The Senate on Friday, after it had approved a continuing resolution to keep the federal government operating, dove back into the 2006 defense authorization bill but scarcely broke the surface, stopping work in mid-afternoon, when it adjourned for the day. Lawmakers won’t take it up again until 3 p.m. on Monday. President Bush signed the continuance measure, so Senators have until Nov. 18 to bring closure, we hope, to this latest budget saga.
As Hurricane Melissa hammers the Caribbean, the U.S. Air Force’s “Hurricane Hunters” are busy flying into the massive Category 4 storm to collect atmospheric data—with one experiencing greater than expected turbulence Oct. 28.

