National News
CQ - Democrats to Keep Trying on Energy
House Democratic leaders said they will try again as early as Friday to pass legislation designed to curb speculation in energy futures markets, despite a narrow defeat on the floor Wednesday.
Politico - Congress to jet without fuel price fix
Spurred by high oil prices, legislation to tighten regulation of commodity markets showed surprising strength in the House on Wednesday. But the continued stalemate over energy policy means Congress is going home for the summer having failed to provide any immediate relief for drivers squeezed by high gasoline prices.
LA Times - In Congress, no anti-corruption legislation in sight
A year-old bipartisan effort to give the Justice Department new clout in pursuit of lawmaker misconduct appears to be going nowhere.
NY Times - Decline Seen in Numbers of People Here Illegally The number of illegal immigrants in the country has dropped by as much as 1.3 million in the past year, an 11 percent decline since a historic peak last August, an immigration research group in Washington said in a report released Wednesday.
Washington Post - Illegal Immigrants Have Chance to Self-Deport
Federal authorities yesterday urged illegal immigrants living in the United States in violation of deportation orders to turn themselves in under a pilot program planned for five U.S. cities next month.
CQ - Abuse Lawsuits Against Iraq Could Proceed Under Committee’s Measure
The House Judiciary Committee amended and approved legislation Wednesday that would allow American former prisoners of war to proceed with legal action to recover damages from the Iraqi government for torture or abuse they suffered during the 1991 Gulf War.
BBC News - US economic growth is speeding up
A recession in the US seemed a long way off on Thursday with the release of the latest economic growth figures.
LA Times - Bush redefines roles of intelligence agencies
President Bush approved an order Wednesday that rewrites the rules governing spying by U.S. intelligence agencies, both domestically and abroad, and strengthens the authority of the national intelligence director, according to a U.S. official and government documents.
LA Times - Ban on travelers with HIV to U.S. partly lifted
President Bush signs a measure that repeals the congressional restriction, but the Department of Health and Human Services still lists the virus among diseases barring entry.
The Hill - Bush touts Iraq progress
President Bush on Thursday praised the progress that has been made in Iraq and credited last year’s troop surge as “a significant reason” for the improvements.
Boston Herald - Lawmakers look for answers on eloctrocutions in Iraq
Lawmakers today pressed officials from the Pentagon and KBR Inc. to explain what has delayed the proper protection of U.S. forces in Iraq from deficient electrical work already being blamed for the deaths of at least 16 people.
International News
NY Times - Bush Cuts Iraq Tours, but No Deal Yet on Force Pact
President Bush said Thursday that increasing stability in Iraq would very likely allow the withdrawal of more American forces there. He praised the growing capability of Iraq’s government and security forces and said that terrorists were on the brink of defeat.
Washington Post - Al-Qaeda in Iraq Leader May Be in Afghanistan
The leader of the Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq and several of his top lieutenants have recently left Iraq for Afghanistan, according to group leaders and Iraqi intelligence officials, a possible further sign of what Iraqi and U.S. officials call growing disarray and weakness in the organization.
Washington Post - Turkey's Rulers Survive Secularist Challenge
High Court Lets Islamic-Rooted Party Continue, but With a 'Serious Warning'
International Herald Tribune - Netanyahu calls for early Israeli elections
A day after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced he would depart political life, top rival Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel should get rid of its current governing coalition and go straight to early elections.
LA Times - Famine warning signs seen in North Korea
U.N. World Food Program says people are again foraging for wild plants to supplement their meager diets.
State News
Contra Costa Times - Slim majority supports offshore drilling
As gas prices remain above $4 a gallon in most of the Bay Area, Californians are more open to the idea of offshore drilling for oil than they have been in the past.
Orange County Register - Nuclear regulators to inspect San Onofre plant
An unusual third special inspection in a year raises concerns about equipment failures.
Sacramento Bee - Voter-approved ballot initiatives have limited California budget options
Here is a rundown of budget-related ballot initiatives…
Capitol Weekly - Ballot initiatives embrace new campaign tools
The Internet, as a political tool, has been used with mixed results. While it has catapulted fundraising efforts of presidential candidates like Howard Dean and Barack Obama, and helped campaigns harness thousands of small donors, many lower-profile campaigns still struggle with how the Web can help their election prospects.
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