New York’s currently: one good-looking ticket

 Defense Department official illegally enters Iraq—posing as a Halliburton employee—finds problems, recommends friends’ companies for the solutions.

 Chilling new records: New report shows three million died of AIDS last year and almost five million became infected with HIV.

 Family of captive Marine say they’ve received sign he’s been released, while a militant group threatens terrorist Zarqawi if he doesn’t leave Iraq.

 The story behind Kerry’s VP-picking secrecy. And: Daily News razzes Post on its Gephardt headline foul-up.

 Court charges six Yemenis in bombing of USS Cole.

 Bowing under the financial weight of sex abuse lawsuits, Portland, Ore., archdiocese becomes first to declare bankruptcy.

 Though we still believe 35 is just about right, Europe looks into a longer workweek to boost its economy.

 Unlike its forebears, today’s food television stokes appetites not with culinary excellence, but with the lowest common denominator.

 To fight uprising, Iraq prime minister given martial powers to impose curfews, ban sedition, and detain anyone.

 Like a muddier Woodstock, but without the sex and drugs: the Cornerstone Christian rock festival.

 Midland, in the fifties, was an affluent village populated by the oil-prospecting sons of Northeastern businessmen. Taking aim at the Everyman act of the Bush family.

 There’s nothing crunk about it: Water may work just as well as cough syrup at relieving a cough.

 Though Morrissey was never known for his dancing, the Manchester airport may be named after him.

 Photos of drunk people have never been so well organized.

 When movies flop, MGM profits: Just look at Roadhouse.

A hearty thanks to yesterday’s two kindly lunchtime tippers