Hamas Leader Badly Hurt in Israeli Bombing  —  A Hamas militant leader who has topped Israel's most-wanted list for a decade was badly wounded and underwent four hours of spinal surgery Wednesday after being wounded in an Israeli airstrike, security officials said.

Beyond the Poll Numbers, Voter Doubts About Clinton  —  Anna Shelley, a mother of three from Utah, says she is ready for a female president, and she is sure that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has what it takes.  —  But Shelley, a Democrat, is not sure she could ever pull a lever for Clinton.

Can Joe Stand if Contender Gets a T.K.O.?  —  It's a Thrilla in Bridgeport!  Unbound Lieberman Is Bloodied by Anti-War Opponent in Lamont; Senator and Ned Resist Conflating Iraq, Israel  —  Joe Lieberman was incensed.  —  He'd just been confronted at a campaign event for Irish supporters …

Novak: Rove was a source in outing Plame  —  WASHINGTON - Columnist Robert Novak said publicly for the first time Tuesday that White House political adviser Karl Rove was a source for his story outing the identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame.  —  In a column, Novak also says his recollection …

Couric's Twin Cities visit a well-oiled machine  —  The hugely popular media star held a closed-to-the-media "listening session," then attended a fundraiser for a local charity.  —  It was a well-orchestrated media event that excluded the media, a private invitation-only meeting in the brand …

Katherine Harris's Campaign Staff To Resign  —  The high command of Rep. Katherine Harris's FL Senate bid plans to resign by the end of the week, two people familiar with the campaign tell the Hotline.  —  The departing staff includes Glen Hodas, Harris's campaign manager, her spokesperson …

General Sees Need for More U.S. Forces in Baghdad  —  By PAUL von ZIELBAUER and DAVID S. CLOUD  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 12 — Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the senior American commander in Iraq, said today that "terrorists and death squads" were responsible for the surge in sectarian killings …

July Homicide Total Rises to 14 in District  —  'Crime Emergency' Declared By Ramsey Following Surge in Crime  —  D.C. Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey reacted yesterday to a recent surge in homicides by declaring a "crime emergency," a move that gives him the freedom to quickly adjust officers' schedules and restrict their days off.

Murtha compares cost of war and domestic expenses  —  A Report by Congressman John Murtha  —  (Washington D.C.)- We are spending $8 billion a month in Iraq.  That equates to $2 billion a week, or $267 million a day, or $11 million an hour.  —  The following are some comparisons between …

Battle Looms In Congress Over Military Tribunals  —  House Republicans signaled a coming clash with the Senate over the future of military tribunals yesterday when Armed Service Committee members indicated they were inclined to give the Bush administration largely what it wants in the conduct of terrorism trials.

Choosing baby's sex to be outlawed  —  Sex selection of babies for non-medical reasons is set to be outlawed in the UK under Government plans for a shake-up of embryology regulation.  —  Health Minister Caroline Flint told MPs she was minded to introduce a "clear and specific ban" …