WASHINGTON — Ralph Baze has been convicted of killing two law enforcement officers in cold blood and sentenced to death. The U.S. Supreme Court now must ensure that Kentucky executes him in a constitutionally humane way.

What that means is open to debate.

On Monday, the justices will consider the fate of Baze and 3,340 other inmates who are facing lethal injection nationwide. It's the most consequential death penalty case in recent years. It's also more subtle than it may appear. » read more

WASHINGTON — Iowans voted for decisive change Thursday night, shaking up the race for the presidency for both Republicans and Democrats.

Republicans chose former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who took 34 percent. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney got 25 percent, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson 13 percent and Arizona Sen. John McCain 13 percent.

It was a big setback for Romney, who spent millions, assembled a massive organization and led Iowa polls for months. He outspent Huckabee by an estimated 20-1. Huckabee spent little and had minimal organization. But he won because self-described evangelical or born-again Christians were six in 10 of GOP caucus-goers, and they stuck with Huckabee, an ordained Baptist preacher, 2-1. His essential message was an upbeat mix of compassionate conservatism and change. » read more

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is allowing Mexican trucks to continue to travel deep into the United States despite what critics say is a congressional mandate to ban the trucks from U.S. highways.

Congress voted last year to halt funding for a pilot program that allows Mexican 18-wheelers to begin traveling freely into United States as part of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement. The Department of Transportation contends, however, that the congressional action permits the current program to continue while banning any new program.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the DOT agency that regulates the program, quietly acknowledged last week that the program is still under way, adding that it's issued permits to 11 Mexican companies with a total of 56 trucks. Mexican trucks previously were confined to a 25-mile border zone. » read more