Is Iran trying to add another building block to its nuclear program?

Iran Joins the Space Club, but Why?

The Supreme Court left Jose Padilla's detention intact, but justices offered a warning to the Bush administration.

Justices Decline Terror Case of a U.S. Citizen

Venezuela's president is spending oil revenues with the aim of greater influence in the Americas.

Chávez, Seeking Foreign Allies, Spends Billions

Researchers are beginning to identify why one person's spontaneity is another's descent into self-destruction.

Living on Impulse

The jury found that Zacarias Moussaoui was responsible for some of the deaths on Sept. 11, 2001.

Jurors Permit Death Penalty for Moussaoui

Ice on the Sea of Galilee could provide a scientific explanation for walking on water. 

A Cold, Hard Explanation for a Biblical Feat

Workers at Waste Management of New York go on strike after months of unsuccessful contract negotiations; it is first strike against private garbarge-hauling company in New York since 1990; strike affects commercial customers in New York City and Westchester County; Mayor Michael Bloomberg says city labor officials are ready to help mediate if called upon; photo (M)

Trash Workers Go on Strike After Months of Negotiations

 Former Enron Chiefs Prepare to Testify  Two of the country's best corporate salesmen are about to make the most important pitches of their lives. After 32 days of testimony from 22 witnesses, prosecutors rested their case last week in the criminal trial of Enron's former chief executives, setting the stage for the defense to take over yesterday. Now the trial has moved toward what may be the make-or-break moment for both sides: the testimony of Jeffrey K. Skilling and Kenneth L. Lay. Mr. Skilling could take the stand as early as tomorrow.   PAGE C1    Sudan Blocks U.N. Visit  The government of Sudan has barred Jan Egeland, the United Nations' top emergency aid official, from making a planned visit to the western Darfur region this week, prompting Mr. Egeland to accuse the Sudanese of trying to hide the dire conditions there.   PAGE A3    CBS Nears Deal With Couric  A deal to recruit Katie Couric to CBS News may be completed as early as this week, people close to the talks said.   BUSINESS DAY, PAGE C1    Plea by Liberia's Ex-Leader  In his first appearance before the international tribunal that indicted him on 11 counts of war crimes, Charles G. Taylor, the former Liberian president, pleaded not guilty after refusing to recognize the court's jurisdiction.   PAGE A3    It's Florida, Front and Center  Joakim Noah, left, of Florida outjumped Alfred Aboya of U.C.L.A. for a rebound last night, and the Gators won their first national championship in basketball with a 73-57 victory in Indianapolis.   SPORTSTUESDAY, PAGE D1    Building Organs for Life  Bladders created in the laboratory from a patient's own cells and then implanted in seven people achieved good long-term results, researchers reported.   SCIENCE TIMES, PAGE F6    Patronage in Academia  A report details pervasive patronage hiring at New Jersey's state medical school, with applicants rated by political connection.   PAGE B1    Success for Mets and Yanks  David Wright homered, and the Mets defeated Washington, 3-2, on opening day. The Yankees, opening in Oakland, clobbered the Athletics, 15-2.   SPORTSTUESDAY, PAGE D1    The Eerie Realms of Art  The work of Frank Auerbach, the veteran British painter, including ''Head of William Fever,'' above, brings haunting beauty to traditional pleasures. A review by Michael Kimmelman.   THE ARTS, PAGE E1    

INSIDE

During the heated immigration debate on Capitol Hill, some Republicans have portrayed immigrants as invaders, criminals and burdens to society. But for Senator Pete V. Domenici, Republican of New Mexico, the image that comes to mind is that of his mother and the day the authorities took her away.     It was 1943, World War II was raging, and federal agents were sweeping through Albuquerque hunting for Italian sympathizers. They found Mr. Domenici's mother, Alda V. Domenici, a curly-haired mother of four and a local PTA president who also happened to be an illegal immigrant from Italy. Mr. Domenici, who said he was 9 or 10 years old then, wept when his mother vanished with the agents in their big black car.  

An Immigration Debate Framed by Family Ties

Craig Ferguson, host of The Late Late Show, has written novel Between the Bridge and the River; Ferguson comments; photo (M)

From Craig Ferguson, a Novel Born of Literary Rambles

Representative Tom DeLay, the relentless Texan who helped lead House Republicans to power but became ensnared in a corruption scandal, has decided to leave Congress, House officials said Monday night.     Mr. DeLay, who abandoned his efforts to hold onto his position as majority leader earlier this year after the indictment of the lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a former ally, was seeking re-election as vindication. But he told selected colleagues that, facing the possibility of defeat, he had decided not to try to hold on to his House seat.  

DeLay Is Quitting Race and House, Officials Report

New York Mets defeat Washington Nationals, 3-2, in opening day game; photos (M)1

Wright and Nady Hit. Wagner Saves. Mission Accomplished.

New York Yankees defeat Oakland Athletics, 15-2, on opening day; photo (M)4

Every Yankee Does His Part in Opening Rout

Michael Kimmelman reviews exhibition of paintings by Frank Auerbach at Marlborough Gallery; photos (M),

Recent Works by Frank Auerbach in an Exhibition at the Marlborough Gallery

Florida University defeats UCLA, 73-57, to win men's NCAA championship for first time; Florida coach Billy Donovan is second-youngest coach to win title at age 40; photos (M)

Gators Cap Run With First Title

A hipster synagogue grows in SoHo, drawing large crowds with its ''Torah cocktail parties'' in fancy loft apartments and user-friendly prayer services designed especially for the uninitiated.     A group of New York-area congregations, along with others across the country, refashion their synagogues into religious multiplexes on the Sabbath, featuring programs like ''Shabbat yoga'' and comedy alongside traditional worship.  

With Yoga, Comedy and Parties, Synagogues Entice Newcomers

Iran's launching of small satellite in October 2005 and its planned launch of another satellite in upcoming months raises questions about why Iran is becoming involved in space activities; some experts say that satellites will add another building block to move disputed nuclear program forward, while others believe it is simply part of drive toward becoming more technologically advanced nation; no country has protested Iran's involvement in space, but United States and other nations agree that it could pose threat and should be monitored; Iranian rocket programs described; drawings (M)

Herbert J Stern federal monitor handling investigation of University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, issues report detailing pervasive patronage; report says system used numbers to rate potency of applicants' political connections (M)

Report Finds Patronage Rife at a University

Developer Andrew M Kissel is found murdered in his Greenwich, Conn, home; was to plead guilty to fraud charges in various real estate deals; also faced fraud charges in New York City; photos (M)

Developer Set to Plead Guilty Is Slain at Home

Two of the country's best corporate salesmen are about to make the most important pitches of their lives.     After 32 days of testimony from 22 witnesses, prosecutors rested their case last week in the criminal trial of Enron's former chief executives, setting the stage for the defense to take over as of Monday.  

In Enron Trial, a Calculated Risk

New York State budget provides nearly $1 million to pay for legislators' pet projects; allocations do not appear in budget but are listed as lump sums to be divided secretly by Gov George E Pataki, Senate majority leader Joseph L Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (M)

Albany Leadership Puts Taxes Into Pet Projects and Private Clubs

Janine D Flory, Mount Sinai School of Medicine psychologist, leads study to help explain how impulsive tendencies develop and what factors make people act destructively in certain situations; research, which is published in Journal of Psychiatric Research, connects activity in prefrontal areas of brain with impulsive behavior; finds that in humans impulsive actions peak during adolescent years; study may help doctors better understand addictive behaviors; drawing; photos (L)

CBS's long courtship of Katie Couric has moved close to a conclusion. A deal to recruit her away from NBC's ''Today'' show and into the nightly anchor chair at CBS News may be completed as early as this week, people close to the negotiations said yesterday.     While Ms. Couric is under contract to NBC though the end of May and, under the terms of her current deal, cannot have any formal talks with CBS or another network until the beginning of that month, NBC executives decided in recent days to permit Ms. Couric's representatives to discuss outside offers for her future services.  

A CBS Deal With Katie Couric May Be Near

Starting today, The Times is replacing its daily stock market tables with analytical tools and summary information on the markets and the economy. In a continuing effort to integrate The Times and its Web version, users of nytimes.com will be able to choose from an array of new functions, including a host of interactive graphics.      A detailed note about the changes, Page C1. An illustrated guide, Pages C8 and C9.  

New in Business Day

The board of General Motors expressed support Monday for Rick Wagoner, the company's embattled chief executive, as G.M. announced a long-anticipated deal to sell a majority stake in its financing arm, the General Motors Acceptance Corporation, for $7.4 billion.     It marked the board's first public comment on Mr. Wagoner since a spate of recent bad news, but analysts said it did not indicate unconditional backing. Indeed, accounting missteps prompted a board investigation two weeks ago after one error forced G.M. to increase its losses in 2005 by $2 billion, to $10.6 billion.  

April 4, 2006

Headlines from April 4, 2006

Iran Joins the Space Club, but Why?

Justices Decline Terror Case of a U.S. Citizen

Chávez, Seeking Foreign Allies, Spends Billions

Living on Impulse

Jurors Permit Death Penalty for Moussaoui

Billboard 200

High School Musical

Back To Bedlam

My Ghetto Report Card

In My Own Words

Reality Check

Historical Context for April 4, 2006