Bridge was rated 'structurally deficient' in 2005  —  The highway bridge that collapsed into the Mississippi River on Wednesday was rated as "structurally deficient" two years ago and possibly in need of replacement.  —  The highway bridge that collapsed into the Mississippi River on Wednesday was rated as …

Court puts limits on surveillance abroad  —  The ruling raises concerns that U.S. anti-terrorism efforts might be impaired at a time of heightened risk.  —  WASHINGTON — A special court that has routinely approved eavesdropping operations has put new restrictions on the ability …

Obama Calls for Military Shift in U.S. Focus on Terrorism  —  Senator Barack Obama said Wednesday that the United States should shift its military focus away from the Iraq war to a broader fight against Islamic extremism, vowing to dispatch American forces to eradicate terrorist camps in Pakistan …

In Fox News, Giuliani Finds a Friendly Stage  —  Roger Ailes and Rudolph W. Giuliani have been pulling for each other for nearly two decades.  —  Mr. Ailes was the media consultant to Mr. Giuliani's first mayoral campaign in 1989.  Mr. Giuliani, as mayor, officiated at Mr. Ailes's wedding …

Specter: Gonzales A "Wily Witness"  —  So here's Sen. Arlen Specter's (R-PA) verdict on Alberto Gonzales' testimony, delivered during this morning's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Karl Rove's aide Scott Jennings.  —  Gonzales, he says, sought to mislead the committee …

Bush Insults BBC Political Editor at Press Conference  —  NEW YORK At a recent press conference at Camp David, President George Bush insulted BBC political editor Nick Robinson, the Daily Mirror reports.  —  Robinson, who has asked Bush pointed questions in the past such as whetherthe president was …

Students must remember 'God' in Texas pledge  —  Texas students will have four more words to remember when they head back to class this month and begin reciting the state's pledge of allegiance.  —  This year's Legislature added the phrase "one state under God" to the pledge …

President Bush Offers Sympathies and Assistance to Minneapolis and Calls on Congress to Act Before Recess  —  THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.  I just finished a Cabinet meeting.  One of the things we discussed was the terrible situation there in Minneapolis.  We talked about the fact …

America's Economic Mood: Gloomy  —  Broad Public Pessimism  —  Spurs Democratic Candidates  —  To Target Business Interests  —  WASHINGTON — Americans are feeling decidedly sour about the economy and those in charge of it, fueling Democratic efforts to target business interests in the 2008 election campaign.

Caps on Prices Only Deepen Zimbabweans' Misery  —  The government of Zimbabwe tried to allay the effects of inflation by setting prices, but as a result, basic goods cost too much to produce, leaving shelves empty.  Instead, families are relying on melons and what little meat can be shared.

Iraq Snapshots Give 2 Views  —  July ended with a monthly death toll for American troops in Iraq that was the lowest this year.  Then August dawned with car bombs in Baghdad that killed scores of Iraqis.  —  In war, good news and bad news often coexist.  But in Iraq, where battle lines are murky …

Edwards: "Giuliani is Bush on Steroids"  —  Just got back from an Edwards event in San Francisco.  He threw out a lot of red meat — in particular savaging the big oil, drug, and insurance companies — and these deep blue Americans loved every minute of it.  —  Edwards is awesome on the stump.

Thompson's Top Adviser  —  Speaking at his $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in downtown Washington on Monday night, Fred Thompson began by introducing "my campaign manager — oh, I mean my wife."  That little joke about Jeri Thompson reveals how the prospective Republican …

McCain plans to attack ethics bill  —  Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) plans to take a break from the campaign trail to speak out against the Democratic lobbying reform package when it hits the floor at the end of the week, according to one of the bill's chief opponents, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.)