The former head of the International Monetary Fund Dominique Strauss-Kahn has another court appearance Friday. He's charged with assaulting a hotel maid in Manhattan in May. Friday's proceeding is being described as one that could ease his bail conditions. Sources say government officials have uncovered inconsistencies and possible misstatements by his accuser.

Steve Inskeep talks to David Wessel of "The Wall Street Journal" about his recent trip to China, and the pressures on foreign businesses operating there.

As China's Communist Party celebrates its 90th anniversary, President Hu Jintao has warned that its long rule has led to grave corruption. With 80 million members, it's now the world's largest political party. But facing rampant corruption and growing dissatisfaction, can this revolutionary party survive?

Renee Montagne has the Last Word in business.

Moroccan voters go to the polls on Friday in a nationwide referendum on political changes proposed by the king. Morocco, like other countries in North Africa and the Middle East, was swept by pro-democracy demonstrations at the beginning of the year. Demonstrators protested a lack of freedoms, weak economy and political corruption.

If fireworks are at the top of the list for Independence Day activities, then music is number two.  A 4th of July country music concert is planned for Lexington, as is a pops concert by the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra.  Rich Copley of the Lexington Herald Leader offers this preview.

Last weekend, a group of libertarians and anarchists gathered in the woods of northern New Hampshire for the annual Porcupine Freedom Festival, aka PorcFest.

I went up for breakfast.

Lucky for me, George Mandrik has brought along 150 lbs. of bacon, which he's selling out of a tent to finance his trip to the festival. He does this thing where he weaves 10 pieces of bacon into what he calls "a little blanket," and cooks the whole thing up.

It's pretty easy to see the winning formula for Fox News and MSNBC. They spend their evening hours stoking outrage from the political right and left, respectively.

But it's not as clear what the missing secret sauce should be for CNN. The cable news pioneer now continually lags in ratings during prime time, the most heavily watched hours.

This Fourth of July weekend, flames and smoke will rise over backyards across the country. And that means grilling. In the best-case scenario, you get a tasty meal. In the worst case, you get an awesome story of how you turned hamburger into charcoal briquettes — or maybe how you got grill marks on your hand.

Steven Raichlen, author of the Barbecue! Bible, wants to help you stay on the right side of that line.

The U.S. Supreme Court term that ended Monday significantly altered the nation's legal topography, making it much more difficult for people to sue big business. At the same time, the court continued its First Amendment march, making clear that at least five justices, and often more, prize the First Amendment guarantee of free speech over other constitutional values.