Newser - Must Readshttp://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorWed, 03 Dec 2008 21:23:05 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44326/slates-new-columnist-eliot-spitzer.html?refid=rss_all_defaultEliot Spitzer continues his slow creep back into the public eye. The disgraced New York governor will begin writing a regular column for the online magazine Slate, the New York Observer reports. Spitzer's column, called the Best Policy, will debut tomorrow, then appear every other week. It will cover government, regulation and finance, and will focus heavily at first on the current economic mess.http://www.newser.com/story/44326/slates-new-columnist-eliot-spitzer.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 19:54:23 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44324/conservative-episcopalians-form-rival-branch.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTheological conservatives upset by liberal views of US Episcopalians and Canadian Anglicans formed a rival North American province today. The development is the culmination of a five-year rift that erupted when Episcopalians in New Hampshire consecrated the first openly gay bishop. The split represents a new challenge to the already splintering, 77-million-member Anglican fellowship—the world's third largest Christian body—and its spiritual leader, the archbishop of Canterbury.http://www.newser.com/story/44324/conservative-episcopalians-form-rival-branch.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 18:38:52 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44322/india-to-use-truth-serum-on-terrorist.html?refid=rss_all_defaultIndian police plan to inject a controversial truth serum into the lone surviving Mumbai terrorist to try to prove his identity, reports the London Times . The narcotics-powered analysis could yield proof that the so-called "baby-faced gunman" is indeed from Pakistan, which India suspects but Pakistan doubts. Western agencies stopped using the method—usually a form of sodium pentathol—during the Cold War because of psychological side effects such as hallucinations and delusions.http://www.newser.com/story/44322/india-to-use-truth-serum-on-terrorist.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 18:11:42 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44323/treasury-may-lower-mortgage-rates-to-45.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe Treasury may try to bring new mortgage rates down to 4.5%—a full percentage point lower than current rates—to revitalize the housing market, the Wall Street Journal reports. Under the proposal, which is still in the early stages, the department would use Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to lower the rates. The idea comes after months of struggling to hatch a plan to reduce foreclosures and stem falling prices without directly bailing out borrowers and lenders.http://www.newser.com/story/44323/treasury-may-lower-mortgage-rates-to-45.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 16:36:56 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44308/pro-impeachment-ornament-wont-grace-bush-tree.html?refid=rss_all_defaultA Seattle artist who created a Christmas tree ornament advocating the impeachment of President Bush will not see it hanging on the White House after all, the Washington Post reports. The first lady ordered that it be yanked down. “Oh, dear,” said Deborah Lawrence. “This doesn’t really surprise me. But it’s disappointing that I won’t get to see it on the tree.”http://www.newser.com/story/44308/pro-impeachment-ornament-wont-grace-bush-tree.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 15:39:46 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44319/dow-rises-173-in-volatile-day.html?refid=rss_all_defaultStocks pulled higher again today after a roller coaster day that saw the Dow swing temporarily into triple-digit losses, the Wall Street Journal reports. Despite dour data on the economy, stocks rose ahead of a November jobs report, due Friday, that is expected to report large losses. The Dow gained 172.60 points to close at 8,592. The Nasdaq closed up 42.58 points at 1,492, while the S&P 500 rose 21.93 points to settle at 871.http://www.newser.com/story/44319/dow-rises-173-in-volatile-day.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 15:25:31 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44318/trampled-workers-family-sues-wal-mart.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe family of the Wal-Mart temp worker who was trampled to death by a Black Friday stampede has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in New York's state Supreme Court against the retailer and the Long Island mall where the store is located. The family also filed notice that Nassau County, on Long Island, and its police department will be sued.http://www.newser.com/story/44318/trampled-workers-family-sues-wal-mart.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 14:56:00 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44295/obama-appointments-leave-little-for-gop-to-knock.html?refid=rss_all_defaultBarack Obama’s Cabinet picks leave Republicans with few lines of attack, Politico reports. In contrast to campaign rhetoric that painted Obama as a radical leftist, the retention of Robert Gates and selection of McCain buddy Jim Jones has won praise from GOP stalwarts. Karl Rove himself said Obama’s brainy, centrist economic appointments “provided surprisingly positive clarity.”http://www.newser.com/story/44295/obama-appointments-leave-little-for-gop-to-knock.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 14:48:00 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/44294/for-inauguration-week-dc-pushes-last-call-to-5am.html?refid=rss_all_defaultPreparing for a wave of inauguration visitors (and their cash), Washington legislators loosened the capital’s laws yesterday to let restaurants, bars, and nightclubs stay open all night and serve alcohol until 5am in the days leading up to the historic occasion, the Washington Post reports. The move upset civic leaders concerned about safety and crowd control.http://www.newser.com/story/44294/for-inauguration-week-dc-pushes-last-call-to-5am.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 03 Dec 2008 14:29:01 CST