The Venezuelan National Guard forcibly took control of two bottling plants and began removing beverages that had been stored there. An ally of President Hugo Chavez, General Felipe Acosta, said the action was necessary to prevent food shortages. Venezuela is now in the seventh week of a widespread worker strike in opposition to President Chavez. (BBC)

President Bush asked the U.S. Congress to approve a plan restricting the maximum awards given for non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases to $250,000. Bush had initially proposed the plan last year, when it was blocked by Senate Democrats. The law would benefit doctors and insurance companies, but is opposed by trial lawyers. (WaPost)

The Bush administration brief to the Supreme Court concerning the use of racial criteria in the University of Michigan's admissions process did not ask the court to rule against any consideration of race in making admissions decisions, according to the New York Times. The brief did ask the court to rule Michigan's specific admissions procedures unconstitutional, however. The administration may have nuanced its position as stated in the brief in order to increase the argument's palatability to Supreme Court justices. (NYT)

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it had shut down six email marketers and charged them with selling fake international drivers' licenses. (CNN/Reuters)

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it had shut down six email marketers and charged them with selling fake international drivers' licenses. (CNN/Reuters)