The fate of more than 3,000 death row inmates in the United States could be determined by what happens at the Supreme Court today. The justices are reviewing a law that limits most state prisoners to one appeal in federal court. The debate over limits on death row appeals is so important that the court ordered a special hearing, even though it had completed its regular oral arguments for the term. According to The Washington Post, such special sessions are uncommon, and one of the most famous occurred in July 1974 when the court heard President Richard Nixon’s claim of executive privilege to withhold tapes and documents requested by the Watergate special prosecutor.

The FBI is staging its greatest hint of force yet in the 10-week-old standoff with the Freemen. Three armored cars have been moved to within four miles of the Jordan, Montana, ranch, but a government source says the FBI has not given up trying to end the standoff peacefully.

Bob Dole has just returned from another one-day trip to New Jersey. An aide says the trip to the state with 15 electoral votes was designed to get Dole out from behind the blue curtain backdrop and out among real people. After the festivals, Dole headed to a private Republican Party fundraiser at a golf club. Tomorrow is the New Jersey primary. Democrats and Republicans will choose congressional nominees. Democratic Congressmember Robert Torricelli and Republican Congressmember Dick Zimmer are both vying for retiring Senator Bill Bradley’s seat.

And some interesting pieces in the Times this weekend. The culture wars continue to bubble. The Texas chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay and lesbian organization, was fuming after being denied a booth at the state Republican convention later this month. Dale Carpenter, president of the Texas chapter, said other state parties around the country have not exhibited this degree of intolerance. Lester Van Pelt III, a spokesman for the Texas Republican Party, countered that the party was under no obligation to accept the group, saying that he believes the Republican Party of Texas has the right to free association with those that share their views and platforms. The Log Cabin Republicans have filed suit, trying to force the party to reverse its decision.

Senator Bob Kerrey, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, went to North Carolina last week to underscore the party’s commitment to Harvey Gantt, the Democratic nominee in the race against Senator Jesse Helms. Kerrey brought $161,000, 10 times what the campaign committee has given any other candidate. Gantt is the first Black mayor of Charlotte and an unsuccessful candidate against Helms in 1990. He recently prevailed in a hard-fought primary against Charlie Sanders, a business executive who offered himself as the more electable alternative. The party is now in the post-primary healing mode.

There’s been a bombing attack in Israel. Israel Radio says four Israelis have been injured in a West Bank bombing. It’s the first attack on Israelis since Benjamin Netanyahu was elected. This weekend, Netanyahu promised to close the PLO office in Jerusalem.

A charity group that helps disadvantaged children says the minimum wage won’t support a family of three anymore. A study by the Casey Foundation finds the number of children in working poor families rising rapidly. The group is calling for schools that train young people for modern jobs.