Officials Weigh Circumcision to Fight H.I.V. Risk: Public health officials are considering promoting routine circumcision for all baby boys born in the United States to reduce the spread of H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS. The topic is a delicate one that has already generated controversy, even though a formal draft of the proposed recommendations, due out from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by the end of the year, has yet to be released.

The Law: Can Atheists Be Parents?: After six years of childless marriage, John and Cynthia Burke of Newark decided to adopt a baby boy through a state agency. Since the Burkes were young, scandal-free and solvent, they had no trouble with the New Jersey Bureau of Children's Services—until investigators came to the line on the application that asked for the couple's religious affiliation. John Burke, an atheist, and his wife, a pantheist, had left the line blank. As a result, the bureau denied the Burkes' application.

Health Tip: Buying Back-to-School Shoes: (HealthDay News) -- Back-to-school time means lots of preparation for parents, including the prospect of buying shoes for their children. The American Podiatric Medical Association offers these shoe-buying tips.