High court rejects lawsuit over gays in military law

A former Army captain who was dismissed under a federal law dealing with gays and lesbians in the military lost his appeal Monday at the U.S. Supreme Court. James Pietrangelo and 11 other veterans had sued the government over the “don’t ask/ don’t tell” law passed in 1993

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Introducing America’s First Black, Female Rabbi

The path to the pulpit has been as colorful as it has been unusual for Alysa Stanton, 45, America’s first-ever female African-American rabbi. Stanton, who was born to a Christian family, was formally ordained on June 6, having completed seven years of rabbinical training at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. Stanton will now assume her new role as the first nonwhite rabbi of Congregation Bayt Shalom, a 60-family synagogue in Greenville, N.C

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This Preposterous Week! Paul Slansky’s News Index

Baldwin, Paul •release from prison of after serving one-year term for stealing a can of beer is quickly followed by another arrest of — the 153rd — for assault Baron Cohen, Sacha •Eminem’s face is landed on by bare butt of during MTV Movie Awards, leading to days of babble about whether or not the stunt had in fact been planned, which — DUH! — it had Berlin, Alan David •firing of from position as aide to Pennsylvania state senator famous for being tough on sex crimes after arrest of for propositioning a 15-year-old boy on the Internet and discussing having sex with him while wearing animal costumes Blagojevich, Patti •tarantulas are dined on by Boyle, Susan •loss of in Britain’s Got Talent finals is not taken well by Breaking Bad •airing of brilliant season finale of — ending with plane crash over Albuquerque — coincides with plunge of Air France jet into the Atlantic Carradine, David •details of the passing of are apparently not for the squeamish Cheney, Dick •blame for 9/11 is placed by on Richard Clarke, who repeatedly warned about the danger of such an attack Cheney, Liz •absurdly Orwellian insistence of that father of never sought to link Iraq to 9/11 Coleman, Norm •imminent surrender of Epstein, Marcus •2007 assault on African-American woman — he stopped her on a Washington, D.C.

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House Republican leaders float $375 billion in budget cuts

The House Republican leadership upped the ante Thursday in the ongoing debate over the size and scope of the federal budget, unveiling a proposal to cut spending by $375 billion over the next five years. The bulk of the GOP’s proposed savings would come from capping nondefense discretionary spending at the level of inflation

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Obama Calls for New Beginning Between U.S., Muslims

— Quoting from the Quran for emphasis, President Barack Obama called for a “new beginning between the United States and Muslims” Thursday and said together, they could confront violent extremism across the globe and advance the timeless search for peace in the Middle East.

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Emotional Nancy Reagan unveils statue of late president

An emotional Nancy Reagan helped unveil a statue of her late husband, President Reagan, on Wednesday, calling the 7-foot figure "a wonderful likeness." “I know Ronnie would be deeply honored to see himself with a permanent home in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol and very proud to be representing his beloved California,” Nancy Reagan said. She appeared to battle emotions as she mentioned her last visit to the marbled hall for Reagan’s memorial in June 2004

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