National News
The Hill - Republicans seek probe of sweetheart mortgages Two Republicans are calling on the ethics committee to investigate whether House members and aides received sweetheart deals on their home mortgages.
Roll Call - GOP Ponders Pelosi’s Statement on Possible Offshore Drilling
House Republicans spent Tuesday questioning Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) remarks that she would be open to allowing a vote on offshore drilling.
Politico - Democrats considering energy options
As Republicans continue their protest on the House floor, Democratic leaders are mulling their options to resolve a contentious energy debate before the upcoming elections.
Wall Street Journal - Bank Stocks Drop Anew Amid Worry Over Falling Home Prices
Stuck with a growing glut of foreclosed houses, banks and investors are shedding them at increasingly steep losses, potentially adding to the banking industry's red ink this year.
NY Times - Mukasey Won’t Pursue Charges in Hiring Inquiry
Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey on Tuesday rejected the idea of bringing criminal charges against former Justice Department employees who improperly used political litmus tests in hiring decisions, saying he had already taken strong internal steps in response to a “painful” episode.
LA Times - Federal judge overturns ban on road-building in national forests
Wyoming jurist issues an injunction that may not apply to California.
Washington Post - Deficit for July Exceeds Wall Street Prediction
The federal budget deficit soared in July, pushed higher by economic stimulus payments and $15 billion in outlays to protect depositors at failed banks.
International News
NY Times - Lebanon Bomb Kills at Least 10 People
A bomb hidden in a briefcase exploded next to a bus in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli during morning rush hour on Wednesday, killing at least 10 people and wounding 30 others, the Lebanese Army and witnesses said.
International News
Reuters - U.S. refuses Israel weapons to attack Iran: report
The United States has turned down Israeli requests for military hardware to help it prepare for a possible attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, a frontpage report in Israel's Haaretz newspaper said on Wednesday.
Washington Post - Al-Qaeda Said to Use Regional Strife to Tighten Grip in Pakistan
Al-Qaeda has exploited recent political turmoil in Pakistan to strengthen its foothold along the country's border with Afghanistan, a top U.S. counterterrorism official said yesterday in an assessment that also warned of a heightened risk of attack during the upcoming U.S. election season.
LA Times - Mexico violence claims 6 more police officers
The victims include two top commanders in Michoacan, a senior investigator in Chihuahua and a deputy chief in Quintana Roo.
State News
NC Times - Trial begins for Marine families suing SDG&E over fatal chopper crash
The helicopter crash, as described by an attorney to a jury Tuesday, was horrific. And the Marine Corps crew aboard the aircraft likely did not see the utility line tower they struck until it was too late, the attorney said.
San Diego Union Tribune - Border Patrol agent shoots and wounds man
A rock throwing incident at the border in San Ysidro escalated into a shooting Tuesday night when a Border Patrol agent opened fire on a group of people in Mexico, striking one man in the torso, according to authorities.
San Diego Union Tribune - FBI reportedly looks at papers on CCDC
An FBI agent obtained six documents yesterday regarding former Centre City Development Corp. President Nancy Graham's ties to a developer on a CCDC project, a community leader said.
LA Times - Budget deadlock may cut Schwarzenegger's starring role
The Border Governors Conference convenes today at Universal City. But California's governor promises to spend time in Sacramento, attending to the fiscal deadlock.
Sacramento Bee - Feinstein criticizes legislators for inaction on state water plan
Warning that California faces catastrophic water shortages from a worsening drought, Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday upbraided state lawmakers for failing to rally behind a proposed $9.3 billion water bond for the November ballot.
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