US troop deaths hit 7-month high in Iraq
BAGHDAD – The killings of three U.S. soldiers in separate attacks in Baghdad pushed the American death toll for April up to 47, making it the deadliest month since September.

Gates: Lull in Iraq violence over, withdrawal to go on
MEXICO CITY — U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on Tuesday acknowledged that a seven-month lull in U.S. troops deaths in Iraq has come to an end and blamed the bloodshed on Shiite Muslim militiamen who have bombarded the Green Zone and key parts of Baghdad with rockets and mortar rounds.

Bush holds firm on war funding bill
WASHINGTON – President Bush and Democrats controlling Congress continued on course toward a veto confrontation Tuesday as Bush said he would veto any attempt to add a popular veteran benefits bill to his $108 billion war funding request.

Airline’s bankruptcy strands U.S. troops in Middle East
WASHINGTON — The abrupt collapse of ATA Airlines has left an untold number of U.S. soldiers, sailors and Marines stuck in Iraqi and Afghan airports while they await a ride home. Some face travel delays of up to a week, military officials acknowledge.

New bid, same result: KBR shares big Army contract
Houston-based KBR has again been selected to participate in a 10-year military logistical support contract valued at up to $150 billion, the U.S. Army announced today. The Army Sustainment Command, at the insistence of the Government Accountability Office, had re-evaluated its decision last summer to award the massive contract to KBR, Fort Worth-based DynCorp International and Fluor Intercontinental of Greenville, S.C. But after rebidding the contract, the Army chose the same three players.

Army widens probe after finding bad conditions at Fort Bragg
Army officials said Tuesday they are inspecting every barracks building worldwide to see whether problems revealed at Fort Bragg, N.C., last week are widespread. Brig. Gen. Dennis Rogers, who is responsible for maintaining barracks throughout the Army, acknowledged the revelations from a video shot by the father of an 82nd Airborne Division soldier showing poor conditions such as mold inside the barracks, peeling interior paint and a bathroom drain plugged with sewage.
You just have to wonder if KBR has the contract for maintenance of the facility.

2 beef processors are cited for humane violations
WASHINGTON – A government inspection of slaughterhouses found significant problems with the treatment of cattle and two of the nation’s largest beef processors — both of which provide meat for the National School Lunch Program — were slapped with humane handling violations.

Cheney lawyer claims Congress has no authority over vice-president
The lawyer for US vice-president Dick Cheney claimed today that the Congress lacks any authority to examine his behaviour on the job. The exception claimed by Cheney’s counsel came in response to requests from congressional Democrats that David Addington, the vice-president’s chief of staff, testify about his involvement in the approval of interrogation tactics used at Guantanamo Bay. Ruling out voluntary cooperation by Addington, Cheney lawyer Kathryn Wheelbarger said Cheney’s conduct is “not within the [congressional] committee’s power of inquiry”.

KBR workers in Iraq stole weapons and artwork, senators told
KBR employees working in Iraq stole weapons, artwork and even gold to make spurs for cowboy boots, two former company workers told Senate Democrats on Monday.

Senate panel makes second try at preventing waterboarding
WASHINGTON – The Senate Intelligence Committee voted Tuesday to limit CIA interrogators to techniques approved by the military, which would effectively bar them from waterboarding prisoners, congressional officials said.

Kennedy: On-the-job deaths should lead to prosecutions
WASHINGTON — Employers who intentionally disregard hazards that cost workers their lives should face the threat of felony prosecution and stiff prison sentences, lawmakers said Tuesday.

GOP fears Pelosi power grab on Iraq
Staffers say Pelosi’s office is considering taking $178 billion war funding bill straight to the House floor.
We can always hope, but I’m not going to hold my breath.

House votes on requiring combustible dust rule changes
WASHINGTON – House Democrats are pushing for new standards to protect workers from combustible dust explosions and fires after 13 people were killed in a Georgia sugar plant blast in February.

Today on the presidential campaign trail
Obama to get endorsements from two congressmen; Clinton gets backing from Pa. union president … No matter how Obama handles Jeremiah Wright, some supporters won’t be happy

Dartmouth Professor Announces Intention to Sue Students for Being Mean to Her (by Jonathan Turley)
A Dartmouth lecturer Priya Venkatesan appears to have some unresolved teaching issues with her Winter ‘08 Writing 5 class. Most professors deal with a rude class with stern lectures, implied grading threats, and more homework. Venkatesan reportedly took a different tack: she informed the class that she is going to sue them for discrimination under Title VII. This appears genuine, though it remains hard to believe that any rationale academic would threaten such legal action.
Because we don’t have enough frivolous lawsuits in America.

Witness says Hastert linked to alleged plot
The name of former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert was added Monday to the roster of political heavyweights linked by witnesses to an alleged plan to dump Chicago’s top federal prosecutor and kill a criminal investigation into a top fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich. A witness at the corruption trial of Blagojevich insider Antoin “Tony” Rezko testified that Rezko told him in February 2005 about an effort under way to fire U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald and replace him with someone more compliant to be hand-picked by Hastert, then the top Republican in the House.