NEWS & FEATURES

After nearly 20 years in prison, Bernard Baran still insists he was wrongly convicted of raping and molesting five children. Dori Berman, Richard Rainey, and Lindsay Taub offer a follow-up report on some of the evidence submitted last week by his new defense attorneys when they filed a motion to retry his case.

It's an elaborate Ponzi scheme, says Harvey A. Silverglate. The Bush administration is building a pyramid of "evidence" against terror suspects based on plea bargains coerced from men who must sing or face the Ashcroft-style gulag. Feel safer now?

David S. Bernstein reports that even federal judges are voicing outrage over the US Justice Department's initiative to prosecute street crimes in federal court, where prosecutors can seek the death penalty.

Four state legislators are persisting in their quixotic attempt to unseat the SJC justices who ruled in favor of same-sex marriage, says Kristen Lombardi. Rest assured, though, that their crusade is likely to go nowhere.

Camille Dodero finds out how Dave Littlefield - a/k/a the Sausage Guy - became the most famous sausage vendor in New England, if not the country.

When the curtain goes up at the Provincetown Theater this week, says Tamara Wieder, it'll mark the first time in more than 25 years that the Cape Cod town has had a dedicated venue for live theater.

In "Out There," George Grattan wonders: How do you wish someone a happy anniversary when the anniversary is yours and his, but you're not a couple?

In "Urban Buy," Kate Cohen is sweet on jellies.

In the Phoenix editorial, troubling questions about a convicted child molester's guilt, and John Ashcroft's continued depredations, show that our justice system is seriously out of whack

Letters to the editor

Savage Love

Moon Signs

Plus, this just in:

MUSIC

Franklin Soults hears Mike Skinner take his Streets to a new low.

Mac Randall says Britain's Beta Band break all the rules.

Brett Milano on Heidi's happiness, Joan As Police Woman, and a Pills' parting

Franklin Bruno remembers the NYC no wave of Lizzy Mercier Descloux.

Sean Richardson says New Found Glory and Sugarcult make punk go pop.

Michael Freedberg watches DJ Manolo move on without leaving Boston behind

Richard Buell reviews Roger Rudenstein's AIDS opera.

Live reviews of: DKT/MC5 and JOHN SCOFIELD TRIO

Also, short reviews of:

THEATER

Carolyn Clay reviews Forever Plaid and Marry Me a Little.

DANCE

Marcia B. Siegel reviews Boston Ballet's classic, and Christopher Wheeldon's reimagining.

BOOKS

Richard C. Walls reads Thomas Keneally fictionalization of Iraq.

TELEVISION

HOTDOTS: TUESDAY 29 10:00 (2) Flashpoints USA with Bryant Gumbel and Gwen Ifill: America at War. If we've marked our calendars correctly, the US will be handing Iraq back to the locals any day now. This show investigates what could happen next. By Clif Garboden

FOOD

SPECIALS