Week in Review

EDITOR'S NOTE: This week we are trying something new. Instead of a long analysis of the themes found in the week's news, here is a complete list of all the stories we published. We want your feedback on this. Do you prefer our original Week in Review? Does the summary of news stories below better suit your needs? Please let us know.

U.S. News

CAMPAIGN CULTURE: Scott McClellan's 323-page book, What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception, recounts his eight-year tenure in the White House—first as deputy press secretary, then as press secretary from 2003 to 2006. Although the book won't be published until next Tuesday, news media obtained advance copies and are printing excerpts, along with astonished reactions from McClellan's former colleagues. President Bush remains quiet.

LEGISLATURE THWARTED? Although New York doesn't allow same-sex marriages, state agencies must now recognize gay marriages that took place in other states, according to the governor.

TOXIC TRAILERS: The government plans to close federal trailer parks for Katrina victims to protect residents from hurricanes—and possibly cancer. Meanwhile, affordable housing is scarce.

IOWA & MINNESOTA: Sunday's tornadoes killed seven adults in Iowa, and one toddler in Minnesota.

HOME INDEX: A comprehensive housing price index recorded its deepest decline in 17 years. Have we hit bottom yet?

Social and Humanitarian

QUAKE LAKES: The Chinese government plans to evacuate 1.3 million people if the Tangjiashan "quake lake" overflows its banks and floods nearby towns.

AID ALLOWED: Last week a top U.N. official persuaded Myanmar's military government to accept foreign aid. Although it's been three weeks since the cyclone, millions of survivors still wait for help.

SEXUAL ASSAULT: A recent report released by international children's charity, Save the Children, implicates peacekeepers and other relief workers in sexual assaults of children around the world.

ELECTIONS & RIOTS: Fifty people have been killed in anti-foreigner riots in Johannesburg, South Africa. Violence across the border in Zimbabwe also escalates as the country prepares for a contentious presidential run-off election.

International Politics

AMERICAN SUGARDADDY? American businessman Morris Talansky testified in Israel Tuesday that he gave money to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The next day, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak called on Olmert to resign or lose his position.

IRAN & URANIUM: The U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency released a report Monday that once again focuses attention on Iran's nuclear program. The report's main complaint is that Iran wasn't willing to openly discuss its continuing development of nuclear power.

Health

MOSQUITOES BEWARE: Summer's on the way, and so are mosquitoes. Scientists hope to find new insect repellents that may work—and smell—better than DEET.

INTERNET EXPOSURE: Some people say their allergic response to wireless Internet and cell phone signals warrants a ban of Wi-Fi in Santa Fe's public areas.

SOCIAL CIRCLES: Can't seem to quit smoking on your own? It might be time to talk to your friends.

Science and Technology

WATER MISSION: The U.S. spacecraft Phoenix Mars Lander touched down safely on Mars' northern arctic circle Sunday. Because it takes 15 minutes for signals from Mars to reach Earth, scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., didn't know the fate of the craft until after it had landed.