TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
In Libya, Gaddafi’s forces dig into populated areas
Opposition fighters cheered and flashed victory signs as allied jets streaked across the sky Monday over the strategic city of Ajdabiya,
(By Sudarsan Raghavan)
Yemeni government confronts mass defections
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh clung to power by a thread after country’s most powerful military commander threw his support behind protesters and opposition groups seeking Saleh’s ouster and defections mounted.
(By Karen DeYoung)
Could Haley Barbour break the mold?
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour may try to rewrite the script for 2012 Republican presidential race.
(By Karen Tumulty)
Battle over pension costs in Montgomery
For years, officials in wealthy, liberal Montgomery County have avoided difficult decisions on scaling back pensions and health-care benefits for retirees. Now, the long-term shortfall is $4.8 billion.
(By Michael Laris)
Prosecutor in Bethesda slaying describes wild cover-up story
For 90 minutes, authorities say, Brittany Norwood sat in her victim’s parked car, concocting a plan to cover up the horrendous crime scene.
(By Dan Morse and Dana Hedgpeth)
POLITICS
With Yemen crumbling, US sees fragile counterterrorism ally fading, and few good options ahead
WASHINGTON — For two years, the Obama administration has had a relationship of convenience with Yemen: The U.S. kept the Yemeni government armed and flush with cash. In return, Yemen’s leaders helped fight al-Qaida or, as often, looked the other way while the U.S. did.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Rate of coalition attacks on Libya is slowing; officials say US role to lessen in coming days
WASHINGTON — Building on what U.S. officials called a successful first stage of international military action in Libya, the focus is shifting to widening a no-fly zone across the North African country while continuing smaller-scale attacks on Libyan air defenses and setting the stage for a humanitarian relief mission.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
HEALTHBEAT: Experts say risk from radiation in food in Japan low so far, but WHO urges caution
WASHINGTON — Radiation-tainted spinach from Japan’s damaged nuclear reactors may sound scary, but here’s a reality check: Even if any made it to stores there, you’d have to be Popeye to eat enough to worry.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
A perfect GOP presidential candidate is hard to find; personal missteps, policy flaws abound
WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney is the godfather of what Republican critics call Obamacare. Newt Gingrich is an adulterer on his third marriage. Tim Pawlenty is too green — environmentally, that is.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Consumer advocates: FCC should require more disclosure on political ads
The Federal Communications Commission should require sponsors of political advertising to disclose their biggest financial backers to the public, according to a petition to be filed Tuesday by a public-interest law firm.
( by Dan Eggen , The Washington Post)
STYLE
Libya releases Times journalists
Four New York Times journalists were released unharmed by the Libyan government on Monday.
( by Paul Farhi and Manuel Roig-Franzia , The Washington Post)
Evangelist Colson’s final mission
Before Charles Colson became one of the country’s top evangelical leaders, he was best known as Nixon’s “hatchet man.” Now Colson, 79, is creating an army of Christian disciples.
( by Michelle Boorstein , The Washington Post)
Salem plays witch house in D.C.
Salem is pure aesthetic, with little to no detail paid to songcraft, stage presence or anything else that defines a band.
( by David Malitz , The Washington Post)
No polarizing politico on ‘DWTS’
“Dancing With the Stars” returns to ABC’s Monday lineup.
(, The Washington Post)
King of nonsense
“The Return of Mr. Zone 6” from Gucci Mane is being hailed as a return to form, but that’s an oxymoron when it comes to the rapper.
(, The Washington Post)
SPORTS
Opening statements set for Tuesday after jury selected in Bonds perjury trial
SAN FRANCISCO — Now that a jury has been selected in the Barry Bonds perjury trial, the prosecutors and the slugger’s lawyers are scheduled Tuesday to deliver opening statements.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Opening statements set for Tuesday after jury selected in Bonds perjury trial
SAN FRANCISCO — Now that a jury has been selected in the Barry Bonds perjury trial, lawyers on both sides are scheduled to deliver opening statements.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Jurors' privacy rights collide with press, public's right to know in high-profile cases
CHICAGO — When anonymous jurors begin hearing the perjury trial of retired baseball slugger Barry Bonds this week, they can credit their privacy in part to a case involving another famous defendant, but one where the focus is on alleged political corruption rather than steroids: Illinois’ impeached former governor, Rod Blagojevich.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Jurors' privacy rights collide with press, public's right to know in high-profile cases
CHICAGO — When anonymous jurors begin hearing Barry Bonds’ perjury trial this week, they can credit their privacy partly to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Monday's NIT Capsules
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Tony Mitchell scored 23 points and Trevor Releford matched his career-high with 20 to lead Alabama to a 74-67 win over New Mexico Monday night in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
WORLD
Israeli court sentences former president Katsav to 7 years in prison for rape, other offenses
TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli court ordered former Israeli President Moshe Katsav to prison for seven years Tuesday following his rape conviction, rejecting his attorneys’ request for leniency and making him the highest-ranking Israel official ever sent to jail.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Karzai: Afghan security forces to start taking control in 7 areas across Afghanistan in July
KABUL, Afghanistan — President Hamid Karzai said Tuesday that his security forces will soon take charge of securing seven areas around Afghanistan — the first step toward his goal of having Afghan police and soldiers protecting the entire nation by the end of 2014.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
China calls for immediate cease-fire, end of airstrikes in Libya
BEIJING — China has called for an immediate cease-fire in Libya where U.S. and European nations have launched punishing airstrikes Libya to enforce a U.N. no-fly zone.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav sentenced to 7 years in prison
TEL AVIV, Israel — Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav sentenced to 7 years in prison.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Gaza's Hamas rulers and teachers protest UN plans to teach Holocaust in territory's schools
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The United Nations has launched a new plan to teach the Holocaust in Gaza schools, drawing fierce condemnation from Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers, school teachers — and even the body tasked with peace negotiations with Israel.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Home Front: Design advice from Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza
Susan Battle, who owns the Point of it All, Washington's premier needlepoint shop, joins the weekly chat.
(, vForum)
The Taliban Shuffle: Kim Barker on the 'forgotten war'
Join author and foreign correspondent Kim Barker as she talks about her years reporting on the "forgotten war," doing the "Taliban Shuffle" between Afghanistan and Pakistan after the U.S. military had decamped for Iraq.
(, vForum)
Ask Boswell
Sports Columnist Tom Boswell will take your questions about baseball, the Redskins, the Wizards and more.
(, vForum)
How to prepare a vegetable garden
Advice on how to prepare a vegetable garden
(, vForum)
Advice from Slate's 'Dear Prudence': Baby showers gone bad, not a dog person, you have something in your teeth
Live discussion with Slate advice columnist Dear Prudence, a.k.a. Emily Yoffe.
(, vForum)
EDITORIAL
A new basis for excellence?
Largely unnoticed, the most demanding proven program for a high school ever seen in the Disrict is applying for charter school status. The unanswered question: Can a school that requires students to pass six AP exams survive in the nation’s capital?
(, The Washington Post)
BUSINESS
United Auto Workers sets agenda amid chaos of collective bargaining laws, rising gas prices
DETROIT — The United Auto Workers union is meeting in Detroit this week amid a heated national debate over collective bargaining rights.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Toyota, Honda extend Japan auto production shutdown amid shortages of parts, power
TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. are extending their shutdown of auto production in Japan amid a shortage of parts following a colossal earthquake and tsunami earlier this month.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
100 years after Triangle fire killed 146 in NYC and galvanized labor, the horror resonates
NEW YORK — It was a warm spring Saturday when dozens of immigrant girls and women leapt to their deaths — some with their clothes on fire, some holding hands — as horrified onlookers watched the Triangle Shirtwaist factory burn.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
2 more pilots arrested, Indian officials investigated in growing scandal over fake documents
NEW DELHI — Two more airline pilots with fake certificates have been arrested in a growing investigation of corruption in awarding aviation licenses, an official said Tuesday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Sony temporarily suspends some operations due to lack of materials, components
TOKYO — Sony Corp. said Tuesday it was suspending production at some plants in Japan that make popular consumer electronics like digital cameras and televisions due to shortages of parts and raw materials following the calamitous earthquake earlier this month.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
In Libya, Gaddafi’s forces dig into populated areas
Opposition fighters cheered and flashed victory signs as allied jets streaked across the sky Monday over the strategic city of Ajdabiya,
(By Sudarsan Raghavan)
Yemeni government confronts mass defections
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh clung to power by a thread after country’s most powerful military commander threw his support behind protesters and opposition groups seeking Saleh’s ouster and defections mounted.
(By Karen DeYoung)
Could Haley Barbour break the mold?
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour may try to rewrite the script for 2012 Republican presidential race.
(By Karen Tumulty)
Battle over pension costs in Montgomery
For years, officials in wealthy, liberal Montgomery County have avoided difficult decisions on scaling back pensions and health-care benefits for retirees. Now, the long-term shortfall is $4.8 billion.
(By Michael Laris)
Prosecutor in Bethesda slaying describes wild cover-up story
For 90 minutes, authorities say, Brittany Norwood sat in her victim’s parked car, concocting a plan to cover up the horrendous crime scene.
(By Dan Morse and Dana Hedgpeth)
POLITICS
With Yemen crumbling, US sees fragile counterterrorism ally fading, and few good options ahead
WASHINGTON — For two years, the Obama administration has had a relationship of convenience with Yemen: The U.S. kept the Yemeni government armed and flush with cash. In return, Yemen’s leaders helped fight al-Qaida or, as often, looked the other way while the U.S. did.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Rate of coalition attacks on Libya is slowing; officials say US role to lessen in coming days
WASHINGTON — Building on what U.S. officials called a successful first stage of international military action in Libya, the focus is shifting to widening a no-fly zone across the North African country while continuing smaller-scale attacks on Libyan air defenses and setting the stage for a humanitarian relief mission.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
HEALTHBEAT: Experts say risk from radiation in food in Japan low so far, but WHO urges caution
WASHINGTON — Radiation-tainted spinach from Japan’s damaged nuclear reactors may sound scary, but here’s a reality check: Even if any made it to stores there, you’d have to be Popeye to eat enough to worry.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
A perfect GOP presidential candidate is hard to find; personal missteps, policy flaws abound
WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney is the godfather of what Republican critics call Obamacare. Newt Gingrich is an adulterer on his third marriage. Tim Pawlenty is too green — environmentally, that is.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Consumer advocates: FCC should require more disclosure on political ads
The Federal Communications Commission should require sponsors of political advertising to disclose their biggest financial backers to the public, according to a petition to be filed Tuesday by a public-interest law firm.
( by Dan Eggen , The Washington Post)
STYLE
Libya releases Times journalists
Four New York Times journalists were released unharmed by the Libyan government on Monday.
( by Paul Farhi and Manuel Roig-Franzia , The Washington Post)
Evangelist Colson’s final mission
Before Charles Colson became one of the country’s top evangelical leaders, he was best known as Nixon’s “hatchet man.” Now Colson, 79, is creating an army of Christian disciples.
( by Michelle Boorstein , The Washington Post)
Salem plays witch house in D.C.
Salem is pure aesthetic, with little to no detail paid to songcraft, stage presence or anything else that defines a band.
( by David Malitz , The Washington Post)
No polarizing politico on ‘DWTS’
“Dancing With the Stars” returns to ABC’s Monday lineup.
(, The Washington Post)
King of nonsense
“The Return of Mr. Zone 6” from Gucci Mane is being hailed as a return to form, but that’s an oxymoron when it comes to the rapper.
(, The Washington Post)
SPORTS
Opening statements set for Tuesday after jury selected in Bonds perjury trial
SAN FRANCISCO — Now that a jury has been selected in the Barry Bonds perjury trial, the prosecutors and the slugger’s lawyers are scheduled Tuesday to deliver opening statements.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Opening statements set for Tuesday after jury selected in Bonds perjury trial
SAN FRANCISCO — Now that a jury has been selected in the Barry Bonds perjury trial, lawyers on both sides are scheduled to deliver opening statements.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Jurors' privacy rights collide with press, public's right to know in high-profile cases
CHICAGO — When anonymous jurors begin hearing the perjury trial of retired baseball slugger Barry Bonds this week, they can credit their privacy in part to a case involving another famous defendant, but one where the focus is on alleged political corruption rather than steroids: Illinois’ impeached former governor, Rod Blagojevich.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Jurors' privacy rights collide with press, public's right to know in high-profile cases
CHICAGO — When anonymous jurors begin hearing Barry Bonds’ perjury trial this week, they can credit their privacy partly to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Monday's NIT Capsules
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Tony Mitchell scored 23 points and Trevor Releford matched his career-high with 20 to lead Alabama to a 74-67 win over New Mexico Monday night in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
WORLD
Israeli court sentences former president Katsav to 7 years in prison for rape, other offenses
TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli court ordered former Israeli President Moshe Katsav to prison for seven years Tuesday following his rape conviction, rejecting his attorneys’ request for leniency and making him the highest-ranking Israel official ever sent to jail.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Karzai: Afghan security forces to start taking control in 7 areas across Afghanistan in July
KABUL, Afghanistan — President Hamid Karzai said Tuesday that his security forces will soon take charge of securing seven areas around Afghanistan — the first step toward his goal of having Afghan police and soldiers protecting the entire nation by the end of 2014.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
China calls for immediate cease-fire, end of airstrikes in Libya
BEIJING — China has called for an immediate cease-fire in Libya where U.S. and European nations have launched punishing airstrikes Libya to enforce a U.N. no-fly zone.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav sentenced to 7 years in prison
TEL AVIV, Israel — Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav sentenced to 7 years in prison.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Gaza's Hamas rulers and teachers protest UN plans to teach Holocaust in territory's schools
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The United Nations has launched a new plan to teach the Holocaust in Gaza schools, drawing fierce condemnation from Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers, school teachers — and even the body tasked with peace negotiations with Israel.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Home Front: Design advice from Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza
Susan Battle, who owns the Point of it All, Washington's premier needlepoint shop, joins the weekly chat.
(, vForum)
The Taliban Shuffle: Kim Barker on the 'forgotten war'
Join author and foreign correspondent Kim Barker as she talks about her years reporting on the "forgotten war," doing the "Taliban Shuffle" between Afghanistan and Pakistan after the U.S. military had decamped for Iraq.
(, vForum)
Ask Boswell
Sports Columnist Tom Boswell will take your questions about baseball, the Redskins, the Wizards and more.
(, vForum)
How to prepare a vegetable garden
Advice on how to prepare a vegetable garden
(, vForum)
Advice from Slate's 'Dear Prudence': Baby showers gone bad, not a dog person, you have something in your teeth
Live discussion with Slate advice columnist Dear Prudence, a.k.a. Emily Yoffe.
(, vForum)
EDITORIAL
A new basis for excellence?
Largely unnoticed, the most demanding proven program for a high school ever seen in the Disrict is applying for charter school status. The unanswered question: Can a school that requires students to pass six AP exams survive in the nation’s capital?
(, The Washington Post)
BUSINESS
United Auto Workers sets agenda amid chaos of collective bargaining laws, rising gas prices
DETROIT — The United Auto Workers union is meeting in Detroit this week amid a heated national debate over collective bargaining rights.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Toyota, Honda extend Japan auto production shutdown amid shortages of parts, power
TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. are extending their shutdown of auto production in Japan amid a shortage of parts following a colossal earthquake and tsunami earlier this month.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
100 years after Triangle fire killed 146 in NYC and galvanized labor, the horror resonates
NEW YORK — It was a warm spring Saturday when dozens of immigrant girls and women leapt to their deaths — some with their clothes on fire, some holding hands — as horrified onlookers watched the Triangle Shirtwaist factory burn.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
2 more pilots arrested, Indian officials investigated in growing scandal over fake documents
NEW DELHI — Two more airline pilots with fake certificates have been arrested in a growing investigation of corruption in awarding aviation licenses, an official said Tuesday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Sony temporarily suspends some operations due to lack of materials, components
TOKYO — Sony Corp. said Tuesday it was suspending production at some plants in Japan that make popular consumer electronics like digital cameras and televisions due to shortages of parts and raw materials following the calamitous earthquake earlier this month.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
