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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 …
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I-35W bridge collapses — The Interstate Hwy. 35W bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed during the evening rush hour Wednesday, dumping at least eight cars and a truck into the water and onto the land below, creating a horrific scene of damage, fire, smoke, injuries, frantic rescuers and terrified motorists.
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Was The Bridge Deficient? — Normally, in the wake of a catastrophe …
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Blue Crab Boulevard

Cracking, vibration may have contributed to collapse, former NTSB official says
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The Glittering Eye

Reaction: The 35W Bridge Disaster
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KCCW-TV, Classical Values, Associated Press, Bookworm Room, One Hand Clapping, Betsy's Page, Outside The Beltway and Ed Driscoll.com


Gonzales: 'I may have created confusion' — WASHINGTON (CNN) — With potential perjury accusations hanging over him, embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales sent a letter to Senate leaders Wednesday acknowledging he "may have created confusion" in his previous testimony.
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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 …

Judge's ruling spurs scramble for spy powers — A federal judge's secret ruling restricting the intelligence community's surveillance powers helped spur a Capitol Hill bid to grant Bush new authority. — A secret ruling by a federal judge has restricted the U.S. intelligence community's surveillance …
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Balkinization

BARACK'S BLUNDER — INVADE A NUCLEAR POWER? — IN an "I am too tougher than Hillary" speech, Sen. Barack Obama warned Pakistan yes terday that as commander-in-chief he might act unilaterally if Islamabad didn't do more against the terrorists there. — "Let me make this clear …
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Obama Says He Would Take Fight To Pakistan
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Quad City Times, New York Times, New York Post, Associated Press, Eduwonk.com, TIME, The Atlantic Online, Althouse, The Heretik and NION


House Passes Children's Health Plan 225-204 — Over angry Republican objections, the House on Wednesday passed a sweeping expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program, financed with increases in tobacco taxes and cuts in subsidies to private Medicare insurance plans for older Americans.
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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.
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Publius Pundit, Outside The Beltway, QandO, PrairiePundit, CARPE DIEM and THE CUNNING REALIST

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 …


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 …


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.

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 …


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 …

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 …

170 Cancel 'WSJ' Subscriptions — But How Many Will Follow? — NEW YORK At least 170 subscribers to the Wall Street Journal have canceled their orders since word emerged that Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. will soon take over the newspaper. — The paper does have 1.7 million print subscribers left.

The Power in the Carbon Tax — Successful laws to protect the environment are built on simple concepts. They discourage harmful behavior — the dumping of sewage or industrial waste into bodies of water, the destruction of habitat, the emission of toxic chemicals — by a variety of measures …