China says it will permit demonstrations in three designated city parks during the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. But anyone seeking to protest must apply for permission from the government and police.

According to the BBC News, “the announcement suggests China will have a more relaxed attitude toward protestors during the Olympics than it had in the past. Chinese citizens are already allowed to stage rallies, although in reality there are few anti-government protests.”

While performing a Wiccan good luck ritual at a central Indiana cemetery, a woman accidentally stabbed herself in the foot with a 3-foot-long sword.

According to Fox News, “Katherine Gunther, 36, of Lebanon, pierced her left foot with the sword while performing the rite at Oak Hill Cemetery, police said.”

Mayor Daley of Chicago challenged criminals in the city on Tuesday to turn in their guns this weekend in exchange for a $100 bounty. Last year, a similar gun buy-back program funded by corporate donors took a record 6,700 guns off Chicago streets.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, “on Saturday, Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weiss is hoping to double that number. Guns can be turned in at 25 participating churches between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. – no questions asked – and swapped for a $100 prepaid Mastercard. BB, replica air guns can be exchanged for $10 prepaid cards.”

Late Tuesday, members of the Alaska state House of Representatives voted to approve an exclusive state license for a Canadian energy company proposing to build a natural gas pipeline down the Alaska Highway to Alberta, Canada.

The Anchorage Daily News reports that, “the 24-16 vote supports the license for Calgary-based TransCanada Corp., one of the continent’s biggest gas pipeline operators. The house could take a re-vote today before sending the proposal to the Senate.”

Gardner Selby of the Austin American-Statesman reports that, “Hope Andrade, a former member of the Texas Transportation Commission, is in Gov. Rick Perry’s sights as his choice to succeed the departed Phil Wilson as Texas Secretary of State.”

To read the entire article from the Austin American-Statesman, link here:

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On Tuesday, Tropical Storm Dolly intensified over the western Gulf of Mexico as it bore down on South Texas, but meteorologists don’t forecast it to pack too much of a punch, when it washes ashore near the Mexican border as a hurricane on Wednesday.

Strategists for John McCain have unveiled anew weapon against what they view as ingratiating coverage of his Democratic rival: mockery.

The Washington Post reports that, “the campaign has posted two online videos, filled with clips of journalists saying nice things about McCain’s opponent, on an e-mail message to reporters declaring: “It’s pretty obvious that the media has a bizarre fascination with Barack Obama. Some may even say it’s a love affair … If it wasn’t so serious, it would be funny.”