Global QCD Analysis, the Gluon Distribution, and High $E_t$ Inclusive Jet Data

We report on an extensive global QCD analysis of new DIS and hadronic inclusive jet production data emphasizing the impact of these recent data on the determination of the gluon distribution, and on the interpretation of the high $E_t$ jets highlighted by the CDF collaboration. This analysis results in (i) a better handle on the range of uncertainty of the gluon distribution, (ii) a new generation of CTEQ parton distributions which incorporates this uncertainty, (iii) a viable scenario for accommodating the high $E_t$ jets in the conventional pQCD framework, and (iv) a systematic study of the sensitivity of the various hard processes to $\alpha_s$ and the consistency of $\alpha_s$ determination in global analysis.