Two plead not guilty to Boston hoax charges … CHARLESTOWN, Massachusetts (CNN) — Two men pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges they created panic by placing "bomblike" electronic light boards displaying a cartoon character with an upraised middle finger throughout Boston.

Al Gore nominated for Nobel Peace Prize  —  OSLO, Norway - Former Vice President Al Gore was nominated for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his wide-reaching efforts to draw the world's attention to the dangers of global warming, a Norwegian lawmaker said Thursday.

BREAKING: DOUBLE THE TROOPS IN "SURGE" (UPDATED)  —  President Bush and his new military chiefs have been saying for nearly a month that they would "surge" an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq, in a last, grand push to quell the violence in Baghdad and in Anbar Province.

The Arrogant and Intolerant Speak Out  —  Well, one thing's abundantly clear about who will actually defend our rights to say what we believe: It isn't the hundreds who have written me saying they are soldiers or veterans or war supporters or real Americans — who also advise me to move to another country …

Senate ups wage to $7.25 over two years  —  WASHINGTON - The Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to boost the federal minimum wage by $2.10 to $7.25 an hour over two years, but packaged the increase with controversial tax cuts for small businesses and higher taxes for many $1 million-plus executives.

FBI Agent Testifies Libby Learned About Plame from Cheney  —  WASHINGTON The "CIA leak" trial resumed today, after two critical days of testimony from reporters Judith Miller and Matt Cooper.  As in past days, E&P will provide running updates here.  —  After a long day or legal wrangling …

Mahdi Army gains strength through unwitting aid of U.S.  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military drive to train and equip Iraq's security forces has unwittingly strengthened anti-American Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia, which has been battling to take over much of the capital city …

2006 personal savings drop to 74-yr.  low  —  WASHINGTON - People once again spent everything they made and then some last year, pushing the personal savings rate to the lowest level since the Great Depression more than seven decades ago.  —  The Commerce Department reported Thursday …

McCain, Giuliani Skipping Some Conservative Events  —  A speech given by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney before a National Review-sponsored conference last week may have been panned as unfocused, but in the eyes of those who attended, he at least had one thing going for him: He showed up.

Senate Critique of Bush's Iraq Plan Wins New Support  —  WASHINGTON - A revised Senate resolution criticizing President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq, offered by Senator John Warner, Republican of Virginia, drew new support today as two of the authors of a sterner resolution of disapproval said they would accept the Warner compromise.

The 'Lame Duck' Label  —  With a series of media events, President Bush is working hard to avoid the negative tag as he enters the last two years of his presidency.  —  On Tuesday, President Bush popped in for a surprise visit to the Sterling Family Restaurant, a homey diner in Peoria …

Molly Ivins, Columnist, Dies at 62  —  Molly Ivins, the liberal newspaper columnist who delighted in skewering politicians and interpreting, and mocking, her Texas culture, died yesterday in Austin.  She was 62.  —  Ms. Ivins waged a public battle against breast cancer after her diagnosis in 1999.

The soft bigotry of blowhards  —  Wesley Clark et al should watch what they say and how they say it.  —  WESLEY CLARK, the retired general and once — and no doubt future — presidential candidate, says the United States is going to attack Iran.  How does he know?

TWO SENIOR IRAQI GENERALS EYED IN BRAZEN ATTACK ON U.S. SOLDIERS  —  Two senior Iraqi generals are being questioned in connection with last week's attack in Karbala that left five U.S. soldiers dead, Pentagon officials told FOX News Thursday.  —  Military officials also said the level …