U.S.: Test points to N. Korea nuke blast  —  WASHINGTON - An air sampling taken after North Korea's claimed nuclear test detected radioactive debris consistent with an atomic explosion, Bush administration and congressional officials said Friday night.  They said no final determination …

FBI investigates Rep. Curt Weldon  —  WASHINGTON - The Justice Department is investigating whether Republican Rep. Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania traded his political influence for lucrative lobbying and consulting contracts for his daughter, according to sources with direct knowledge of the inquiry.

Shays defends comments on Abu Ghraib  —  U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays was under fire yesterday after saying in a debate earlier this week that the abuse at Abu Ghraib prison was not torture but rather a "sex ring" involving National Guard troops.  —  Amnesty International officials …

Happy Birthday, Navy  —  The US Navy turns 231 years old today.  —  A message from the Navy's Master Chief Petty Officer Joe R. Campa: … Thanks to each and everyone serving in the U.S. Navy.  —  If you have a loved one in the Navy (or any service branch for that matter), I've got a fabulous related gift idea.

Feds probe trip that Kolbe made with pages  —  NBC exclusive: Congressman alleged to have been inappropriate on '96  —  WASHINGTON - Federal prosecutors in Arizona have opened a preliminary investigation of a camping trip Congressman Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., took 10 years ago that included …

Bush Is Said to Have No Plan if GOP Loses  —  Some Republican strategists are increasingly upset with what they consider the overconfidence of President Bush and his senior advisers about the midterm elections November 7-a concern aggravated by the president's news conference this week.

Beyond the Coup Rumors, Options for Iraq  —  As the security situation in Baghdad has deteriorated over the past month, there has been growing talk among Iraqi politicians about a "government of national salvation" — a coup, in effect — that would impose martial law throughout the country.

The Human Cost of the War in Iraq  —  I urge you to carefully read the study first.  Very few people seem to have actually done so.  —  In comparison, the much-criticised Iraq Body Count relies only on media reports (mostly Western and often by conflating 2 different sources) for their maximum body count of 48,639 civilians.

Majority leader: Democrats endangered pages  —  DES MOINES, IA - House Majority Leader John Boehner today accused Democrats of endangering House pages for political gain.  —  Boehner, speaking at a campaign event for 3rd District Republican candidate Jeff Lamberti, said Democratic operatives …

Which Law Prof Blogs Have the Juice?  —  TaxProf Blog has a 6.4 "Blog Juice Rating," determined by:  — Number of Bloglines subscribers (40%)  — Alexa rank (15%)  — Technorati ranking (30%)  — Number of inbound links via Technorati (15%)  —  Here are the Blog Juice Ratings for various law professor blogs:

Texas School Tells Classes to Fight Back  —  BURLESON, Texas (AP) — Youngsters in a suburban Fort Worth school district are being taught not to sit there like good boys and girls with their hands folded if a gunman invades the classroom, but to rush him and hit him with everything they got - books, pencils, legs and arms.

Gay Marriage Losing Punch as Ballot Issue  —  The debate over same-sex marriage was a black-or-white proposition two years ago when voters in 11 states barred gay couples from marrying.  —  But this year shades of gray are everywhere, as eight more states consider similar ballot measures.