N. Korea missile aimed at area off Hawaii - report  —  TOKYO (Reuters) - A North Korean missile launched on Wednesday was aimed at an area of the ocean close to Hawaii, a Japanese newspaper reported on Friday.  —  Experts estimated the Taepodong-2 ballistic missile to have a range of up to 6,000 km, putting Alaska within its reach.

Judge's ruling keeps DeLay on ballot  —  AUSTIN - A federal judge ruled today that Republicans cannot replace former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay on the ballot for the 22nd Congressional District race.  —  U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks, a Republican appointee, ruled that DeLay must appear …

Debate Headquarters [52]  —  Track the Discussion Online: Can't get enough?  Check out some of the blogs following the debate tonight.  —  LamontBlog (unoffocial) |  Firedoglake |  MyDD |  Atrios |  Connecticut Local Politics |  Blog for America  —  Rapid Response: Rebut misleading answers …

N.Y. Court Says Lawmakers Should Consider Gay Marriage  —  The New York Court of Appeals ruled this morning that the state Constitution does not guarantee a right to marriage for same-sex couples, and that state lawmakers, not the courts, are better suited to consider the issue.

Enron founder, facing prison, dies in Aspen  —  What he couldn't do in the courtroom, former Enron Chairman Ken Lay may finally be able to achieve in death — avoid a criminal record.  —  Lay, 64, who died of a heart attack in Aspen, Colo., early Wednesday morning, will likely have his case vacated …

Why Economists Like Immigration  —  With members of the House and Senate sparring over immigration reform, it is worth summarizing why most economists are sympathetic with the more welcoming approach of the Senate bill.  —  The study of economics leaves a person with two strong impulses.

Syndicate Will Look Into Alleged Coulter Plagiarism On Its Own — And Possibly With Electronic Tool  —  NEW YORK Universal Press Syndicate issued a statement this afternoon saying it might look into the plagiarism allegations against Ann Coulter in two possible ways.

N.J. Gov., Lawmakers Reach Deal on Budget  —  TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey's governor and lawmakers reached a deal Thursday on a new state budget, six days into a state government shutdown that shuttered casinos and threw more than 80,000 people out of work.  —  Gov. Jon S. Corzine …

King won't decide first question till cameras roll  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — CNN's Larry King has interviewed every president since Richard Nixon.  Tonight at 9 p.m. ET he conducts his second interview with President George W. Bush since his election in 2000.  —  The interview will be broadcast from the White House.

Suicide: Not Painless  —  Michelle Malkin has responded to my post on UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Denice Denton's suicide.  Quick recap: Malkin called Denton a "capitulationist chancellor" after Denton failed to expel or punish students who angrily protested and kicked military recruiters off campus.

Army charges officer for refusing to fight in Iraq  —  SEATTLE (Reuters) - The U.S. Army filed three charges on Wednesday against an officer who refused to fight in Iraq due to objections over the legality of the war.  —  First Lt. Ehren Watada, who supporters say is the first commissioned U.S. officer …

THE END OF DEMOCRACY PROMOTION....Marc Lynch, after running down the evidence that the Bush administration has "effectively given up on democracy promotion" in the Arab world, makes the following observation: … But that's really just a single piece of a broader, and even more remarkable turn of events …

Reports conflict about Zubeydi's fate  —  Conflicting reports emerged on Thursday night about the fate of the the Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades West Bank commander Zakariya Zubeydi, after Border Police's undercover elite Yamas unit, surrounded the home where Zubeydi was believed to be holed up in together with a number of other wanted men.

IDF soldier, 21 Palestinians killed in IDF raid in north Gaza  —  An Israel Defense Forces soldier was killed Thursday afternoon during an Israel Defense Forces operation in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia.  —  First Lieutenent Yehuda Bessal was seriously wounded when shot …

Farrell answers the simple question while Dodd continues to avoid the issue  —  It's great the reporters are picking up on my "simple question."  —  It makes my job much easier...thanks guys! … Meanwhile, our Senior Senator Chris Dodd remains on the fence.

'Hardball with Chris Matthews' for July 5  —  Guests: Dan Burton, Bill Pascrell, Tyler Drumheller, Michael Scheuer, Jim Gilmore, Hilary Rosen, Cindy Sheehan  —  NORAH O'DONNELL, MSNBC HOST: North Korea sets off its own 4th of July spectacular, an international show of defiance.