIFT financial tracking system presented risks …

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.