The latest news on Budget Cuts, HIV/AIDS, Immigration, Community Organizing, Ship Captain Rescued, Darfur, Thailand, Afghanistan, Iraq, North Korea, and Select Op-eds.

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Budget cuts. States Slashing Social Programs for Vulnerable "Battered by the recession and the deepest and most widespread budget deficits in several decades, a large majority of states are slicing into their social safety nets - often crippling preventive efforts that officials say would save money over time." State Cuts Delay U.S. Benefits, Official Says "The nation's top Social Security official says benefits for tens of thousands of people with severe disabilities are being delayed by furloughs and layoffs of state employees around the country." Amid layoffs, child support pacts fraying "A Massachusetts family court system that is strained during the best of times and taxed with implementing new child-support guidelines faces another challenge: divorced parents seeking relief from - or enforcement of - support arrangements as their financial and employment situations deteriorate." Plan to Change Student Lending Sets Up a Fight "The private student lending industry and its allies in Congress are maneuvering to thwart a plan by President Obama to end a subsidized loan program and redirect billions of dollars in bank profits to scholarships for needy students."

HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS: South struggles against rising problem "With too few doctors, staggering poverty and a history of inadequate AIDS education programs, the South is now home to half of the 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States."

Immigration. Some Christians Applaud Obama's Push for Immigration Reform "A diverse group of Christian leaders and organizations voiced support for plans by the Obama administration to address immigration reform this year, a move that has riled opponents who argue that he should first focus on fixing the economy." Immigration rallies: Activists plan vigils, lobbying efforts to push immigration reforms "Buoyed by recent promises from the Obama administration to push forward on federal Immigration reforms, activists in Chicago and other cities are planning a series of events this week to build more momentum for their cause." Obama's immigration plan a 'poison pill' for Congress "Supporters applaud Mr. Obama's holistic approach, arguing that all the interrelated issues of the economy, healthcare, and homeland security must be dealt with together. But to others, immigration reform is one of the most divisive issues in American politics - a 'poison pill' that could sour the mood in Congress and clip the president's momentum."

Community organizing. Community Organizing Never Looked So Good "A job that has not been all that alluring to college graduates is in resurgence, according to leading community organizers and educators. Once thought of as a destination for lefty radicals committed to living lives of low pay, frustration and bitter burnout, community organizing is now seen by many young people an exciting career."

Ship captain rescued. U.S. Navy kills pirates to rescue American captain "After days of tense negotiations, the U.S. Navy rescued an American sea captain in seconds Sunday, with snipers shooting three Somali pirates who officials feared were about to kill him." Somali pirates vow revenge on U.S. "A Somali pirate chief has vowed to target Americans in revenge for the death of three pirates killed during a U.S. raid to free an American hostage held by the pirates." U.S. politician targeted in Somalia "A U.S. congressman has had a narrow escape on a visit to Mogadishu after Somali insurgents fired mortars towards his plane as it was about to take off."

Darfur. Threat to kill two Sudan hostages "The kidnappers of two aid workers in Darfur say they will kill them, unless six French aid employees convicted of abducting children in Chad are retried."

Thailand. Running battles on Bangkok streets "Running battles have broken out on the streets of Bangkok as Thai soldiers move to take control of the capital from anti-government protesters." Thai State of Emergency Sparks More Unrest "Thailand slid perilously close to chaos Sunday when opposition protesters called the government's decision to announce a state of emergency in Bangkok 'a declaration of war against the people of Thailand.'" Thai Army Chief Vows to End 'Chaos' as Protests Widen "Soldiers armed with assault rifles fought running street battles with anti-government protesters in Bangkok on Monday as unrest spread through a wider swath of the Thai capital, and the chief of Thailand's armed forces vowed to use 'every means to end the chaos.'"

Afghanistan. Afghan villagers say NATO strike killed 6 civilians, but alliance says only militants died "A NATO operation killed six civilians Monday, including a woman and a young girl, in a mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan, villagers and officials said. But the military alliance said its force killed four to eight militants." Afghan envoy defends U.S. raids "The Afghan ambassador to the United States has told Al Jazeera that civilian casualties during US military operations are 'a price that we have to pay' if the Taliban and al-Qaeda are to be defeated." Taliban shoot dead Afghan politician "A leading female Afghan politician was shot dead yesterday after leaving a provincial council meeting in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan, which her colleagues had begged her not to attend." In Afghanistan, Soldiers Bridge 2 Stages of War "These changing expectations have made the soldiers now on the ground a bridge from the older war to a fight that stands to become more invigorated, and hopeful, albeit perhaps more bloody as American units push into longstanding Taliban sanctuaries."

Iraq. Samarra Is an Iraqi City Divided by Walls, by Sect, by Bitterness "Fifteen feet tall, half a mile long, the walls wind like a concrete ribbon through the heart of this scarred holy city, the cradle of Iraq's sectarian war. Shiite pilgrims flow alongside them toward the shattered al-Askari mosque, a symbol of a resuscitating Iraq." Cost of Iraq war will surpass Vietnam's by year's end "The amount of U.S. money spent on the Iraq war will surpass the cost of Vietnam by the end of the year, making it the second most expensive military conflict in American history, behind World War II."

North Korea. U.N. unites over blacklist of North Korean firms "The United Nations Security Council will unite today to condemn North Korea's rocket launch and take steps to blacklist up to 11 North Korean companies and banks."

Opinion. Obama Can Make a Difference in Darfur (Jim Wallis and John Prendergast, Wall St. Journal) "President Barack Obama should now move to finally end the crisis in Sudan, rather than to respond to the immediate symptoms. His administration and its new special envoy to Sudan, Gen. Scott Gration, can do that by focusing on three things." A Resilient Christianity (E.J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post) "Are we witnessing this Easter season the decline of Christianity in America, or is this a moment of reform and renewal, a time when the deterioration that has been underway is arrested?" Fightin' words (Tom Krattenmaker, USA Today) "Is the Bible the literal word of God, or a historical compilation written by different people in different situations over a period of years? This question has provoked some soul-searching about the very foundation upon which the Christian faith is based."