Today is my last day doing the Dan Yorke Show on WPRO-AM in Providence, RI. It has been a blast. Thanks to Dan (who is vacationing in Florida), Paul, E.J., Joe and Tim. I hope to be able to do some more fill-ins for them in the future.

Yesterday, a jury in Providence declared three paint companies liable for creating a public nuisance by selling lead paint (which was banned in 1978). Other states are looking on with interest, and new lawsuits seem a certainty, unless the paint companies win on appeal. Should these companies be held financially responsible for lead paint poisoning?

The Governor of Rhode Island is embroiled in a controversy over his proposal to eliminate the children of undocumented immigrants from the state's RIte Care program (their version of state Medicaid for poor folks). It is one of the many controversies that result from the enormous problem of illegal immigration facing this country. Senator John McCain, who many believe will run for President in '08, has introduced legislation, co-sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy, that would 'legalize' the 11 million illegal immigrants currently in the country through a guest-worker program. While this will surely provoke outrage from the right-wing of the GOP (and many ordinary Americans), his argument will be similar to the one put forward by President Bush when he introduced a similar plan. McCain will argue that the process of seeking out, arresting and deporting 11 million people is simply impractical. Therefore, it is better to get them to voluntarily come forward and be 'legalized'. Having talked with McCain face-to-face many times during the 2000 campaign, if anyone can convince the American people that this is the right thing to do, he can.

A significant Shiite mosque was blown up yesterday, and it appears as if someone (al Qaeda, probably, but there are other potential suspects) is trying very hard to stoke the fires of civil war in Iraq. James Robbins thinks it won't work. This op-ed from the NYT takes a different view.

The controversy over the Dubai Ports World acquisition of the British-owned P. and O. Shipping Company continues. Is the UAE a friend or foe? Dan Darling looks at the pros and cons.

The legislature in South Dakota passed a bill banning abortions in that state. If the governor signs it, let the lawsuits begin.