Heads and tales: Hey, big spenders

bush at tuskegee Scientific Americans: President Bush dropped by Tuskegee University Wednesday to announce a new push to fund scientific research to remain globally competitive. The plan calls for $136 billion over 10 years to train teachers and provide Pell Grants for students planning to major in math or science. It’s called the American Competitiveness Initiative, but we prefer “No Nerd Left Behind.”

Handpicked student audience didn’t vote for Bush, “indifferent,” “excited”
The speech video (Windows Media) | transcript
Photo essay
Moore: Bush visit part of vast right-wing conspiracy to undermine gubernatorial bid

• Bush pushes research in Tuskegee [Montgomery Advertiser]

L.A. laws: Gov. Riley is counting up his legislative wins as he rolls toward the June primaries. Among the achievements: tax breaks for the poor, expanded use of children’s car seats, a February presidential primary and criminalizing the injury or murder of a fetus (not counting abortion). April 28 is the signing deadline on the bills.
• Riley says he ‘couldn’t be happier’ as session ends [Birmingham News]

Down the drain: The jury was expected to begin deliberations today in the sewer trial involving former Jefferson County commissioner Chris McNair and various contractors. The charges: bribery and conspiracy. The question: Did McNair receive bribes or gifts in the form of thousands of dollars in cash envelopes? This is the first of two trials for McNair, whose own daughter testified against him. The sewer fiasco started out at $1 billion and is now expected to cost $3 billion to fix. Additional coverage.
• First sewer swindle trial closes [Birmingham Weekly]

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