Solution Is Made for TV

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Aid Needed for Relocation?

U.S. officials are going to Israel to determine how much economic aid that country will need to relocate settlers from the Gaza strip. But the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which has called for an end to all settlements, is urging President Bush to deny Israel any aid. The group says, "American taxpayers should not be forced to pay for the relocation of settlers who chose to live illegally on land that was not their own."

Harris Has GOP Competition?

Republican Congresswoman Katherine Harris has announced she's running for the U.S. senate in Florida. But state party leaders looking for a stronger candidate are reportedly pushing former congressman Joe Scarborough, now a cable TV talk-show host, to oppose her in next year's primary. Pensacola businessman Collier Merrill, who's active in the Republican Party says Scarborough is "being courted very heavily" and has met with senior GOP officials.

Scarborough declined to comment. As for Harris, her office says, "…we are in this race to stay" —but would "step aside" for one Republican — Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

Migrate If They Could

In a new poll of Mexicans, almost half say they would migrate to the U.S. if they had the means and the opportunity. And more than a fifth say they would cross the border illegally. What's more, a majority in the Pew Hispanic poll says they would be inclined to come to the U.S. through a temporary worker program. And it's not just poor or uneducated Mexicans. More than a third of college graduates in Mexico say they would like to move here.

Solution Is Made for TV

Officials in Thailand have been trying to quell violence in three southern provinces, where Muslims have clashed with the Buddhist majority. Now authorities say they've come up with a solution: free cable so the less fortunate can have access to televised sports especially English soccer. The government says it will soon install a total of 500 TVs with cable inside village teashops across the region.

Thailand's interior minister insists, "Most children love watching sports on TV so we are giving them what they love hoping it can help solve the problem."

— FOX News' Michael Levine contributed to this report