Human Race

Absolved

After a six-year investigation, the Justice Department decided not to bring corruption charges against former Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, over his ties to lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The former House majority leader, who resigned from Congress amid scandal in 2006, awaits trial in Texas on money laundering and conspiracy charges from the 2002 state legislative elections.

Ended

Cathy comic strip creator and writer Cathy Guisewite is putting down her pen to spend more time with her family. For 34 years, Guisewite's body­conscious, vulnerable main character struck a chord with women who could relate to the shopaholic struggling to balance work and personal pursuits. The final cartoon will appear Oct. 3.

Killed

Philip Markoff, the alleged "Craigslist Killer" awaiting trial on murder and robbery charges, committed suicide in jail on Aug. 15. Markoff, a 24-year-old former Boston University medical student, is believed to have used his expertise to plan and successfully execute his third jailhouse suicide attempt.

Died

Controversial theologian Clark Pinnock, considered a champion of open theism-which says God is not all-knowing because He does not know the decisions of free individuals ahead of time-died Aug. 15 at age 73. Pinnock was a former long-time professor at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario.

Died

Reporter, editor, and author James Kilpatrick, a conservative whose sparring with liberal commentator Shana Alexander during 60 Minutes' "Point-Counterpoint" segment was later satirized on Saturday Night Live, died on Aug. 15 at age 89. As editor of the Richmond News Leader, Kilpatrick supported racial segregation during the 1950s then later recanted, generating national attention that led to his syndicated political column ("Divided we stood," WORLD, Aug. 9, 2008).

Appointed

Lecturer/debater Dinesh D'Souza, author of books including Illiberal Education, What's So Great About Christianity?, The Enemy at Home, and Life After Death ("Dying and living," WORLD, May 8, 2010) has been named the new president of The King's College in New York City. D'Souza grew up Roman Catholic but has been a member of an evangelical church since 2002 and defines himself as "an evangelical born-again Christian."

Quitting

Dr. Laura Schlessinger announced she will not return to the airwaves when her talk radio contract expires at the end of the year, saying she wants "to regain my First Amendment rights." The news comes after Schlessinger, 63, recently faced criticism for using the n-word on her show to make a point about racism to an African-American caller.