Today's Top News from The Washington Times

		Monday, July 25, 2011 Must Read Stories Today
As deadline looms, both parties craft debt plans With no debt deal done and both sides racing an Aug. 2 deadline, Democrats and Republicans on Sunday readied separate backup plans to try to raise the government's borrowing limit and cut spending. Agents could lose thousands in salary Officials at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have proposed a new salary plan for Border Patrol agents that could cost them an average of $7,000 a year in lost pay and spark what some say would be an exodus of veteran agents to higher-paying agencies. Gay-marriage foes cite polygamy suit Reality-TV star Kody Brown and his "sister wives" may not intend to be an example of the "slippery slope" in the gay-marriage debate, but their new lawsuit against Utah's anti-polygamy laws bolsters the argument that legalizing marriage for same-sex couples could open the door to recognition of other kinds of marriages. Ex-governors' jobs numbers fall short of Perry's The former governors in the GOP presidential field tout their political accomplishments as proof they can lead the nation out of the economic doldrums, but when it comes to actual job numbers, the trio doesn't hold a candle to Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has emerged in recent polls as a strong conservative alternative to Mitt Romney. 2 D.C. council members call for Thomas to resign Two D.C. Council members are calling on Harry Thomas Jr. to resign his council seat after he settled a lawsuit brought by the city accusing him of using money from a charity he operated as a personal slush fund. Maryland lawmakers listen to redistricting arguments Maryland's redistricting committee began a 12-stop listening tour during the weekend in Western Maryland - an expected battleground in the state's redrawing of congressional and state legislative boundaries. Cannons boom at Bull Run in Civil War re-enactment Cannon fire and troop movement began under a hazy sky Sunday morning, as thousands of Civil War re-enactors fought the Battle of Bull Run amid heat and a crowd similar to those that came out to watch the original battle. Players' vote to settle NFL lockout still unsettled A vote on a settlement to the lockout is what every NFL fan wants. Nobody is sure when that might happen. Pro-Russia policy stalls Afghan copters A Pentagon program to rush 21 helicopters to Afghan military forces in time for this summer's fighting season was derailed by the Obama administration's conciliatory policy toward Russia and by Army procurement missteps amid allegations of corruption, according to current and former defense officials and military contractors. Norway dealing with worst massacre since World War II Norwegians spent the weekend trying to overcome the shock from the deaths Friday of 93 people in a huge bomb blast in the country's capital and then a massive shooting spree at an island retreat for young people. Evans' emotional victory one for Australia - and one for the ages After two runner-up finishes, Cadel Evans finally stood on the top of the podium on the Champs-Elysees as champion of cycling's greatest race. CURL: Is Obama a pathological liar? In the weird world that is Washington, men and women say things daily, hourly, even minutely, that they know deep down are simply not true. Inside the Beltway, we all call those utterances "rhetoric." But across the rest of the country, plain ol' folk call 'em lies. Gay couples wed on 1st day in New York Buoyant gay couples cheered by supporters began marrying Sunday on the landmark day that New York became the sixth and largest state to recognize same-sex weddings and provided fresh energy to the national gay rights movement. Geithner: House GOP 'praying for default' on debt The Treasury Department on Sunday accused House Republicans of "praying for default," because they seem unwilling to raise the debt ceiling. Amy Winehouse's mother said, 'She seemed out of it' Amy Winehouse's mother said the singer seemed unwell a day before she died, a British newspaper reported Sunday, while her family mourned the loss of "a wonderful daughter, sister, niece" and more tributes flowed in from fans and fellow performers. North Korean official to go to U.S. for nuclear talks A senior North Korean minister will visit the United States this week to discuss the possible resumption of long-stalled international negotiations on ending Pyongyang's nuclear programs, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday. Commentary EDITORIAL: Government pornography ring The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced Wednesday that computerized fig leaves would be applied to the images produced by X-rated x-ray scanners in airports. The agency was forced to beat a partial retreat from its "all nude, all the time" position after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit insisted on the change in a July 15 ruling that also found TSA violated the Administrative Procedures Act by rushing the machines into service without adequate scrutiny or public notice. SAUERBREY: Forcing the irresponsible to act responsibly President Obama dismissed the House of Representatives' "Cut, Cap and Balance" plan by saying, "We don't need a constitutional amendment to do our jobs. The Constitution already tells us to do our jobs - and to make sure that the government is living within its means and making responsible choices." MILLER: White House video crime? President Obama is so obsessed with returning to the executive mansion that he may have forgotten to abide by campaign ethics rules. Last month, he made a video in a ground-floor room of the White House asking Democrats to pony up for a chance to win "dinner with Barack and Joe," referring to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. RASMUSSEN: Time for public-union temper tantrums Another day, another union up- rising. This time, Illinois' government unions are up in arms about raises they were supposed to receive on July 1. But don't be fooled - Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn isn't joining the ranks of the governors of New Jersey, Wisconsin and Ohio. Other Recent Articles 'Always Sunny' cast leads Comic-Con sing-along China officials find 5 fake Apple stores in 1 city Players' executive committee to meet Monday 'Harry Potter' to weaken Indonesia film boycott? Boogaard brother charged in NHL player's OD death Bin Hammam vows to overturn FIFA's lifetime ban Producers: Kurt, Finn, Rachel not done with `Glee' Daunting space task _ send astronauts to asteroid Jazz impresario building legacy for Newport fests Oregon AD emails supporters ahead of media day Alomar, Blyleven and Gillick enter Baseball HOF Vandals pour bleach on green at Canadian Open CDC: Chickenpox deaths plummeted since vaccine Leslie, Cooper, Taurasi lead list of WNBA's Top 15 'Captain America' knocks Harry from No. 1 spot		Most Read Stories Report: China building electromagnetic pulse weapons for use against U.S. carriers Woman fatally shoots McLean psychiatrist, then kills herself Exclusive: The Oslo Terrorist in His Own Words: Bomber Predicted %u201CEurope soon will burn once again%u201D Cheh, Catania call for Thomas to resign from D.C. Council Debt talks break down between Obama, Boehner Latest from WT Communities Independent Social Contributors Smart Customers, Stupid Company Smart citizens, stupid politicians ALS entrepreneur frees others Autism Unexpected Siblings and autism: How do we reconcile their needs? What to say to parents of children with autism The Tygrrrr Express Live from the 2011 NAACP Convention in Los Angeles Jon Stewart, Bernie Goldberg, and a poisonous train of thought Culinary Quest Alaskan halibut recipe from Second Story Second Story eat & drink in Manhattan Beach rates a first and second look