Strauss-Kahn Sex-Assault Case May Be Crumbling

New York prosecutors in the sexual assault case against former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn were expected to concede in court Friday that serious questions have arisen over the credibility of his accuser. Concerns that the woman, a hotel housekeeper, might have lied about her activities in the hours around the alleged assault in May were [...]

After 90 Years, Graft Threatens China’s Communists

As China’s Communist Party celebrates its 90th anniversary, President Hu Jintao has warned that its long rule has led to grave corruption. With 80 million members, it’s now the world’s largest political party. But facing rampant corruption and growing dissatisfaction, can this revolutionary party survive? On Friday, the army band played as party elders filed [...]

State Woebegone: Minnesota Government Shuts Down In Fiscal Dispute

In a battle between a governmental chief executive and legislature over taxing and spending that is getting wearingly familiar in the U.S., the Minnesota state government shut down after Republican lawmakers refused to consider tax hikes on the wealthy proposed by Gov. Mark Dayton of the Democratic-Farmer- Labor Party. Tom Scheck of NPR member station [...]

July Means Fireworks And A New Crop Of State Laws

Like any fireworks show on July 4, state laws taking effect Friday are certain to deepen some Americans’ patriotism — and leave others feeling cheated. From Connecticut to California, new regulations to be enacted on July 1, when most states begin a new fiscal year, will change how people live in ways big — Illinois [...]

Breakfast At Libertarian Summer Camp

Last weekend, a group of libertarians and anarchists gathered in the woods of northern New Hampshire for the annual Porcupine Freedom Festival, aka PorcFest. I went up for breakfast. Lucky for me, George Mandrik has brought along 150 lbs. of bacon, which he’s selling out of a tent to finance his trip to the festival. [...]

New CNN News Chief Takes Stock

It’s pretty easy to see the winning formula for Fox News and MSNBC. They spend their evening hours stoking outrage from the political right and left, respectively. But it’s not as clear what the missing secret sauce should be for CNN. The cable news pioneer now continually lags in ratings during prime time, the most [...]

Expert Grilling: Barbecue, Peaches And Spicy Corn

This Fourth of July weekend, flames and smoke will rise over backyards across the country. And that means grilling. In the best-case scenario, you get a tasty meal. In the worst case, you get an awesome story of how you turned hamburger into charcoal briquettes — or maybe how you got grill marks on your [...]

New Rules On Medical Residents’ Hours Spur Debate

Dr. Emil Oweis is ready for anything Washington Hospital Center throws at him. One year out of medical school, the tall 26-year-old internal-medicine resident often works up to 30 hours at a time. He sees it as a necessary part of his training. “You’re definitely going to be tired,” Oweis acknowledges, but with coffee and [...]