US Surgeon General resigns

UN Secuity Council gives Iran deadline

The UN Security Council voted today to give Iran until the end of August to end its nuclear program.

Israeli Security Cabinet says airstrikes will continue

The Israeli Security Cabinet voted to continue the airstrikes after the 48 hour cease-fire expires. Ground troops are expected to assist in the battle to root out Hezbollah.

Twin Cities reaches high of 101 degrees

Heat wave grips much of US

A blast of summer heat has gripped much of the United States. Droughts in the Midwest and rolling blackouts on the East and West Coasts. There were over 130 fatalities related to the triple digit temperatures in CA. Much of the nation is dealing with temperatures in the 90's to well over 100 degrees in some parts of the country activating heat watches and warnings. Some cool Canadien air is expected to give some relief in the next few days.

Sec. of State struggling to bring cease-fire

Sec. of State Rice has been traveling throughout the Middle East this week to try and bring an end to the conflict between the Israelis and Hezbollah. Lebanon has been bearing the brunt of the missiles as Israeli attempts to root out Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Rice is expected to meet with the UN Security Council on Monday and draft a resolution that would end the violence. That will prove to be difficult because the Israelis are not in direct talks with Hezbollah and the US State Department recognizes Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

Israelis call up 30,000 reservists

US refuses to call for immediate cease-fire

The United States has refused to call on an immediate cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Secretary Rice stated that it would be pointless to call for a cease-fire that would not be sustained. Some have suggested that a cease-fire would only allow Hezbollah to reload its arsenal and get financial and military support from Iran and Syria. Some have suggested that the Bush administration is privately supporting the Israelis to battle Hezbollah which the State Department has classified as a terrorist organization.

US State Department orders all non-essential personnel to leave Lebanon

Congress reauthorizes VRA

The US House and Senate approved the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. One provision that southern members tried to remove from the bill were monitors by the Justice Department for southern states. The Justice Department has authority to monitor elections that have had a history of fraud and voter intimidation.

Bush addresses NAACP

Pres. Bush addressed the annual convention of the NAACP this after 5 years of declining the invitations. Bush and the NAACP have had a bad ever since the 2000 presidential election when the NAACP aired an ad suggesting Bush supported hate crimes while he was governor of Texas.

Judge rules against former police chief

A judge has ruled that a candidate for Ramsey County Sherriff cannot use a nickname on the ballot. Former St. Paul Police Chief Bill Finney had put "chief" as part of his name on the application. The current incumbent Bob Fletcher had put "sherriff" on his application in protest to the former police chief. With this ruling both candidates are expected to remove their nicknames from the ballot.

Entenza drops out of race for AG

Matt Entenza the DFL endorsed candidate for Attorney General dropped out of the race after it was revealed that he had a firm investigate a fellow DFLer after originally denying the existence of the investigation. There was also concern about how effective he would be enlight of his wifes role as an executive at United Health which is currently under investigation by the state and federal governments. Four candidates had filed to replace Entenza to be the DFL candidate for Attorney General. The DFL state central committee will be meeting in the next two weeks to endorse a candidate for that position.

Countries evacuate amid continued violence in Lebanon

Countries are pulling personnel and citizens out of Lebanon including the United States. The State Department is coordinating efforts to get US citizens and non essential government employees out of Lebanon with violence continuing between Hezbollah and Israel. The State Department has advised citizens not to leave on their own because its too dangerous and contact the US Embassy in Lebanon for assistance. The State Department has had travel advisory warnings for Lebanon for quite some time.

GOP challenge Bush on stem cell research

Despite a veto threat by Pres. Bush the congress is pushing forward to pass legislation authorizing the use of federal funding for stem cell research. The bill has pased the House and is expected to pass the Senate. However the House does not have 2/3 vote which would be required to override a presidential veto.

Russia hosts G-8 summit

The 8 leading western industrialized democracies are meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia. The meeting is designed to address issues that effect the member countries and also address issues that affect the world as a whole. Although Russia does not meet the criteria for the G-8 it is hoped that it will live up to that reputation in the future as a former super power during the Cold War.

Big Dig in big trouble in Boston

Governor Mitt Romney has ordered a reinspection of the entire Big Dig transportation project which runs through Boston. An inspection was ordered after a 3 ton concrete block in the tunnel fell on a car killing one woman. The highway project which was late and billions over budget has caused a lot of controversy. Gov. Romney has tried to get the Head of the Massuchusetts Turnpike to resign after this current debacle. Early indications are that there are some serious problems with the project and that inspectors have already found 260 defects.

US vetos resolution on Israel

The United States as a permanent member of the UN Security Council vetoed a resolution that would condemn Israel for its attacks on Lebanon. Permanent members of the UN Security Council can veto any resolution before that body.

Militant muslim group suspected in commuter train blasts in India

While no one has claimed responsibility for the bombing in Mumbai, India, experts believe it was a radical muslim group based out of Pakistan. Mumbai is the heart of the financial district in India formerly of Bombay.

France to refer Iran to UN over nukes

The French have announced that they will be submitting papers to the UN via their Ambassador for Iran to be referred for resolution after Iran failed to respond to the offer made earlier. The US and Europeans had hoped that Iran would have responded before the G8 summit in Russia scheduled to start on Friday.

DeLay may run again

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay may run for his old seat. Democrats are fighting to keep DeLay's name on the November ballot to increase their financial coffers. DeLay said that if his name is kept on the ballot that he may run for his seat.

Judge rules raid on Capitol Hill office legal

The Chief US District Judge for the District of Columbia ruled that the raid on Congressman William Jefferson's Capitol Hill office was legal. Jefferson's attorney and a bipartisan group of House leaders argued that the raid violated the speech and debate clause in the constitution. The judge agreed with the Justice Department because congress is not above the law. Pres. Bush had ordered the solicitor generals office to hold the seized material for 45 days. Jefferson's lawyers are expected to appeal the decision asked the ruling be stayed pending further review.

FBI foils plans to blow up New York's tunnel system

The FBI announced an arrest today in an ongoing investigation that has been in the works for almost a year. The New York field office of the FBI in conjunction with state and local law enforcement were monitoring a group that was in the planning phase of flooding the heart of New York's financial district.

New York & Georgia state courts rule gay marriage unconstitutional

Enron founder and former CEO Ken Lay dead

North Korea's missile tests prompt meeting of UN Security Council

North Korea launched several test missiles today on the US's Independence Day and the successful launch of the Space Shuttle. The action prompted a meeting of the UN Security Council. The Japanese have called for sanctions against North Korea. Most of the six test missiles were short range but one was long range with a range that could reach the United States. The long range missile failed 30 seconds after launch. The US has repeatedly warned North Korea not to engage in testing of missiles.

Sen. Lieberman considers petition for unaffiliated campaign

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) announced he is doing a petition drive to have an unaffiliated campaign while attempting to get the nomination of the democratic party for the US Senate. Lieberman got into trouble with fellow democratics when he supported Pres. Bush on the invasion of Iraq. He faces a multimillionaire challenger who is anti-war. Lieberman plans on winning the primary which will be held on Aug. 8. However if he fails he is expected to file as an independent.

IA lawmakers to hold special session on eminent domain

The Iowa state legislature will be meeting in special session to override a veto by the governor on eminent domain. Governor Tom Vilsac (D-IA) will be leaving office after this year and is expected to be a candidate for president in 2008. Vilsac vetoed the bill because he was concerned that it would hinder local governments ability for economic development. The bill passed the House and Senate overwhelmingly with bipartisan support in regular session.

Mexico holds presidential election

New Jersey governor orders partial government shutdown

New Jersey Governor John Corzine ordered a partial government shutdown as the legislature failed to pass a balanced budget by the constitutional deadline. The dispute is over the fact that Governor Corzine wants to increase the sales tax from 6 to 7% while his fellow democrats in the legislature objected to that. The state must fill a multibillion dollar shortfall in the state budget. Procedures are underway to keep emergency services such as the state police, hospitals and all essential employees on the job while other state employees are likely to be furloughed pending a decision by the courts.