Upfront teachers' edition.

• Author: Rebhun, Elliott
• Position: Brief article

Soda and sugary snacks have long been staples of American teens' diets. But with obesity on the rise--and a possible federal health care overhaul to pay for--lawmakers are considering special taxes on soft drinks and other sugary foods. Our cover story examines whether such a "soda tax"--and "sin taxes" in general--are an effective way to get people to change unhealthy habits or just government meddling in personal decisions.

The news that Iran is getting closer to building a nuclear weapon has set off alarms in Washington, Europe, and the Middle East. We look at the challenges faced by the U.S. and the rest of the world in trying to prevent Iran's hard-line regime from changing the balance of power in an already volatile region.

Oil revenues have paid for Iran's nuclear program--and fund militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. In Times Past, 150 years after the first U.S. oil well was drilled in Pennsylvania, we examine why the world's...