U.S. News Topics Overviews

Automatically compiled digests of U.S. NEWS stories
(originally aggregated by the Google News)

Saturday

Feb-04 -- Roseanne Barr is running for president – just the latest woman to do so
Roseanne Barr has announced she is running for the Green Party's presidential nomination, and it is no joke.
A comedian in office would be either a really good idea or a really bad one. More...

Feb-04 -- Romney, the Rich and the Rest
Defending his remarks about the poor, he said he wants to "fix" low-income assistance programs, but his proposals would actually cut them way back.
Romney went on to explain and explain, and explain as the day went on that the poor are and should be taken care of by the "safety net" of federal programs. More...

Feb-04 -- Mother of Lisa Irwin tearfully denies role in her disappearance
The parents of Lisa Irwin met with Kansas City Police Department detectives to discuss the missing baby's disappearance.
After the first month of Lisas disappearance, the couple ceased media interviews for 90 days to allow investigators to focus on following leads and tips without media interference. More...

Feb-04 -- Texas Drought Forces a Town to Sip From a Truck
When news first broke last week that the community of Spicewood Beach, about 40 miles outside of Austin, was going to run out of water within days, the blame was placed squarely on the drought by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA).
Today the Austin American-Statesman reports that Senator Troy Fraser, a Republican that represents the district of Horseshoe Bay, where Spicewood Beach is located, has delivered "a letter to the LCRA that asks about assertions made by several Spicewood area residents." More...

Feb-04 -- STOCK Act Passes Through Senate
Schumer accused Republicans of using "endless improvements" to try to kill the bill.
Boxer, as chair of the Senate ethics committee, recently conducted investigations of two senators who were accused of getting sweetheart deals from the mortgage firm Countrywide Financial. More...

Feb-04 -- Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado on Its Way East
DENVER (Reuters) - A winter storm walloped eastern Colorado and western Nebraska with the region's first heavy snow of the new year on Friday, closing schools, disrupting flights at Denver International Airport and creating blizzard conditions on the High Plains.
Much of the state is under a winter storm watch with some areas reporting 13 inches of snow Friday afternoon. More...

Feb-04 -- Payroll Tax-Cut Negotiators Split Over What to Include in Bill
Dozens of tax breaks that expired at the end of 2011 and supplemental welfare grants would be off the table.
Democrats and Republicans both said Thursday they want to keep extraneous measures out of a package to extend the payroll tax cut. More...

Feb-04 -- Santorum Fails to Qualify for Indiana Ballot
Search resumes for 3 missing Ore. mushroom pickers Associated Press Searchers recovered a can of Pepsi, mushroom-picking buckets and toilet paper on Friday, but no sign of a couple and their adult son who disappeared after leaving their Southern Oregon campsite to pick mushrooms.
They did not return to a camping trailer where they left two dogs. More...

Friday

Feb-03 -- House passes Fla. legislative, congressional maps
"One percent growth is reasonable and something that taxpayers can feel comfortable can actually be afforded without future cuts.
STANFORD - Successful political candidates try to implement the proposals on which they ran. More...

Feb-03 -- A Symbol of Democracy Is Criticized as Undemocratic
In Wyoming, platform planks are initiated in what are known as precinct caucuses.
What makes a democrat a democrat, or a republican a republican, is by agreeing with more of what's in one platform than the other. More...

Feb-03 -- Stanford had secret fund for bribes, yacht: witness
HOUSTON -- People who bought certificates of deposits, or CDs, from Texas financier R. Allen Stanford's Caribbean bank were wowed by financial statements and other reports that showed their investments were doing spectacularly well and the bank itself was on solid footing.
Robert Khuzami speaks during a House Financial Services. More...

Feb-03 -- Florida casino gambling bill is dead for 2012
TALLAHASSEE - A controversial plan to massively expand gambling in South Florida appears headed for more trouble as the House and Senate move in opposite directions.
The proposal would also set up a new gambling regulation agency, ban Internet cafes and cut racino taxes in what will be its first, and possibly only, hearing by House members. More...

Feb-03 -- Divers find no new clues in search for Maine tot, who's been missing since mid ...
Feb. 3, 2012 the Maine State Police held a press conference to give the public an official update on the Ayla Reynolds case after sending divers back into the Kennebec River and the Messalonskee Stream.
Last week, Maine Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland revealed that police had found traces of blood that belonged to Ayla in the basement of the house. More...

Feb-03 -- Kan. gov. confident meetings didn't violate law
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Gov. Sam Brownback declared Friday he's confident that a local prosecutor's investigation of private gatherings he had with Kansas legislators at the governor's official residence did not violate the state's open meetings law, and he's planning two more get-togethers next week.
Ward's bill, House Bill 2573, would require the state to contract with the Kansas Health Institute for an annual audit and evaluation of services provided by contractors in the Medicaid program. More...

Feb-03 -- Woman accused of stalking New York Yankees' general manager Brian Cashman
"The defendant extorted approximately $6,000 from the victim and attempted to extort over $15,000," prosecutor Eric Iverson said at Neathway's Manhattan Criminal Court arraignment Thursday.
A source told the Daily News that Cashman "helped lure Neathway into a police dragnet." More...

Feb-03 -- Muslims to NY attorney general: Investigate NYPD
PETA is objecting to proposed Kansas legislation that would make the cairn terrier the state dog , saying doing so will lead to increased demand for the breed.
A Kansas state lawmaker is proposing a measure to make the cairn terrier, the breed of Toto from "The Wizard of Oz," into the official state dog. More...

Friday

Feb-03 -- Rabbi Admits Torah Tales Were a Fraud
Menachem Youlus entered the plea to mail and wire fraud charges in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
Youlus also falsely claimed to have discovered a Torah in 2002 that had been hidden under the floor of a barracks at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany during World War II. This lie was debunked by a historian at the Bergen-Belsen Memorial Museum, who told prosecutors the bookseller's 'rescue' was impossible because the barracks was completely destroyed by the British Army after the camp's liberation. More...

Feb-03 -- Contraception mandate outrages religious groups
While President Obama will deliver another speech on the economy Wednesday in Northern Virginia to keep the focus on jobs, Catholic leaders across the country are warning another issue may blow up in his face come November.
The protests included criticism Thursday from House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who called the requirement unconstitutional. More...

Feb-03 -- Obama plans push for veterans jobs programs
Obama Friday was to announce $166 million in Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, hiring-incentive grants and $320 million in Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, grants, the White House said.
Obama's veteran-entrepreneurship program will include an expansion of entrepreneurship training opportunities Obama announced in November, the White House said. More...

Feb-03 -- You think Romney has flaws? Look at Obama.
The Obama campaign's most recent fundraising report showed it had more than $80 million in the bank, a healthy sum for the coming year.
No Pac Money & No contributions over $100. More...

Feb-03 -- AJC Political Insider: Phil Gingrey walks out on Barack Obama's prayer address
President Obama used an appearance at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday to reaffirm his faith at a time when Republican critics have accused him of a "war on religion," telling an audience of religious leaders that his policies are grounded in his Christian beliefs.
The National Prayer Breakfast brings together presidents, members of Congress, diplomats and hundreds of religious, business and military figures each year on the first Thursday of February and has been attended by every president since Dwight Eisenhower in 1953, according the Fellowship Foundation, a Christian group that organizes the event. More...

Feb-03 -- Sunny Friday on tap before rainy weekend
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The Richmond area's morning showers aren't projected to stick around today. More...

Feb-03 -- Moderate Democratic US Rep Heath Shuler of NC, former NFL player, decides he ...
In January 2011, 11 Democrats voted for Shuler for speaker, an apparent effort to express some unhappiness with Pelosi's previous four years as speaker.
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Feb-03 -- US unveils plans for offshore wind farms
PHOENIX (Reuters) - A federal judge ordered a hearing for Monday to discuss giving prison doctors more time to make accused Tucson mass shooter Jared Loughner mentally fit to stand trial, and indicated he was inclined to extend his stay in hospital.
Loughner, who will not be present at the hearing, is accused of opening fire outside a grocery store in a 2011 shooting spree that killed six people and wounded 13 others, including U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. More...

Friday

Feb-03 -- Roseanne Barr is running for president as a Green Party candidate
LAKE MARY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Comedian, Actress, and Author Roseanne Barr is running for president of the United States as a Green Party candidate.
Harley Mikkelson has not filed with the FEC to date. More...

Feb-03 -- Moderate Democratic US Rep Heath Shuler of NC, former NFL player, decides he ...
I am ready to refocus my priorities and spend more time at home with my wife Nikol and two young children."
Shuler, a prominent Blue Dog Democrat, was first elected in 2006 but faced a tough re-election bid due to new redistricting lines. More...

Feb-03 -- Woman Is Accused of Stalking Yankees' Cashman
The Yankees declined to comment.
"The defendant extorted approximately $6,000 from the victim and attempted to extort over $15,000," prosecutor Eric Iverson said at Neathway's Manhattan Criminal Court arraignment Thursday. More...

Feb-03 -- Blending politics and religion, Obama says his policies are an extension of ...
President Obama used an appearance at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday to reaffirm his faith at a time when Republican critics have accused him of a "war on religion," telling an audience of religious leaders that his policies are grounded in his Christian beliefs.
The event, which brings thousands of religious activists -- Christian conservatives in particular -- to the Washington Hilton to hear the U.S. president and other speakers, is officially a non-partisan, spiritual event. More...

Feb-03 -- Punxsutawney Phil: 6 more weeks of winter
Groundhog Club handler Ron Ploucha holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 126th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa. Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012.
Groundhog Day 2012 news coverage proves it: That Punxsutawney Phil sure has a great P.R. agent. More...

Feb-03 -- Appeals court refuses to make public videotapes of Prop. 8 trial
In a case that had drawn in the U.S. Supreme Court at an earlier phase, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a federal judge's ruling permitting the trial recordings to be made available for viewing by members of the public.
The 9th Circuit still must resolve the more substantive issue of whether Walker correctly struck down Proposition 8 on federal constitutional grounds. More...

Feb-03 -- As Fiscal Cloud Lifts, Mayor Offers a Budget Free of Tax Increases or Broad ...
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said his $68.7 billion preliminary budget for the next fiscal year would avoid new taxes or cuts to vital services by stretching billions of dollars of increased pension costs over 22 years.
What's your argument, Bloomberg is trying to hide the ball on retiree healthcare costs to focus on pensions? Who cares, it's all money going to retirees. More...

Feb-03 -- Columbus Elementary teacher shines on 'Ellen' show
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum can make the ridiculous claim that as a black man, Obama has no right to support abortion rights.
The president has produced policies and successes that benefits millions of black people. More...

Thursday

Feb-02 -- First Lady shows Ellen she's the Iron Lady
First lady Michelle Obama.
More...

Feb-02 -- Appeals court won't release videos from 2010 trial on California's same-sex ...
Chief Judge Walker "promised the litigants that the conditions under which the recording was maintained would not change -- that there was no possibility that the recording would be broadcast to the public in the future," a three-judge 9th Circuit panel said in a unanimous opinion.
Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs. More...

Feb-02 -- House leader: US should review birth control order
At the White House, Carney defended the decision, saying it was the best policy to promote the health of women, and the president has no intention of trespassing on religious liberty.
"No, there's not a debate. More...

Feb-02 -- Republican Senators Seek Workforce Cuts to Help Pentagon
Feb. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Republican senators proposed reducing the U.S. government workforce by 5 percent over a decade to avert looming cuts from the defense budget.
More...

Feb-02 -- Feds: Mid-Atlantic Wind Farms Take Step Forward
The Interior Department said before the waters would be opened, the public would have a chance to comment on the projects.
More...

Feb-02 -- Detroit mayor touts concessions; pressure builds
City council members have said that union agreements that do not include hefty concessions from uniformed personnel will fall short.
Snyder has left the decision on an emergency manager to Dillon, who has not given public comment on the issue in several weeks. More...

Feb-02 -- 'Gasland' director Joshua Fox arrested filming House panel
At the behest of the Republican leadership of a House of Representatives subcommittee, Capitol Police arrested Joshua Fox, the maker of the Oscar -nominated documentary "Gasland," when he tried on Wednesday to film a subcommittee hearing on hydraulic fracturing, a controversial method used to tap oil and gas reservoirs.
More...

Feb-02 -- NYC mayor unveils budget without layoffs
"We will spend less in virtually every area except schools" in fiscal 2013, Bloomberg said in a televised address that stressed the urgency of slicing soaring pension costs while continuing to make the long-term investments that keep the city safe and growing.
More...

Thursday

Feb-02 -- Obama to attend National Prayer Breakfast
While some people may believe that the National Prayer Breakfast is an inclusive gathering without a particular policy agenda, the truth is that "The Family's" aim is to influence political systems worldwide.
According to Occupy Faith DC, the National Prayer Breakfast-sponsoring Fellowship is a "secretive conservative group" that "explicitly cultivates the wealthy and the powerful for political influence." More...

Feb-02 -- Citing Environmental Concerns, Denver Law Clinic Helps Sue to Stop Christo ...
DENVER -- Opponents of the artist Christo's plan to suspend giant fabric panels over parts of the scenic Arkansas River filed a lawsuit Wednesday arguing that federal officials violated environment ]] environment ]] environment al laws in deciding last year to approve his Over the River project.
Art celebrates humanity's role in nature. More...

Feb-02 -- How to get House and Senate bills to match up on payroll tax cut?
Unemployed workers also would gradually lose upwards of 73 additional weeks of federal benefits, which combined with state benefits can provide as much as 99 total weeks of unemployment insurance.
At Tuesday's hearing, Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the conference committee charged with reaching a payroll tax deal, essentially made the case for bringing back a tax credit for commuters using mass transit. More...

Feb-02 -- S.I. Chuck doesn't see shadow, Punxsutawney Phil does
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With nothing less than the future of this year's winter at stake, Groundhog Day celebrity Staten Island Chuck's handlers say all is in readiness for the furry forecaster's annual prediction appearance at the Staten island Zoo.
Afterward, there's a special breakfast at the zoo: Adults, $10; kids under 5, $5. 614 Broadway, Staten Island. (718) 442-3101. More...

Feb-02 -- Teachers at Bushwick Community High School for troubled students protest plan ...
Two-thirds of South Jersey's public high schools maintained or improved their performance on the state's most recent standardized math exam and nearly 71 percent did so on the language-arts test, according to data released Wednesday by the New Jersey Department of Education.
A state audit last year put the city's dropout rate at 10 percent. More...

Feb-02 -- 'GasLand' filmmaker arrested at House hearing
Joshua Fox, of Milanville, Pa., was charged with lawful entry.
Fox and an ABC news crew had attempted to film a hearing to explore the Environmental Protection Agency's investigation into whether the gas and oil-extraction process of hydraulic processing had contaminated the water supply in Pavillion, Wyoming. More...

Feb-02 -- A Look Inside President Obama's New Housing Proposals
"I hear some murmuring in the audience here," Obama said, grinning at the crowd.
Starting shortly after taking office in 2009, Obama announced a series of programs that were designed to help the troubled housing market turn around, an effort initially estimated to cost $75 billion. More...

Feb-02 -- Tea Party pal steamed at Boston Globe
The new, "updated" version said Bachmann denied any plans to endorse Romney while in Minnesota, "despite a Globe online post suggesting the possibility."
More...

Thursday

Feb-02 -- San Onofre nuclear power plant unit shut down as leak is repaired
No evacuations have been ordered.
"The potential leak poses no imminent danger to the public or plant workers," Edison's statement said. More...

Feb-02 -- House GOP bill would cut small business taxes, Cantor says
President Obama detailed plans Wednesday to help an estimated 3.5 million homeowners refinance into lower-rate mortgages through the Federal Housing Administration and to turn hundreds of thousands of houses repossessed by lenders into rentals.
From 2004 to 2007, the percentage of home loans that exceeded the Fannie Freddie limits then in effect ranged from 57 to 71 percent a year, according to DataQuick. More...

Feb-02 -- House votes to repeal long-term care program in health care law
The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program, championed by the late Ted Kennedy, aimed to provide a long-term care insurance program.
The administration said it never was really that enthusiastic about CLASS -- the brainchild of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. More...

Feb-02 -- Honda loses Small Claims Court suit over Civic hybrid fuel economy
"The Southern California owner of a Honda hybrid car has won her unusual small-claims court lawsuit against the auto giant over the vehicle's failure to deliver the promised mileage," The Associated Press reports.
Carnahan held two hearings on the claim in January. More...

Feb-02 -- House bans welfare recipients' money from strip clubs, liquor stores
More specifically, the conservatives are targeting a group of people that Rep. Charles Boustany Jr. (R-La.) thinks are your main clientele: Welfare recipients.
The EBT cards work like debit cards, and most states have lax rules governing where money can be withdrawn and there is no way of monitoring what poor people are actually spending cash on, because we have not yet microchipped each individual recipient of government anti-poverty spending, a plan I am sure Newt Gingrich has at some point proposed. More...

Feb-02 -- Flowers, a show for Ron and Carol Paul's 55th wedding anniversary
LAS VEGAS -- Whether he wins or loses the Republican presidential nomination, Ron Paul is celebrating a milestone.
Paul and his wife were celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary on Wednesday. More...

Feb-02 -- Man accused of cannibalism held on $1 million bond
BRIDGEPORT -- Security is expected to be tight Wednesday morning as Tyree Lincoln Smith, who police say killed a homeless city man with an ax before cannibalizing his body, is arraigned in Superior Court.
It was his first court appearance since he was returned to Connecticut on Tuesday following his arrest last week in Lynn Haven, Florida, six miles northeast of Panama City. More...

Feb-02 -- Grisly task of identifying victims continues as authorities investigate deadly ...
The problem, Letro said, is the lack of a reliable mechanism to tell when fog might roll into the roadway.
Thick fog, worsened by the low-lying terrain of Paynes Prairie, made for a dense "soup" that moved in quickly and clung to the ground, National Weather Service meteorologist Steve Letro said. More...

Wednesday

Feb-01 -- Amazon joins business push for gay marriage
OLYMPIA -- A House committee on Monday advanced a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state, and the Senate is expected to vote on its companion bill within days.
Washington state's lower House could vote on gay marriage as early as February 8. More...

Feb-01 -- Rick Santorum calls on voters to defy media, give him another look
Rick Santorum and Ron Paul are campaigning today in Colorado and Nevada, thousands of miles away from Florida where rival Mitt Romney appears poised to win the GOP presidential primary.
Along with Paul's longtime organization and deep grass-roots support here, that fervor is what makes the anti-tax, antiwar, pro-Constitution Paul a wild card. More...

Feb-01 -- House GOP bill would cut small business taxes
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama urged Congress on Tuesday to act quickly on bipartisan measures that would extend tax breaks for small businesses and help startup companies raise money.
Financially, the tax credit doesn't help that much: The president wants to give employers a 10 percent tax credit for new hires, but then the business will have to pay about 7.5 percent in payroll taxes for that same employee (not including unemployment tax). More...

Feb-01 -- Bachmann: No talks on endorsing Romney
Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republicans with competing bids for the GOP presidential nomination, ended their quests in debt, according to campaign reports filed Tuesday.
Bachmann dropped out of the race the day after finishing last in Iowa's Jan. 3 caucuses. More...

Feb-01 -- Man in brain-eating case held in Conn. on $1M bond
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. A Florida man charged with hacking a homeless Connecticut man to death with an ax and eating his brain was ordered Wednesday to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
The judge also ordered a psychiatric evaluation for 35-year-old Tyree Lincoln Smith. More...

Feb-01 -- Democrats hold Oregon congressional seat in special election
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Determined not to lose another friendly district because of a sex scandal, Democrats and their allies have pumped more than $1 million into an Oregon special election race that has turned into a vicious exchange of attacks over the airwaves.
"Tell us what's good about you, but don't just slam the other guy." More...

Feb-01 -- Will Mormons' racial history be a problem for Mitt Romney?
The New York Times recently introduced us to R. Phillip Roberts, the president of a Southern Baptist seminary and author of Mormonism Unmasked - subtitle: "Confronting the Contradictions Between Mormon Beliefs and True Christianity" - who chases around the country preaching that the likes of Mitt Romney are heretics.
RUSH: McCain said that Romney may have lost South Carolina because of the vote against Mormons. More...

Feb-01 -- When groundhogs misbehave: annual winter prediction marred by bites, escapes ...
Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.
A potbellied pig named Bacon was deputized in 1996, when the zoo ran out of groundhogs. More...

Wednesday

Feb-01 -- Occupy DC protesters sleep under 'Tent of Dreams,' defy no-camping rules
Occupy D.C. protesters spent Monday night huddled under the celestial sweep of a blue tarp they had erected in McPherson Square, talking, singing and, yes, sleeping -- in defiance of rules that prohibit overnight camping in the park.
WASHINGTON -- A federal judge said Tuesday that the U.S. government must notify Occupy DC protesters if it intends to evict them from a downtown Washington park and remove their tents and other belongings. More...

Feb-01 -- Indiana poised to approve anti-union law
Opponents call it "union busting" and say it will lower the wages of workers.
The surprising star Tuesday night was a little guy from Indianapolis with a comb-over and a gift for speaking plain and necessary truths without sounding mad. More...

Feb-01 -- Bonamici elected to succeed David Wu in House
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Determined not to lose another friendly district because of a sex scandal, Democrats and their allies have pumped more than $1 million into an Oregon special election race that has turned into a vicious exchange of attacks over the airwaves.
The race between Cornilles and Democratic state Senator Suzanne Bonamici is a preview of an already heated election year when outside groups are pumping money into opposition advertising, and Democrats plan to attack conservatives who have curried favor with the Tea Party. More...

Feb-01 -- Intel chief: Pressured Iran might strike in US
Citing last year's thwarted Iranian plot to kill the Saudi ambassador in the U.S. ,'some Iranian officials probably including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. are now more willing to conduct an attack in the United States in response to real or perceived U.S. actions that threaten the regime,' Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday.
The Americans bombed Japan one time. More...

Feb-01 -- Obama plays up auto industry success
Hailing an economic recovery story that he hopes will propel him to reelection, President Obama today declared "the U.S. auto industry is back."
In two December 2008 polls, 51 percent and 61 percent opposed giving financial help to the auto giants; by March 2009, 76 percent were against it. More...

Feb-01 -- Groundhog Day: Which winter-predicting groundhog will you choose?
Groundhog Day 2012 will bring Punxsutawney Phil out of his warm hole in the ground just every February 2 for the last 120 years.
Last year the state's other prognosticating groundhog, Holland Huckleberry, died in Toledo. More...

Feb-01 -- CHP settles over leaked photos of woman killed in crash
The 2006 automobile crash on the 241 toll road that killed Nicole "Nikki" Catsouras was traumatic enough for the family of the 18-year-old.
The CHP agreed to pay the family of Nicole "Nikki" Catsouras $2.375 million Friday after a judge ordered the two sides to talk ahead of a jury trial scheduled for March, CHP spokesman Fran Clader said. More...

Feb-01 -- Kevin White's friends: 'There was no one better'
The funeral service for the mayor will be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Cecilia's Church on Belvidere Street in Boston's Back Bay.
The procession will begin at 10 AM on Wednesday at #33 Beacon Street. More...

Wednesday

Feb-01 -- NJ GOP gov apologizes for civil rights remark, stands by reply to ...
TRENTON, N.J. -- Gov. Chris Christie has apologized for a remark he made about civil rights but says he's not sorry for using a slang term to describe a lawmaker who compared him to segregationist Southern governors.
Yeah, Rosa Parks would have preferred to have Alabamians vote on whether she should be permitted to sit in the front of bus in 1955. More...

Feb-01 -- Al Qaeda weakened, Iran a threat, US intelligence officials say
Citing last year's thwarted Iranian plot to kill the Saudi ambassador in the U.S. ,'some Iranian officials probably including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. are now more willing to conduct an attack in the United States in response to real or perceived U.S. actions that threaten the regime,' Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday.
America's top intelligence official says Iran is increasingly willing to conduct attacks in the United States or against U.S. interests overseas, but does not appear to have decided to build a nuclear weapon. More...

Feb-01 -- Major GOP'super PACs' raised millions in 2011
THE relentless attack ads now playing in early presidential primary states preview what we can expect on Seattle-area airwaves in just a few months.
After the speeches were over and the TV cameras in Florida were turned off, the pro-Mitt Romney Super PAC called Restore Our Future disclosed its fundraising Tuesday night, just before the midnight ET deadline. More...

Feb-01 -- California family settles lawsuit over leaked crash images
The 2006 automobile crash on the 241 toll road that killed Nicole "Nikki" Catsouras was traumatic enough for the family of the 18-year-old.
"The family was compensated for the emotional pain and suffering associated with the release of the photos," Catsouras family attorney Keith Bremer said. More...

Feb-01 -- Obama hopes to ride auto bailout to re-election
Hailing an economic recovery story that he hopes will propel him to reelection, President Obama today declared "the U.S. auto industry is back."
Romney, a former Massachusetts governor who grew up in the car hub Detroit, has said GM and Chrysler would have recovered without the injection of government funds. More...

Feb-01 -- Perry money started fading with his political gaffes
WASHINGTON -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry, widely known as a master of campaign fundraising, suffered a devastating drop in donations to his Republican presidential campaign following a series of embarrassing gaffes on the campaign trail, leaving the three-term governor little choice but to exit the race.
The Perry campaign itself burned through millions of dollars as it attempted -- and failed -- to recover from a string of disastrous presidential debate performances and widely criticized television commercials. More...

Feb-01 -- Pennsylvania councilman charged with killing lover in 1979
A Bridgewater Borough councilman built a long reputation as a good neighbor and businessman, but he also harbored a terrible secret, say Beaver County prosecutors, who announced on Monday they charged him with the murder of a young woman 30 years ago.
BEAVER (KDKA) It took over 30 years, but police have arrested a man in connection with the 1979 murder of a Beaver County woman. More...

Feb-01 -- Gaming the College Rankings
A California college has admitted that one of its officials inflated its SAT scores for six years to boost the school's place in annual college rankings.
Gann wrote that a lone administrator reported composite scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test that were exaggerated by 10 to 20 points. More...

Tuesday

Jan-31 -- Obama plays up auto industry success story
Some politicians were willing to let it just die.
How does he explain the success of FORD ? Obama cannot take credit for that. More...

Jan-31 -- Charge filed in Alexis Rasmussen death case
The charge was filed against Dea Millerberg by Weber County Attorney Dee Smith, who plans a news conference later in the day.
Dea Millerberg had been released on bond pending a May 24 trial on charges of prescription drug fraud and child endangerment. More...

Jan-31 -- Pennsylvania Councilman Charged in Lover's 1979 Death
A Bridgewater Borough councilman built a long reputation as a good neighbor and businessman, but he also harbored a terrible secret, say Beaver County prosecutors, who announced on Monday they charged him with the murder of a young woman 30 years ago.
BEAVER (KDKA) It took over 30 years, but police have arrested a man in connection with the 1979 murder of a Beaver County woman. More...

Jan-31 -- GOP senators to Cordray: Don't get attached to job
Saying that credit unions and small banks "had very little, really nothing to do with causing the financial crisis,'' Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray on Tuesday renewed his commitment to ensure that they don't face unnecessary additional regulatory burdens.
In 2008, following the resignation of Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann, Cordray ran for and won the remaining two years of Dann's term. More...

Jan-31 -- Obama returns focus to small-business tax breaks
Soon after trying to show his friendliness to the tech community by engaging in a Google+ "hangout," President Barack Obama asked Congress to fast-track legislation that would encourage small business owners, particularly touting several measures he included in his budget proposal to give tax breaks and strong incentives for entrepreneuers.
WASHINGTON - Democratic senators said yesterday they would introduce legislation this week that would put into law President Obama's principle that the super-rich should pay at least the tax rate of middle-class workers. More...

Jan-31 -- Iowa GOP chairman Strawn says he'll resign
Iowa's presidential caucuses are famous for winnowing the field.
Some critics suggested that Mr. Strawn had intentionally tried to spin the results to favor Mr. Romney. More...

Jan-31 -- Obama campaign pulls in $40 million
A total of 446 individuals and couples raised at least $74.4 million for President Obama's campaign, demonstrating his strength at attracting wealthy individuals who can "bundle" together contributions from family, friends and associates to support his re-election.
Obama's campaign committee spent $20 million in the fourth quarter on a wide range of expenses that show that Obama is beefing up in preparation for the general election, including $4.7 million on payroll, $2.2 million in on-line advertising and $809,000 on computer equipment and software. More...

Jan-31 -- Santorum, Paul shrug off expected losses in Florida, campaign out West for ...
Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.
More...

Tuesday

Jan-31 -- Occupy Oakland demonstrations, arrests inject new life into movement
Occupy Oakland protestors burn an American flag found inside Oakland City Hall during an Occupy Oakland protest on the steps of City Hall on Saturday.
From Philadelphia to Des Moines, Iowa, there were reports of Occupy protesters taking to the streets in mostly non-violent demonstrations. More...

Jan-31 -- Closing arguments set in Texas redistricting trial
The Washington panel has given no indication on when it might make a ruling.
Under the arrangement outlined during the hearing, the parties would negotiate each of the challenged districts separately and the court would draw the boundaries for districts where an agreement could not be reached. More...

Jan-31 -- Woman weds warehouse amid 'gay marriage' furor
Aivaz, who was among the Occupy Seattle protesters who wanted to reclaim it as community space, is using the wedding to protest the demolition of the 107-year-old building.
A woman is planning to marry a 107-year-old warehouse. More...

Jan-31 -- Google+ Hangout puts President face-to-face with Americans
President Barack Obama participated in his first Google+ "hangout" on Monday, conversing with a handful of selected participants about the economy, education, drone airstrikes, Internet piracy, and other topics in a live streamed event that also served as a pretty compelling advertisement for the technical capabilities of Google's new social network.
"Your counselors and other adults can potentially help you to identify what are going to be some of the growth areas of the future so you can make a good investment," Obama said. More...

Jan-31 -- Newark TSA probe bags 8 workers
Ron Paul, whose son, Kentucky Sen. Ran Paul, was recently prevented from boarding a flight by the Transportation Security Administration when he refused a full body pat-down, called the agency a "bureaucratic monster" on Sunday.
The congressman from Lake Jackson said the TSA should be abolished and airport security should be privatized. More...

Jan-31 -- Gay Marriage Bill Clears Washington House Panel; Senate Vote Wednesday
OLYMPIA -- A House committee on Monday advanced a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state, and the Senate is expected to vote on its companion bill within days.
Why does everything now need to be sent to a vote of the people? WE elect representatives to do the task of passing legislation, and the day-to-day drudgery of governing. More...

Jan-31 -- Poll: Public says Keystone XL a jobs win
WASHINGTON - Congressional Republicans are refusing to back down in their attempts to win speedy approval of TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline, vowing to link approval of the controversial project to a new jobs bill being introduced next week.
"The quickest and surest way to get the pipeline going is for the Democratic chairman of the conference committee to put it into a must-do piece of legislation, the payroll tax package," said a senior Senate Republican aide. More...

Jan-31 -- Rick Santorum Thanks Media For Bugging Him To Release His Taxes
Bella, whose full name is Isabella, has Trisomy 18, a genetic condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 18th chromosome.
As a father myself, i hope and pray for the Santorum family and wish a speedy recovery for Bella. More...

Tuesday

Jan-31 -- Bill to Prohibit Insider Trading by Members of Congress Advances in Senate
U.S. Representative Spencer Bachus.
"The insider trading bill's on Harry's desk right now," Brown told Obama, referring to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. More...

Jan-31 -- Woman weds warehouse amid 'gay marriage' furor
Aivaz, who was among the Occupy Seattle protesters who wanted to reclaim it as community space, is using the wedding to protest the demolition of the 107-year-old building.
A Seattle community rights activist is going to the extreme to try and save a building in her neighborhood: she's marrying it. More...

Jan-31 -- Daughter's illness is quandary for Santorum
BOCA RATON, Fla. Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum said his daughter Bella remains in the hospital with pneumonia but is recovering after a rough 36 hours.
Trisomy 18 is a horrible genetic defect. More...

Jan-31 -- In Million-Dollar Theft Case, Church Worker With a Secret Past
MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT -- An ex-con who worked for the Archdiocese of New York filched more than $1 million from the religious organization and used it to buy expensive clothing, jewelry handmade collectible dolls and furniture, prosecutors said Monday.
According to the Manhattan DA's office Anita Collins allegedly wrote herself more than 450 checks from the church, all under $2,500, over more than eight years. More...

Jan-31 -- Catholic leaders outraged over mandatory contraception coverage
The Department of Health and Human Services has issued an edict that, under ObamaCare, effectively all employers will be FORCED to offer health insurance that covers subsidized contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs.
According to an article published in The New York Times yesterday, a new healthcare law will require insurance plans at Catholic colleges to allow for birth control pills to be provided to female employees without any co-payments. More...

Jan-31 -- Hoeven offers Keystone XL pipeline authorization bill
"The danger is the Canadians, out of frustration, are going to decide to do a deal with the Chinese to build a pipeline across the Rockies," Mr. Gingrich added, referring to a proposal to build a pipeline to Kitimat, B.C., that would open up Canadian oil sales to Asia.
Having put the kibosh on Keystone, Obama has come under fierce criticism from a host of pipeline proponents, including oil groups, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, politicians, the Canadian government, op-ed media articles and others. More...

Jan-31 -- Second Year In, Republican Governors Moderate Tone
Last Tuesday, Americans who stayed tuned after the end of the president's State of the Union address had the opportunity to hear from Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana.
The surprising star Tuesday night was a little guy from Indianapolis with a comb-over and a gift for speaking plain and necessary truths without sounding mad. More...

Jan-31 -- NJ gov fires a zinger in feud over gay marriage
TRENTON, N.J. -- Gov. Chris Christie found himself on the defense Monday over his two Supreme Court picks just a week after announcing that he was moving to diversify New Jersey's all-white Supreme Court by nominating two firsts: an openly gay black man and an immigrant.
Christie says that he is personally opposed to same sex marriage and the issue should be decided by voters, not the legislature. More...

Monday

Jan-30 -- Police: No evidence to support Maine tot abduction
WATERVILLE, Maine -- Investigators say they've found blood inside the Maine home where a toddler was reported missing six weeks ago.
Blood confirmed belonging to Ayla Reynolds was among the pieces of evidence taken from the home of Justin DiPietro in the earlier weeks of the missing child's investigation. More...

Jan-30 -- 911 call from I-75 crash describes horror
At least 10 people were killed early Sunday when a line of cars and trucks collided on a dark Florida highway so shrouded in haze and smoke that drivers were blinded.
Another 18 were hospitalised after a long line cars and trucks collided before dawn Sunday on a stretch of Interstate 75 south of Gainesville, the highway was closed Saturday night because of blinding fog and smoke that caused a three-way crash, then reopened before the chain collisions started around 3.45am. More...

Jan-30 -- Will Obama Go to Pot During Google Plus Summit?
Many of the top-ranked questions -- as voted on by the public -- for Obama's post-State of the Union "conversation" titled "Your Interview with the President" have come from people who urge pot legalization.
The marijuana question, submitted by Stephen Downing, a board member for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), is as follows: "Mr. President, my name is Stephen Downing, and I'm a retired deputy chief of police from the Los Angeles Police Department. More...

Jan-30 -- Santorum brings campaign to Missouri
The campaign did not immediately know how serious Bella's condition is, but Hogan Gidley, Santorum Communications Director told ABC News "even a cold is not a good thing."
I'm also a part time VA patient being treated at a VA hospital for the moment. More...

Jan-30 -- Doctors: Sen. Kirk is talking, in fair condition
"Senator Kirk's recovery is continuing,"said Northwestern Hospital's Dr. Richard Fessler in a statement.
About a day after Sen. Mark Kirk underwent another surgery to make room for his swelling brain, his neurosurgeon reported in a statement that Kirk is "doing quite well." More...

Jan-30 -- Woman charged with embezzling $1 million from NY archdiocese
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office said 67-year-old Anita Collins was employed in the archdiocese's finance office since 2003.
A law enforcement official said that though she appeared to colleagues as a quiet, unassuming woman, Ms. Collins used her position to carry out a sophisticated fraud that consisted in part of billing the archdiocese for nonexistent services and channeling the money into accounts she controlled. More...

Jan-30 -- Helen Gurley Brown Gives Columbia and Stanford $30M for Media Innovation
With the help of a $30 M. gift from longtime Cosmopolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown, Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and Stanford University's School of Engineering have established the David and Helen Gurley Brown Institute for Media Innovation, the two universities and the Hearst Corporation announced today.
Of the total gift, each school will receive $12 million for Institute activities. More...

Jan-30 -- Families of US Military Gain in Proposal to Expand Eligibility
The proposal expands eligibility under the Family and Medical Leave Act, which allows employees to takeunpaid leave for certain medical or family reasons.
The proposed language would extend the entitlement of military caregiver leave to family members of veterans for up to five years after leaving the military. More...

Monday

Jan-30 -- Trillions in tax cuts
The release of Mitt Romney's tax returns is generating debate about the federal tax rates on capital gains and dividends of 15 percent.
If so, then carried interest should be taxed like employment income, at rates up to 35%. More...

Jan-30 -- Democrats Spending Big to Maintain Oregon Seat
Voters are deciding who should replace former Taiwan-born Rep. David Wu, a seven-term Democrat who was the first Chinese-American to serve in the House of Representatives.
Republicans in D.C. also started claiming a victory of sorts for getting the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to spend so much money in Oregon on a supposedly safe seat. More...

Jan-30 -- With Focus on Income Inequality, Albany Bill Will Seek $8.50 Minimum Wage
Starting in 2014, it would be permanently indexed to the inflation rate.
Supporters say it is needed because salaries for low-wage earners have not kept up in recent years with rising consumer costs, while businesses warn it could further hurt a battered economy. More...

Jan-30 -- First lady regrets words about gay marriage foes
Maryland First Lady Catherine Curran O'Malley said Thursday night that legislation to legalize same-sex marriage fell short last year because of "some cowards."
O'Malley's spokeswoman discounted the Republicans' claims. More...

Jan-30 -- Obama likened to disgraced ship captain
When asked if the infighting in the GOP presidential primary race would harm the eventual nominee's chances against Obama in November, Reince Priebus said the party would unite by then in an effort to win the White House.
GOP thinks can beat Obama by telling lies? We gonna lose in NOV and we are likely to lose the house because we have done worse than Demos. More...

Jan-30 -- Obama jokes at annual dinner for Washington elite
Washington (CNN) -- Occupy DC protesters gathered to demonstrate Saturday outside the 99th annual Alfalfa Club dinner thrown for high-level dignitaries, including President Obama.
Oh well. At least he got to hear one of the best-received jokes of the night, from outgoing club president Sandra Day O'Connor. More...

Jan-30 -- A Mormon church in need of reform
Asked on the call how his faith had shaped his success as a businessman and his political career, the presidential candidate spoke about "a conviction that life is eternal, that your family is your greatest prize, that ultimately what we accomplish in life is of little significance compared to the interests of the savior Jesus Christ and his purposes."
Mormons believe in eternal progression so have trillions of years of eternity to be thus but only as perfected in (and by) Christ. More...

Jan-30 -- Super PACs target congressional races
It's a strange state of affairs when a political candidate cannot control the campaigning that is done on his behalf and he is barred by law from directly trying to assert control.
At some point, competition may result in the cost of financial control of government exceeding the benefits gained. More...

Sunday

Jan-29 -- Ayla Reynolds Case: Parents Meet for First Time Since Toddler's Disappearance
WATERVILLE, Maine -- Investigators say they've found blood inside the Maine home where a toddler was reported missing six weeks ago.
Investigators say the blood is troubling and believe DiPietro and two other adults at the home that morning have not given the whole story. More...

Jan-29 -- Kevin H. White | Former Boston mayor, 82 | Philadelphia Inquirer | 2012-01-29
BOSTON -- Former Mayor Kevin White, who led the city for 16 years that spanned racially turbulent times of the 1970s and was credited with putting it on a path to prosperity, died Friday, a family spokesman said.
White led the city for 16 years, including during racially turbulent times in the 1970s. More...

Jan-29 -- Sarah Palin: Newt Gingrich's secret weapon
"We don't like the Republican establishment anyway," said Mark Meckler, a Californian and co-founder of Tea Party Patriots.
Working with a team of grassroots activists, Newt selected and trained candidates, shaped a political message, and became what Horowitz called "something rare in Republican politics-a genuine movement leader." More...

Jan-29 -- Gov. Deval Patrick on Bruins goalie Tim Thomas: It seems like we're losing ...
What a week it was for Tim Thomas, hockey's most consistently incandescent goalie.
Thomas didn't play Tuesday against the Washington Capitals and wasn't available to speak to the media before or after the game. More...

Jan-29 -- Senate to vote on bill to prevent insider trading on Capitol Hill
The Senate version of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act would subject any member of Congress who violates the ban on insider trading to investigation and prosecution by regulatory agencies and the Justice Department.
WASHINGTON -- Bipartisan legislation that would require more public disclosure of stock transactions by members of Congress is scheduled for a key procedural vote in the Senate on Monday. More...

Jan-29 -- Obama in Ann Arbor; 'Make college more affordable'
We are putting colleges on notice--you can't assume you can jack up tuition every single year."
Noting that student loan debt now exceeds credit card debt, the president said Washington is "putting colleges on notice. More...

Jan-29 -- Police focus on SUV in fatal N. Calif. train crash
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The driver of an SUV veered around a crossing arm and ignored flashing warning lights before the vehicle was struck by a light-rail train in Sacramento on Saturday, killing an 18-month-old boy and two adults, authorities said.
Fire and transit officials say video of a light rail train and sport utility vehicle colliding in Sacramento shows that the SUV driver tried to go around the crossing's guardrail. More...

Jan-29 -- One protester tased, arrested at Occupy DC
Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.
More...

Sunday

Jan-29 -- Blood found at missing tot's home
WATERVILLE, Maine -- Investigators say they've found blood inside the Maine home where a toddler was reported missing six weeks ago.
Law enforcement sources have now told WCVB that blood was found in the basement of the house during the investigation. More...

Jan-29 -- 'A nice guy, and great mayor'
BOSTON -- Former Mayor Kevin White, who led the city for 16 years that spanned racially turbulent times of the 1970s and was credited with putting it on a path to prosperity, died Friday, a family spokesman said.
After that, it was a city where things got done. More...

Jan-29 -- APNewsBreak: Police seek help on drugged driving
"Cops need a Breathalyzer-like technology that works to identify drug-impaired drivers on-the-spot -- before they cause irreparable harm," Schumer said.
Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs. More...

Jan-29 -- SUV hits light-rail train in Sacramento, killing 3
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Two adults and an 18-month-old boy died when their SUV collided with a light- rail train in Sacramento, moments after the vehicle's driver ignored flashing warning lights and veered around a rail crossing arm, authorities say.
A 30-year-old woman who was in the SUV was in serious condition at a hospital, and six people from the train were hospitalized with minor injuries, King said. More...

Jan-29 -- Congress tries to police itself on insider trading

Jan-29 -- Romney would rank among richest presidents ever
Gingrich's thinly veiled hints of something sinister in Romney's 15 percent tax rate feeds neatly into Obama's campaign pledge to use the tax code to bring economic fairness to America.
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Jan-29 -- Paul pursued strategy of publishing controversial newsletters, associates say
WASHINGTON-- Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul on Friday flatly denied a Washington Post report that he was deeply involved in the company that produced provocative, racially charged newsletters and that he signed off on articles.
"You can't buy whole milk or raw milk," Madore said, "without the government's approval." More...

Jan-29 -- Campaigns bristle at Super PACs
In the last few weeks, super PACs and other outside groups supporting Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul and President Barack Obama launched activities in Florida, other key states, and nationally -- including phone banking , field organizing, direct mail , polling , state-of-the-race memos and even surrogate operations -- that were once left mostly to the campaigns and parties.
Let's not forget that money from the PACs and SuperPACs go right to MSNBC, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, FoxNews, The NewYork Times, The WashingtonPost, etc. etc. etc. etc. There you have it, those are the companies that benefit from all that money. More...

Sunday

Jan-29 -- Wash.: 8 Sea Lions Found Dead, Apparently Shot
One of the animals found on the Nisqually River was a Steller sea lion, protected under the Endangered Species Act.
One of the sea lions found on the Nisqually River was a Stellar sea lion, federally protected under the Endangered Species Act. More...

Jan-29 -- Officials: SUV in CA train crash drove around rail
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - (AP) -- Fire and transit officials say video of a light rail train and sport utility vehicle colliding in Sacramento shows that the SUV driver tried to go around the crossing's guardrail.
Officials test the signals and lights at an intersection where an SUV and Light Rail train collided in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012. More...

Jan-29 -- Obama repeats call for bipartisanship
President Barack Obama is pressing his case for changes in how the Senate does business, hoping to ease the partisan gridlock, and he wants to bar lawmakers from profiting from their service.
The president names appointees to judgeships and numerous federal agencies with the advice and consent of the Senate, unless Congress is in recess. More...

Jan-29 -- Brevard Times Endorses Ron Paul For GOP Nominee
WASHINGTON-- Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul on Friday flatly denied a Washington Post report that he was deeply involved in the company that produced provocative, racially charged newsletters and that he signed off on articles.
A world away from, say, Orlando, Florida, currently reporting in at 81 degrees and sunny. More...

Jan-29 -- Brown Releases Records From National Guard
BOSTON -- U.S. Sen. Scott Brown released his military service record Saturday documenting the more than three decades he has served in the Army National Guard.
The following is a summary of the records, as provided by Brown's U.S. Senate office in Washington. More...

Jan-29 -- Obama, Republicans trade accusations over gridlock
AURORA, Colorado, Jan 26 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama pitched a plan on Thursday to boost U.S. use of natural gas and open more land for drilling during a campaign-style tour aimed at bolstering confidence in his economic stewardship in an election year.
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Jan-29 -- Romney backers at Gingrich events run into political pit bull
The debates among the Republican candidates have helped Gingrich enormously in the GOP contest .
A recent press release titled "Unhinged: Dr. Newt and Mr. Hyde" criticizes the swinging moods of Gingrich, whose mother had bipolar disorder. More...

Jan-29 -- Colorado State upends No. 12 San Diego State
Colorado State's swarming defense had something to do with that.
The Aztecs turned up the pressure and whittled the deficit to 12 with 4:11 remaining. More...

Saturday

Jan-28 -- Paul says he has no intention of dropping out
While candidates Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum keep slugging it out in Florida, the fourth member of the GOP presidential quartet quickly hopped on an airplane after Thursday night's CNN debate.
"You can't buy whole milk or raw milk," Madore said, "without the government's approval." More...

Jan-28 -- A Governor Still Trying to Become a Politician
Gov. Rick Scott has accepted the resignation of Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Doug Darling, effective Jan. 31.
Doug Darling, a key job-creation advisor to Gov. Rick Scott, is resigning after eight months on the job, sources tell the Times/Herald. More...

Jan-28 -- Sea lions found shot on Puget Sound, US officials say
One of the animals found on the Nisqually River was a Stellar sea lion, protected under the Endangered Species Act.
"Unfortunately, some people just don't like the sea lions and seals feeding on fish," said Lindsay. More...

Jan-28 -- Former Mayor Kevin H. White is remembered across Boston
BOSTON -- Former Mayor Kevin White, who led the city for 16 years that spanned racially turbulent times of the 1970s and was credited with putting it on a path to prosperity, died Friday, a family spokesman said.
"Kevin White was an extraordinary man, who did a lot of great things for the city of Boston, but we fought over a lot of things, including Park Plaza,'' said Henry Lee, president of the Friends of the Public Garden, which was created to fight Zuckerman's plan. More...

Jan-28 -- Navy converting ship into floating commando base
The news broke through Pentagon procurement documents, and though the Navy has refused to announce where the Ponce will be stationed, military paperwork suggest it will sail the Persian Gulf.
The Post reports that it will now be modified into an "Afloat Forward Staging Base" and used to support mine-clearance ships, smaller patrol ships and aircraft in the Middle East. More...

Jan-28 -- In NASA-land, Romney, Gingrich battle over space
Astronaut Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon, Bob Crippen, the first space shuttle pilot, and former NASA administrator Mike Griffin are among the eight space leaders who endorsed Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney today, Space.com reported .
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Jan-28 -- California orders hike in number of super clean cars
Gasoline and diesel-powered cars will be required to be cleaner.
The range of benefits cited by CARB include: Consumer Savings, fuel cost and operational savings with "nearly $6,000 in fuel cost savings over the life of the car" by 2025; Fight Smog and Climate Change, from a 75 percent reduction in smog-forming emissions and 34 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions; Deliver Next-Generation Cars, by 2025 over 1.4 million zero-emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles will be on the road and will be 15.4 percent of new car sales; Create Jobs, with 21,000 new jobs in California by 2025. More...

Jan-28 -- Defense Budget Cuts Would Limit Raises and Close Bases
WASHINGTON: The Pentagon unveiled a 2013 budget plan that would cut $487 billion in spending over the next decade by eliminating nearly 100,000 ground troops, mothballing ships and trimming air squadrons in a bid to create a smaller, agile force with a new strategic focus.
Cossa of the Pacific Forum says the most significant cut will be in the number of ground forces, but adds that some of that reduction will likely be done through attrition, as service members retire or return to civilian life. More...

Saturday

Jan-28 -- Governance Matters at Las Vegas Sands in the hands of Sheldon Adelson
That may be changing. With the cash splash he made in South Carolina's primary and his wife's contribution this past week just in time for Florida's GOP primary, perhaps casino magnate Sheldon Adelson will become the George Soros of the Right.
Mr. Sapp predicted the issue would not prove critical in the race. More...

Jan-28 -- Travis Rowley: RI's Republican Revolution…Without the Republicans
CAMBRIDGE, Md. - Days after President Obama delivered a combative State of the Union address in which he took aim at congressional Republicans as his 2012 re-election bid gears up, Vice President Biden followed up on Friday with searing criticism of GOP leaders and the presidential field.
"The Republicans are going to be nominating a flawed candidate,'' said the Oklahoma Democrat, who cited history and an improving economy as other factors in Obama's favor. More...

Jan-28 -- Mississippi AG: Convicted murderer's whereabouts unknown
JACKSON, Miss. - Pardon files are missing or don't exist for four convicted killers and another man who worked as trusties at the Governor's Mansion and were pardoned by former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour during his final days in office.
Ozment was sentenced to life without parole. More...

Jan-28 -- Solar Stocks Down Then Up; Obama Calls For Energy Aid
President Barack Obama's embrace of an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy continues Thursday when the Interior Department announces plans for a June lease sale for oil and gas development on about 38 million acres in the central Gulf of Mexico.
There have been some signs of a change of emphasis since. More...

Jan-28 -- Paul pursued strategy of publishing controversial newsletters, associates say
Three people, including one of Paul's former secretaries, have come forward to tell the Washington Post that Congressman Paul was actually quite hands on when it came to the publication.
What they don't understand is that while Romney may rise to be the GOP 1st choice, he is a 1%-er. More...

Jan-28 -- Santorum: Won't drop out, in for the long haul | Philadelphia Inquirer | 2012 ...
NAPLES, FL -- Failing to show early signs of momentum in the Sunshine State, presidential hopeful Rick Santorum on Wednesday signaled he may be cutting out of Florida before the state's Jan. 31 primary.
The news media have been consumed by the battle between Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Romney, leaving Mr. Santorum on the sidelines. More...

Jan-28 -- Woman Accuses New York Police Commissioner's Son of Rape
New York (CNN) -- The lawyer for the son of New York's police commissioner met Thursday with the Manhattan district attorney amid allegations that the son raped a woman three months ago, a source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN. Another source with knowledge of the investigation, who declined to be named citing the sensitive nature of the probe, said the district attorney's office is handling the investigation of Greg Kelly, 43, because of the apparent conflict of interest with the New York Police Department.
A woman around the age of 30 made the complaint against Kelly, a local television news host, on Tuesday night at a Manhattan police station, according to New York media reports. More...

Jan-28 -- California adopts "clean car" rules California adopts 'clean car' rules
California has also previously set zero-emissions vehicle mandates, which 10 other states have adopted.
More...

Saturday

Jan-28 -- College tuition costs: Hold 'em down or else, Obama says
We are putting colleges on notice--you can't assume you can jack up tuition every single year."
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Jan-28 -- Paul pursued strategy of publishing controversial newsletters, associates say
Three people, including one of Paul's former secretaries, have come forward to tell the Washington Post that Congressman Paul was actually quite hands on when it came to the publication.
In 1984, just before losing a Senate bid and leaving Congress, Paul formed Ron Paul & Associates. More...

Jan-28 -- Tax Rule Opens Rich Vein for Debate
"I'm a liberal person and I believe strongly that the wealthy should pay more than the working poor," Marr said, regardless of whether the income is from investments or labor.
Obama, who in 2008 talked of ending the cynical politics of the past, and Gingrich, who likes to boast about working with Democratic President Bill Clinton, are campaigning on the theme of two Americas. More...

Jan-28 -- Kelly Says Anti-Muslim Film Shouldn't Have Been Screened
The woman reported the alleged attack Tuesday to police, who quickly turned the matter over to Vance's office because of the potential conflict of interest in investigating one of the commissioner's sons, the person familiar with the probe said.
The NYPD also admitted that Kelly ]] Kelly had cooperated with the film by sitting for a long interview. More...

Jan-28 -- Experts divided on Pentagon's proposed cuts
WASHINGTON The Pentagon took the first major step toward shrinking its budget after a decade of war as it announced Thursday that it wanted to limit pay raises for troops, increase health insurance fees for military retirees and close U.S. bases.
Washington: Faced with a 487 billion slash in its budget over the next 10 years, the Pentagon has announced downsizing its military forces by 1,00,000, even as Defence Secretary Leon Panetta asserted that U.S. will remain a force to contend with anytime and anywhere. More...

Jan-28 -- Murray seeks release during Jackson death appeal
Jackson's former personal physician was convicted of involuntary manslaughter Nov. 7 and sentenced Nov. 29 to four years in county jail.
On November 7, 2011, Conrad Murray was convicted of the manslaughter of Michael Jackson. More...

Jan-28 -- Santorum: Haven't Considered Dropping Out Of Race
NAPLES, FL -- Failing to show early signs of momentum in the Sunshine State, presidential hopeful Rick Santorum on Wednesday signaled he may be cutting out of Florida before the state's Jan. 31 primary.
CNN LIVE: Tune in Thursday at 8 p.m. ET for the CNN/Republican Party of Florida Debate hosted by Wolf Blitzer and follow it on Twitter at #CNNDebate. More...

Jan-28 -- Aneesh Chopra, White House technology chief, expected to run for Va ...
Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.
RICHMOND -- Aneesh Chopra , the first White House chief technology officer, will step down and return to Virginia, where he is expected to run for lieutenant governor next year, according to Democrats familiar with his plans. More...

Friday

Jan-27 -- Sleuths to Face Many Layers in Iowa Lottery Probe
The jackpot claim made last month by New York attorney Crawford Shaw, 76, on behalf of Hexham Investments Trust of Bedford, N.Y., was withdrawn in a letter provided by the Des Moines Davis Brown law firm shortly before 6 p.m. - ending a 13-month saga that began when the winning Hot Lotto jackpot ticket was bought by an unidentified person on December 2010.
A winning lottery ticket, worth up to $14.3 million(if taken in yearly increments, at the date of the drawing, not so much now), was sold on Dec. 29, 2010 at a QuickTrip store in Des Moines. More...

Jan-27 -- NYPD: CIA Officer Leaving Department in April
The woman reported the alleged attack Tuesday to police, who quickly turned the matter over to Vance's office because of the potential conflict of interest in investigating one of the commissioner's sons, the person familiar with the probe said.
"We know the district attorney's investigation will prove Mr. Kelly's innocence." More...

Jan-27 -- Aneesh Chopra Resigns as Federal CTO
"Aneesh found countless ways to engage the American people using technology, from electronic health records for veterans, to expanding access to broadband for rural communities, to modernizing government records.
Chopra was hired by President Obama in April 2009 to concentrate on upgrading the nation's technological infrastructure and to bring some much-needed IT savvy to the business of government. More...

Jan-27 -- Ron Paul signed off on racist newsletters in the 1990s, associates say
Three people, including one of Paul's former secretaries, have come forward to tell the Washington Post that Congressman Paul was actually quite hands on when it came to the publication.
I think that if it truly comes down to either Newt or Romney, at the end Paul will back Newt but with conditions. More...

Jan-27 -- Dougherty sibling planned escape from jail after group was busted for robbing ...
DENVER One of three siblings who was part of a multistate crime spree and nationwide manhunt planned to escape from a Colorado jail with his sister, telling the FBI in a letter that he had enjoyed his stay, authorities said in a document released Friday.
Authorities say Lee Grace Dougherty, then 29, and her younger brothers Dylan, then 26, and Ryan Edward Dougherty, then 21, robbed a bank in Georgia and shot at police officers in Florida and Colorado. More...

Jan-27 -- Gingrich: The next Reagan?
I'm not sure which political life Newt Gingrich is on, but it must be getting close to nine.
The article prompted Limbaugh to conclude Abrams must have been "spoon-fed" the material about Gingrich's after-hours speeches on the House floor in the 1980s by rival Mitt Romney's campaign. More...

Jan-27 -- Denver appeals court upholds military impostor law
"As the Supreme Court has observed time and again, false statements of fact do not enjoy constitutional protection, except to the extent necessary to protect more valuable speech," Judges Timothy M. Tymkovich and Bobby R. Baldock said in the ruling.
"The majority's novel addition to the statute does some heavy lifting," Holmes observes. More...

Jan-27 -- Secret Service to probe bullet-riddled Obama image
PHOENIX (Reuters) - The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the origins of a photo on an Arizona police officer's Facebook page that shows a group of armed youths posing in the desert with what appears to be a bullet-ridden image of President Barack Obama on a T-shirt.
The U.S. Secret Service is now investigating Sgt. Pat Shearer who is also being probed by Peoria Police Department. More...

Friday

Jan-27 -- 3 fatally stabbed in Dallas home, suspect arrested
DALLAS (January 26, 2012)--Dallas police arrested William Palmer, 50, Thursday on capital murder charges after his estranged wife and her parents were found stabbed to death in a Dallas home.
DALLAS - Dallas police are booking a suspect in connection with a triple murder in East Dallas. More...

Jan-27 -- Chew on this: what Republican presidential hopefuls are eating
Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann was the favorite early on, after winning the Iowa straw poll in August.
"Dr. Paul has a long history of saying things that are false," said at the same event. More...

Jan-27 -- Sex count for NY top cop's son
The woman reported the alleged attack Tuesday to police, who quickly turned the matter over to Manhattan DA Cyrus R. Vance Jr.' s office because of the potential conflict of interest in investigating one of the commissioner's sons, the person familiar with the probe said.
Lew Leone, the general manager of the local Fox station, said, "Greg Kelly has requested some time off." More...

Jan-27 -- South Carolina authorities search for missing toddler
Columbia police spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons said officers were scouring an 8-mile area near a small rural church in Richland County.
In this Nov. 25, 2011 photo provided by the Columbia S.C., Police Dept., 18-month-old Amir Jennings is shown near Columbia, S.C. Investigators might have had no leads on a missing mother and child if the woman hadn't crashed her car on Christmas Eve. More...

Jan-27 -- Brewer invited Obama to visit border
In an interview in November Brewer described two tense meetings.
In the book, Brewer referred to Obama as "condescending" during a White House meeting. More...

Jan-27 -- Feds drop fraud case against Adelphia founder, son
A federal judge Thursday dismissed a six-year-old tax indictment of Adelphia Communications founder John Rigas and his son Timothy, who are already in prison for looting the company.
Timothy Rigas, 55, is serving 17 years. More...

Jan-27 -- New Mexico may limit driver's licenses for illegal immigrants
A sweeping approach may create safety issues.
If the lawmakers really wanted to pass a license law in N M that makes sense, Why not have everyone's license state if they are a illegal resident or, this would not only help law enforcement and Homeland Security, but would also make an illegal legal as far as using our streets and highways. More...

Jan-27 -- Hillary Clinton puts a foot out the door
WASHINGTON: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told her state department employees that she was ready to be out of the public eye.
According to Indian diplomats, Clinton at least understands the glue that binds India and Iran which other Washington elites find so hard to fathom. More...

Friday

Jan-27 -- South Carolina authorities search for missing toddler
Columbia police spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons said officers were scouring an 8-mile area near a small rural church in Richland County.
The filings also show that Jennings is pregnant and being detained at a psychiatric facility in Columbia. More...

Jan-27 -- Environmentalists sue to protect whales from Navy sonar
SAN FRANCISCO-- A coalition of conservation and American Indian groups today sued the National Marine Fisheries Service for failing to protect thousands of whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions from U.S. Navy warfare training exercises along the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington.
The InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council is comprised of ten federally recognized Northern California Indian Tribes with ancient and enduring subsistence and cultural ties to the Sinkyone Coast, an area that will be affected by the Navy's expanded training activities. More...

Jan-27 -- Gingrich allies ready "Blood Money" anti-Romney film
Disclosure requirements are weak on the state level as well.
The rise of the super PACs has spurred calls among some reformers for a constitutional amendment to limit campaign spending. More...

Jan-27 -- Senate to look at congressional insider-trading bill
During Tuesday night's State of the Union Address, President Obama said, " Send me a bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress, I will sign it tomorrow."
It's about time Congress lived by the same rules as the rest of us. More...

Jan-27 -- Massachusetts: Congressman Will Marry His Partner
Rep. Barney Frank ]] Barney Frank will marry his longtime partner, according to Capitol Hill sources.
Ready and Frank have known each other since they met in 2005 at a fundraiser in Maine, and began a relationship in January of 2007 after Ready's partner died. More...

Jan-27 -- Lawyer withdraws mysterious claim on Iowa jackpot
The lottery sent Crawford Shaw of Bedford, N.Y., a letter, saying investigators need the identities and contact information of the person who bought the ticket at a Des Moines gas station in December 2010 and anyone else who possessed it between then and its Dec. 29 arrival at agency headquarters.
CRESCO - Marilee Christensen of New Hampton, Iowa, was the latest big instant/scratch game winner in Howard County during calendar year 2011, winning $50,000 in the Super Crossword game with a ticket purchased at Casey's General Store in Cresco. More...

Jan-27 -- Romney, Gingrich joust over ties to Reagan
A series of media hit pieces on Newt Gingrich that appear online today represent a "coordinated attack" on the Republican presidential candidate in the days leading up to Florida's primary election, Rush Limbaugh said on his radio show .
Drudge also linked prominently to the American Spectator's R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr.' s similarly harsh takedown of Gingrich over character: " William Jefferson Gingrich." More...

Jan-27 -- Police arrest Utah students accused of school bomb plot
Dallin Morgan, 18, and the 16-year-old boy were pulled out of school Wednesday and arrested after authorities learned of the plot, Roy police spokeswoman Anna Bond said Thursday.
Utilizing bomb-sniffing canines, authorities ran a sweep of the school grounds and all buildings. More...

Thursday

Jan-26 -- NYC police commissioner son investigated after rape report
AP's earlier story is below.
The NYPD and the DA's office haven't yet released many details about the investigation. More...

Jan-26 -- Man charged in stabbing deaths of wife, in-laws
DALLAS (AP) - Police have arrested a 50-year-old man on capital murder charges after his estranged wife and her parents were found stabbed to death in a Dallas home.
3 People Stabbed To Death At Dallas Home « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth You are using Internet Explorer 6. More...

Jan-26 -- Santorum: "We're going to run every race"
Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum attends a Christian Coalition prayer breakfast at Florida State University.
I think Rick should spend the day packing and saying goodbye to his small staff. More...

Jan-26 -- Talk with the Editor: Was the Gingrich open-marriage question fair?
Newt Gingrich - a former House speaker - and Pelosi - then the speaker - appeared side-by-side in a climate change commercial; Gingrich now says, "the dumbest thing I've done in the last four years was sit on a couch with Nancy Pelosi."
All the grandiose ideas and clever debating skills will never wipe away that contrasting image! I cannot understand how we Republicans think for a moment that is a winning hand. More...

Jan-26 -- Md. man caught in sting pleads guilty in bomb plot
A Baltimore man pleaded guilty to charges of trying to bomb a military recruiting center in a failed plot aimed at killing U.S. service members in late 2010.
"As the threat from homegrown violent extremists remains high, the FBI and our police partners rely on a two-way flow of information with the Muslim community at large. More...

Jan-26 -- Weather service: 10 tornadoes hit Alabama
The team discovered the tornado track near Peason Community and found damage to chicken houses, a shed near a residence and to numerous trees, the Weather Service reports.
Recently completed surveys show that tornadoes struck in Perry and Chilton counties, including an EF-2 tornado that left a nearly 40-mile path of damage. More...

Jan-26 -- Two more of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's ex-aides charged
Let's take a brief and welcome respite from the Republican fisticuffs in Florida, and trek instead to the state of Wisconsin, where Democrats and labor activists have apparently succeeded in forcing Republican Gov. Scott Walker to face the voters in a recall election this summer.
Steven Elbow has covered police and court issues for more than a decade in Wisconsin. More...

Jan-26 -- NC Gov. Perdue gives up on 2nd term run; says it would politicize school ...
Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.
Perdue, 65, has struggled with a state economy hit hard by the recession and an unemployment rate persistently above the national average. More...

Thursday

Jan-26 -- Review: Fresh stories propel 'The Old Republic'
Included in that are "nearly 1,000 actors" who have voiced-over "4,000 characters in three languages" for a story that runs around "1,600 hours, with hundreds of additional hours still being written" as BioWare works to keep the game content fresh and up-to-date.
The next large content patch in March will have a customizable UI to make any box moveable and able to be resized. More...

Jan-26 -- Gingrich admits error
Newt Gingrich and Nancy Pelosi certainly have a. complicated relationship.
Newt Gingrich knew the rules. More...

Jan-26 -- Missing woman's family called out to scene where body was found
On Wednesday morning, the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office identified the body as English.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner finished the initial phase of an autopsy on the body Tuesday night, but did not confirm that the remains belonged to English until Wednesday. More...

Jan-26 -- John Travolta's stolen car chopped to bits
A man suspected of stealing John Travolta's vintage Mercedes-Benz has been convicted and jailed on a charge of grand theft auto.
The "Pulp Fiction" star is an avid car collector, in addition to being a bona fide aviator. More...

Jan-26 -- Michelle Obama stops in Tampa, Sarasota today, then heads to Palm Beach for ...
First lady Michelle Obama comes to town tonight for a tete-a-tete with Palm Beachers at a private fund-raiser hosted by Howard and Michelle Kessler.
More...

Jan-26 -- Christie backs overhaul of New Jersey's university system | Philadelphia ...
A pro-family Orthodox Jewish rabbi is concerned that a potential Republican vice-presidential candidate has appointed an open homosexual to his state's supreme court.
The new health sciences university in Newark would be renamed New Jersey Health Sciences University, and the publicly owned University Hospital would be run by a private management company. More...

Jan-26 -- Will the real Herman Cain please sit down?
On Friday afternoon at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, Stephen Colbert hosted a “campaign rally” with former Republican Presidential candidate Herman Cain to get students and viewers to vote for Cain in the next day's primary election.
If nothing else, Colbert has shown just how comedic this whole republican presidential election has become. More...

Jan-26 -- Geithner Says Obama Won't Ask Him to Remain Past First Term
Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, the last member of the Obama administration's original economic team, said he doesn't expect to remain in office if the president is re-elected.
More...

Thursday

Jan-26 -- Indiana on the cusp of union ban
Opponents call it "union busting" and an attempt to diminish the coffers of unions traditionally supportive of Democrats.
Democrats argue that the legislation would ultimately cut employees' pay. More...

Jan-26 -- New USDA climate zone map reflects northward warming trends
Warmer winters and more detailed mapping led the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make major changes to the plant hardiness zones that comprise a color-coded map of the United States telling gardeners and farmers what temperatures will hit their plants on the coldest winter nights.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a new map of the nation's growing zones Wednesday that confirms what many gardeners and farmers already know: Winters are warmer. More...

Jan-26 -- Gingrich's infidelity and the GOP primary race
President Obama is concerned only about staying in power and keeping money out of the hands of people responsible for jump-starting the economy, Newt Gingrich said in a statement on Tuesday night in reply to the State of the Union.
He`s the expert at this. He barely conceals a nasty, virulent racism, and then he points it repeatedly at both the president and also at those who are picking up Food Stamps who need them. More...

Jan-26 -- Bachmann back in race -- for her seat in Congress
"I'm looking forward to coming back and bringing a strong, powerful voice to Washington, D.C.," Bachmann told the Associated Press.
"I am very thrilled to be in the position that I am today, and I am looking forward to continuing," Bachmann told the Star Tribune in an interview . More...

Jan-26 -- An Order in Oakland
SAN FRANCISCO -- Mayor Jean Quan vowed Wednesday to quickly reform the scandal-plagued Oakland Police Department after a frustrated judge threatened a federal takeover if it fails to quickly make good on changes agreed to nine years ago.
The settlement included 51 specific reforms the department agreed to make within five years. More...

Jan-26 -- Looking past SOPA
Notice: this article has been found in violation of H.R. 3261, SOPA. and therefore access has been denied.
In theory you can not make laws retrospective, but the copyright industry managed to do that and extended the copyright to old works too; a 1930 movie can merrily be under copyright and stay that way for almost 40 more years. More...

Jan-26 -- Forklift driver rewarded in homeless killings case
"I can't let this guy get away," Donny Hopkins said to himself as he tore off after Itzcoatl Ocampo, the man charged in the slayings of four homeless men.
Minutes later, police arrived, and Hopkins pointed authorities in the direction Ocampo ran. More...

Jan-26 -- Gingrich dismisses Pelosi claim she knows'something'
I'd tell people what it is right now.
King played the now ridiculous-looking ad of Pelosi and Gingrich happily endorsing a battle against climate change. More...

Wednesday

Jan-25 -- Bachmann Says She'll Seek 4th Term
"I'm looking forward to coming back and bringing a strong, powerful voice to Washington, D.C.," Bachmann told the Associated Press.
"I am very thrilled to be in the position that I am today, and I am looking forward to continuing," Bachmann told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. More...

Jan-25 -- Iowa Lottery Winner Must Explain Mystery or Lose Jackpot
The lottery sent Crawford Shaw of Bedford, N.Y., a letter, saying investigators need the identities and contact information of the person who bought the ticket at a Des Moines gas station in December 2010 and anyone else who possessed it between then and its Dec. 29 arrival at agency headquarters.
The Westchester county lawyer who turned in the winning $7.5 million Iowa Hot Lotto ticket under mysterious circumstances was not the individual who purchased the ticket, video surveillance shows, the Post has learned. More...

Jan-25 -- Figs in Boston area? Government issues new planting-zone map that reflects ...
Global warming is hitting not just home, but garden.
Each zone is based on 10 degrees Fahrenheit. More...

Jan-25 -- Army to Cut Brigades Amid Tighter Spending
WASHINGTON The U.S. Army plans to slash the number of combat brigades from 45 to as low as 32, and broadly restructure its fighting force to save money and cut the size of the service by about 80,000 soldiers, according to U.S. officials familiar with the plans.
I always marveled when I read a unit's lineage how many times they had been activated, re-organized, renamed, reflagged, disorganized, or bastardized. More...

Jan-25 -- Interviews with Newt Gingrich & Nancy Pelosi
I'd tell people what it is right now.
KING: You come up from time to time in the Republican presidential campaign. More...

Jan-25 -- John Travolta's stolen vintage Mercedes recovered in pieces
Parts from the dismantled 1970s Mercedes were recovered from a sophisticated auto theft ring that operated across Los Angeles County, police say.
Records show D L Rayford Jr. one of the men arrested, pleaded no contest on Jan. 5 to grand theft auto and was ordered to pay Travolta $50,000 and serve 16 months in jail. More...

Jan-25 -- Family Mourns Utah Boy Killed by Mini Toy Cannon
A Tremonton teen died after accidentally shooting himself in the head with a miniature replica cannon.
Police have not released any details about what type of projectile killed Robby. More...

Jan-25 -- Stephen Colbert wants his super PAC back. What if Jon Stewart won't give it to ...
Stephen Colbert's super PAC - or rather, the super PAC Stephen Colbert used to control - is being held hostage by Jon Stewart, in case you haven't heard.
More...

Wednesday

Jan-25 -- Obama announces mortgage crisis investigation unit
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has taken a hard line on the nation's mortgage crisis.
You have Robert Khuzami, who has turned enforcement into such a pathetic joke at the SEC that a judge stopped the no-fault settlements they were throwing at the banks left and right. More...

Jan-25 -- Thomas Sits Out Game, Bruins Lose To Caps
WASHINGTON -- Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas says he didn't attend the White House ceremony with President Barack Obama honoring the team for its 2011 Stanley Cup Championship because he believes the federal government "has grown out of control" and threatens rights and liberties.
Problem is, the visit to the White House isn't a political moment. More...

Jan-25 -- UK growers- On track to double sugar yield growth
Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney called for the end of federal sugar subsidies during Monday's Republican presidential debate in Florida, but Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said Tuesday that the comments show the candidates are spreading "misinformation" about a vital program that does not subsidize the sugar industry.
Berg's statement said the sugar industry generates nearly $10 billion each year for the U.S. economy. More...

Jan-25 -- Obama to honor Steve Jobs' wife at State of the Union address
It is common for the President of the United States to honor American heroes by inviting them to the annual State of the Union address.
Here is where I take issue with Jobs. More...

Jan-25 -- Florida Race Tests Rivals' Appeal to Hispanics
The ad was unveiled as Democrats are aiming to turn Hispanic voters against Romney ahead of Florida's primary on Jan. 31.
"Because of what I went through," Rodriguez said, "I want more people (elected) who are interested in supporting immigrants and want a more equal and fair system of immigration." More...

Jan-25 -- EDITORIAL: Public vote on gay marriage a copout
The law is being challenged in state court by Lambda Legal, a national gay-rights advocacy group.
Forget that she hails from a far less densely populated state: with all her moxie, Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor, could easily be mistaken for a Jersey girl. More...

Jan-25 -- Jackpots: $71 million hit, $120 million tonight | Philadelphia Inquirer | 2012 ...
According to the Mega Millions website 10 tickets matched the 5 numbers correctly, but did not get the Mega ball.
• One ticket matched 4 of the 5 numbers, and it also matched the Mega Ball ($10,000). More...

Jan-25 -- Dayton to Vikings: Metrodome site is only option this session
"The governor spoke to Mr. Zygi Wilf this afternoon and told him that if we are going to get a stadium bill passed this year, it will have to be at the Metrodome site," said the governor's spokeswoman, Katharine Tinucci.
The team says the Metrodome site does not provide as good a "game day" experience as other potential sites would and noted that the team would lose money if it is required to play at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank stadium while the Metrodome is rebuilt. More...

Wednesday

Jan-25 -- Sign Outside Manhattan High School Said "Shcool X-ng"
The mockery that has been heaped upon the Lower East Side's own Marta Valle High School, which features, on nearby Stanton Street, the designation [[ "SHCOOL X-NG."
A painted street warning to motorists for being in a school zone was misspelled as "SHCOOL." More...

Jan-25 -- House passes bill to allow religious symbols on war memorials
The first bill would write into law the existing practice of allowing display of religious symbols at military memorials and cemeteries.
The bill, which does not explicitly mention the memorial in San Diego, is yet another development in the two-decade-long saga over the 29-foot cross. More...

Jan-25 -- Boehner to Obama: "Work with us"
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) will host supporters of the Keystone XL oil pipeline at Tuesday night's State of the Union address, the latest attempt by the GOP to punish President Obama politically for rejecting the project.
Stylin down the aisle to the spin room on Jan 24, 12:23 PM said: @ Beltway Greg : Well, Obozo is likely to blame everything on Republicans in tonights state of the union. More...

Jan-25 -- Firebombings at 2 Synagogues in New Jersey Lead to Arrest
Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli displays the types of items that were used in the attack on Congregation Beth El on Jan. 11.
The arsons were the latest of four desecrations at Bergen County synagogues. More...

Jan-25 -- JFK tapes from last weeks before Dallas
The tapes include discussions of conflict in Vietnam, Soviet relations and the race to space, plans for the 1964 Democratic Convention and re-election strategy.
Secret recordings made by President John F Kennedy reveal in the days before his assassination that he predicted the following Monday would be a "tough day". More...

Jan-25 -- Body found 'consistent' with that of missing Ga. woman
Police have not identified the body yet but family members of Stacey English have arrived in the area.
WSB TV reported after 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23, 2012 that the family of Stacey Nicole English had been called out to the location where a black female body had been found a couple of hours earlier. More...

Jan-25 -- Why are Herman Cain, Occupy movement rebutting State of the Union?
The response is being held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., immediately following the GOP response.
A Fox News spokesperson said Cain's address will not be broadcast but a live feed will appear on FoxNews.com. More...

Jan-25 -- Consumer bureau head Richard Cordray testifies on Hill
President Obama plans to use his State of the Union speech to Congress to highlights plans to reduce the nation's economic inequality while noting the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other administration achievements to help the middle class.
Cordray goes on to describe the work done by CFPB to date, including bank and nonbank supervision; the Know Before You Owe program designed to generate short, transparent statements for consumers on financial products like mortgages and credit card statements (this is already having a good impact; my credit card statement, with disclosures mandated by the recent credit card reform bill, and a pre-emptive response to CFPB's prototype, is massively easier to read now); regulatory streamlining; and advanced on dealing with financial products for servicemembers and older Americans. More...

Tuesday

Jan-24 -- Man Pleads Not Guilty to Trying to Kill Obama
Washington (CNN) -- An Idaho man accused of trying to assassinate President Barack Obama by shooting at the White House pleaded not guilty, as expected, in federal court Tuesday.
An FBI agent had testified at an earlier hearing that bullets found embedded in the White House residence came from Ortega-Hernandez's assault weapon. More...

Jan-24 -- Caught on camera: Rescue of buried snowmobiler
Snowmobilers out in the white powder of Washington state got the ride of their lives when an avalanche buried one of them alive.
WOW, lucky to be in a group. More...

Jan-24 -- Santorum says Obama speech will just be "flowery rhetoric"
Rick Santorum has a message for critics ripping him for not correcting a woman who called President Obama a Muslim: That's not my job.
We now know the characrater & integrity of Rick Santorum because he stood by silently, while a biased person disparaged Barack Obama as an illigetimate President and Muslim. More...

Jan-24 -- Tornado recovery work begins in Alabama
Governor Robert Bentley's office reported "tornados, severe thunderstorms, hail, and straight line winds" moving into the state.
The National Weather Service estimated it was a single storm with 150-mph winds. More...

Jan-24 -- Doctor: Kirk doing 'better than expected'
U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, had a stroke and underwent "successful" surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he is recovering.
Kirk checked himself into the hospital on Saturday. according to a statement released by his office this morning. More...

Jan-24 -- Arkansas campaign manager's cat found dead with the word "liberal" scrawled on ...
Jacob Burris is the campaign manager for Democratic 3rd District congressional candidate Ken Aden.
Just exactly what kind of fucking monster would do such a thing is one question everyone wants answers to. More...

Jan-24 -- Perelman's Firm and Longtime Associate Spar in Court
Billionaire Ronald Perelman 's MacAndrews & Forbes holding company failed to pay longtime associate Donald Drapkin $16 million, an attorney for Drapkin told jurors at the start of a trial in Manhattan federal court.
In the end an eight-person jury was selected. More...

Jan-24 -- Consumer Finance Chief Touts Enforcement Powers
The government's new consumer finance watchdog agency is prepared to sue companies that offer unfair or deceptive mortgages and credit cards, its director said Tuesday.
More...

Tuesday

Jan-24 -- Colbert suspends Cain campaign, but Stewart keeps the Super PAC
Winning Our Future, a "super PAC" that supports Newt Gingrich's bid for the Republican presidential nomination, spent more than $1.2 million on ads in South Carolina.
Oh, and we outlaw all PACS so no mysterious money coming into to corrupt our election process. More...

Jan-24 -- China vice president sets Iowa stop during US trip

Jan-24 -- Gabrielle Giffords bids farewell to Tucson constituents but promises: 'I will ...
Every day my spirit is high.
Six people were killed, including a 9-year-old girl and a federal judge, and 13 others including Giffords were wounded. More...

Jan-24 -- 2 children killed in Far S. Side fire
A police sergeant and a tow truck driver tried to reach the children but couldn't, officials said.
Fire officials say it appears there was a working smoke detector in the apartment unit. More...

Jan-24 -- The Supreme Court and the slaughterhouse [graphic content warning]
The U.S. Supreme Court is blocking a California law passed in response to the undercover Humane Society video showing slaughterhouse workers abusing cows.
The questions of possibly tainted meat from potentially ailing animals -- pigs, cows, goats -- getting into the food chain was one of the confluent forces in the California law; the other was about animal cruelty. More...

Jan-24 -- U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois is expected to make full cognitive recovery ...
U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, had a stroke and underwent "successful" surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he is recovering.
Sen. Mark Kirk was hospitalized after suffering a stroke over the weekend and underwent surgery Monday in Chicago, his office said. More...

Jan-24 -- Speaker Boehner, Asked About Romney Tax Rates, Points to GE as 'Face of Broken ...
Anticipating the president's State of the Union address on Tuesday, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, called Obama's policies "pathetic" and implored him to "go in a new direction" to improve the economy.
Speaker of the House John Boehner holds a press conference to talk about extending the payroll tax cut for working Americans on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011. More...

Jan-24 -- First Washington, Now New Jersey Braces for Marriage Showdown
As of Monday, Washington appeared to be on the verge of becoming the seventh state plus the District of Columbia with marriage equality, after the last of the required votes emerged in the senate.
A state commission concluded the civil unions law created a "second-class status" in 2008, but a lame-duck legislative drive for marriage equality failed in 2010 despite a promise from outgoing Gov. Jon Corzine to sign the bill. More...

Tuesday

Jan-24 -- Kirk faces a potentially long recovery from stroke
U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, had a stroke and underwent "successful" surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he is recovering.
CHICAGO Senator Mark Steven Kirk of Illinois, who won President Obama's former seat in 2010, was admitted to a hospital over the weekend after suffering a major stroke. More...

Jan-24 -- Wash. has enough votes to legalize gay marriage
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- As lawmakers held their first public hearing on the issue, a Democratic senator on Monday announced her support for the measure, all but ensuring that Washington will become the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage.
If you play that way, then I want the word too. More...

Jan-24 -- 'Headless Body in Topless Bar' killer seeks parole
Charles Dingle, now 53, was charged and convicted in the April 1983 crime spree made famous by the New York Post headline 'HEADLESS BODY IN TOPLESS BAR'.
Even Charlie Manson has been eligible for parole now for years. More...

Jan-24 -- China leader-in-waiting Xi to visit White House next month
WASHINGTON — China's Vice President Xi Jinping, who is widely expected to be his country's next leader, will meet President Barack Obama during a Valentine's Day visit to the White House next month, officials said.
The US-China relationship has become an increasingly delicate one over a series of security and economic issues. More...

Jan-24 -- Judge allows four pardoned Mississippi inmates to remain free
The attorney general's office "was smack dab in the middle of getting" pardons then-Gov. Haley Barbour granted former trusties but has hidden its involvement, an attorney for four of the former trusties says.
Former Gov. Haley Barbour says he's "very comfortable" with his decision to grant pardons or other clemency to more than 200 people in the last days in office at a news conference Friday, Jan. 13, 2012 in Ridgeland, Miss. More...

Jan-24 -- Keystone XL pipeline discussed between GOP staff and TransCanada
TransCanada said the 1,661-mile (2,673- kilometer) project would carry 700,000 barrels of crude a day from Alberta's oil sands to refineries on the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coast, crossing six states and creating an estimated 20,000 jobs.
Last Wednesday, President Obama announced he would not grant a Presidential permit to begin building a pipeline through the nation's heartland. More...

Jan-24 -- Governor proposes plan to shore up Conn. pensions
Cafero said the fact that the SEBAC agreement can be re-opened, it might be a good thing if economic conditions get worse and the state needs more savings.
The bill allowed the city to contribute less into the pension fund than was required. More...

Jan-24 -- Massachusetts Senate Candidates Look to Limit Outside Advertising
Updated BOSTON - Senator Scott P. Brown and Elizabeth Warren, his likely Democratic opponent, agreed Monday on a plan to try to stop outside groups from running attack ads in their high-profile, high-stakes race.
More...

Monday

Jan-23 -- Ex-CIA officer charged over classified leaks
ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- A former CIA officer was charged Monday with repeatedly leaking classified information to reporters, including the identity of a covert officer.
Of course, it must still be PROVED in court, so until that time, the man is innocent. More...

Jan-23 -- Brown, Warren pledge to curb outside campaign spending
Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (R) and his Democratic rival, Elizabeth Warren, have reached a groundbreaking agreement to deter super-PACs and outside groups from dominating their Senate race with millions of dollars of ads, Brown said Monday.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee are not saying whether they'll unilaterally disarm -- and neither is the Republican-aligned Crossroads GPS, which has already pumped more than $1 million into a race that could determine which party controls the Senate after November. More...

Jan-23 -- 3 killed in Ark. including Huckabee cousin
Authorities in Arkansas say two more people are dead in a homicide and kidnapping case involving a distant relative of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
According to a report on file at APD, Hux's father notified the Union County Sheriff's Office that Huckabee might be hurt. More...

Jan-23 -- Why does Mitt Romney manage his investments from the Caymans?
Thanks to Romney, voters who don't know a debenture from a debutante are looking for the first time under the hood of the Wall Street money machine.
"There are about 80,000 taxpayers within that group paying that lower percentage of taxes. More...

Jan-23 -- Ron Paul plans to skip Florida. Will his strategy backfire?
With only 13 percent of Palmetto State Republicans backing him, Ron Paul stood at fourth and the last position among all four men standing.
By continuing to appeal to voters on the right, from Tea Partyers to Ron Paul supporters, who are concerned with reining in the deficit, reducing the national debt, ending "crony capitalism," and cutting back on federal intervention in the economy, Republicans can not only attract right-leaning independent voters but can build a governing coalition for years to come. More...

Jan-23 -- NY killer whose crime inspired 1983 'Headless body in topless bar' headline ...
Charles Dingle, now 53, was charged and convicted in the April 1983 crime spree made famous by the New York Post headline 'HEADLESS BODY IN TOPLESS BAR'.
Dingle has already been denied parole in 2008 and 2010. More...

Jan-23 -- Boehner addresses abortion opponents at annual 'March for Life' marking Roe ...
Rick Santorum used the 40-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision to make the case that he is the only true pro-life 2012 candidate, calling President Barack Obama's views on abortion "radical and extreme" and arguing that the other GOP hopefuls merely "check the box" on the issue.
Although 39 years have passed since Roe vs. Wade became the law of the land, Tobias said, she and otheractivists feel more confident than ever that the decision will soon be overturned. More...

Jan-23 -- Christie High Court Picks Include First Asian, Gay Justices
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has appointed an African-American, openly gay, Republican mayor and an assistant attorney general to the state Supreme Court .
If confirmed, Harris would be the third African-American justice and first openly gay justice and Kwon would be the first immigrant and first Asian-American justice. More...

Monday

Jan-23 -- Officials identify three bodies found in barn as missing Texas family
LEONARD, TX - Texas Rangers and Fannin County Sheriff's deputies are headed to DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, where investigators are waiting to open a trailer they say may hold the bodies of the three missing people.
They went into Thomas Taunton's pickup. More...

Jan-23 -- Obama welcomes NHL's Boston Bruins
The early afternoon ceremony with the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins is the only public event on Obama's schedule for Monday.
SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams. More...

Jan-23 -- The Unbearable Wrongness of Roe
"Thirty Nine years ago, Americans were led to believe that the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in a few, rare circumstances and only in the earliest stages of pregnancy," said Rose Mimms, Executive Director of Arkansas Right to Life.
In a surprise move, President Obama's Health and Human Services rejected the FDA's approval of over-the-counter purchase of Plan B, aka the morning-after pill, which can cause an early abortion. More...

Jan-23 -- Convicted murderers to learn their fate when Mississippi pardons challenged at ...
The attorney general's office "was smack dab in the middle of getting" pardons then-Gov. Haley Barbour granted former trusties but has hidden its involvement, an attorney for four of the former trusties says.
Piling on, Democratic state lawmakers are pushing legislation that would make it harder for a governor to grant pardons and clemencies. More...

Jan-23 -- Winter weather advisory continues until noon
The National Weather Service has issued a Freezing Rain Advisory from now until the morning hours (expiration times vary from 6AM until 9AM depending on county ).
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Jan-23 -- OPM details fixes for pension check delays
While federal employees have been told they will be excused from work until 11 a.m. Monday, DC government employees have been told they will open up on time.
Federal Government offices will open to the public at 11:00 a.m. Employees who commute to the office will be granted excused absence for the delayed arrival. More...

Jan-23 -- Opinion-makers to Mitt: What's the big idea
Thanks to Romney, voters who don't know a debenture from a debutante are looking for the first time under the hood of the Wall Street money machine.
I don't mean that facetiously. More...

Jan-23 -- Purported Bonnie and Clyde guns sell for $210K
Brown had traveled to Kansas City from Las Vegas on Saturday to bid on the famed.45-caliber Thompson submachine gun that was believed to have been used by the bank robbing duo of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.
The seller's great-grandfather, who was in law enforcement, was given the gun after the weapon was seized in a raid in Joplin, Mo., in April 1933. More...

Monday

Jan-23 -- The religious case for legalized abortion
The decision, handed down on January 22, 1973, overturned pro-life laws offering protection for unborn children in most states across the country, and made abortions legal and virtually unlimited.
At conception, there is an embryo that has the potential to become a fetus which has the potential to become a baby. More...

Jan-23 -- House too chicken for next game of chicken?
From the beginning, the Keystone XL oil pipeline project presented President Barack Obama with a choice certain to anger part of his political base.
The cost of gas depends on how much is produced and consumed worldwide, not on who sells it. More...

Jan-23 -- Threat to electrify dog cage with girl inside just 'horseplay'
James Tapke, 41, was charged Thursday with child endangering.
Tapke then had his son bring him an electrical jumper pack from the garage, and he placed it in front of the girl outside the cage, authorities said. More...

Jan-23 -- Philip Vannatter dies at 70; LAPD detective in OJ Simpson case
Philip Vannatter, the Los Angeles police detective who led the investigation of the 1994 slayings of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, has died.
"We were all supposed to be a group of incompetents, despite hundreds of successful investigations that we had collectively handled," Darden said. More...

Jan-23 -- 3-year-old bear in Minnesota gives birth to at least 2 cubs before an Internet ...
ELY, Minn. (AP) A 3-year-old bear in Minnesota has given birth to two cubs before an Internet audience.
ELY, Minn. - A 3-year-old Minnesota bear has given birth to at least two cubs via livestream for an Internet audience. More...

Jan-23 -- Weapon not found in deputy-involved shooting
LANCASTER, Calif. (KTLA) -- A man shot and killed by deputies Saturday night in Lancaster after they thought he reached for a gun during a foot chase has been identified as a wanted gang member.
More details are emerging about the man fatally shot by deputies last night in Lancaster. More...

Jan-23 -- 2 adults, child pulled icy pond in Mass.
ARLINGTON -- A three-year old boy and his parents were rescued tonight from Spy Pond by Arlington firefighters who used cruiser headlights to help guide them to the family who had fallen through the thin ice into frigid water more than 100 feet from the shore, officials said.
Police at the scene said ambulances were also going to Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston's Fenway neighborhood. More...

Jan-23 -- Welfare issue makes political comeback
Gingrich won the South Carolina Republican presidential primary on Saturday.
"We need Newt. because he's the guy that always told people what he thinks." More...

Sunday

Jan-22 -- Ohio man put daughter in cage, threatened to electrocute her: authorities
James Tapke, 41, was charged Thursday with child endangering.
Bondage, sadistic! Threatening a young girl with electricity. More...

Jan-22 -- Stephen Colbert Gives Herman Cain the 'Colbert Bump' in South Carolina
Comedian Stephen Colbert shakes hands with former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain during a rally at the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C. Colbert held the event with Cain, titled "Rock Me Like a Herman Cain South Cain-olina Primary Rally," as part of his pseudo-run for president of "the United States of South Carolina."
With the Republican field now down to four active candidates -- former Speaker Gingrich, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Sen. Rick Santorum and Rep. Ron Paul -- if the election is close -- think Iowa's 34-vote spread -- it may be because the ballot will also include candidates who are not running anymore: Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Jon Huntsman and Herman Cain. More...

Jan-22 -- $210K for Bonnie & Clyde Tommy Gun, shotgun
A great-grandson of Lairmore, also named Mark Lairmore, said the family no longer saw a need for the guns, which had been in a police museum in Springfield, Missouri, from 1973 until late last year.
The guns were auctioned by the Lairmore family of Springfield. More...

Jan-22 -- Inside the Lavish Life Of Web's Mr. Dotcom
WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- New Zealand police raided several homes and businesses linked to the founder of Megaupload.com, a giant Internet file-sharing site shut down by U.S. authorities, on Friday and seized guns, millions of dollars, and nearly $5 million in luxury cars, officials said.
The U.S. government said that it seized $50 million in assets and that much of the $175 million the site has earned since 2005 was due to copyright infringement. As Ars Technica notes , even the site's graphic designer reportedly earned $1 million last year, and between them, the seven indicted people (including the creatively named Kim Dotcom) owned 15 Mercedes-Benzes, a Maserati, a Rolls-Royce and a Lamborghini. More...

Jan-22 -- Florida voters head to polls early, impact outcome long before primary day
There are no other races or ballot questions on the Leon County ballot.
"Primaries are so important to select the candidate or candidates. but I would be shocked if turnout was over 50 percent," Lee added. More...

Jan-22 -- MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Claims Mitt Romney's Family Entered The Country Illegally
''I wanted to ask you what you think down here; I don't know,'' said the former healthcare executive and corporate lawyer, who is in the country to meet Mormon leaders.
Religion remains a key factor in U.S. politics, as recent polls suggest, and one of the main question marks surrounding Mr. Romney is whether a majority of Americans would accept a Mormon president. More...

Jan-22 -- Protesters demonstrate against election rule
About 200 people in Boston joining a national "Occupy the Courts'' protest on Friday to mark the second anniversary of a Supreme Court decision on campaign financing.
The high court's decision in that case set a precedent that would eventually lead to the legality of Super PACs, private entities that can raise money for political campaigns without the restraints normally applied to candidates under campaign finance law. More...

Jan-22 -- Senate GOP's Next Move Awaited in Nominations Spat
President Barack Obama's appointments to two key agencies during the Senate's year-end break ensures that GOP senators will return to work Monday in an angry and fighting mood.
More...

Sunday

Jan-22 -- Ron Paul gears up for the long haul
This Saturday Newt Gingrich took 40% of the vote with Mitt Romney in a distant second at 28% while former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum (17%) beat out Texas Congressman Ron Paul (13%) for third place in South Carolina.
The Air Force veteran also will be the only challenger to Mitt Romney in the Virginia Primary due to failures by the Gingrich and Santorum campaigns to file all of the necessary paperwork by the deadline. More...

Jan-22 -- Opinion: Since Roe vs. Wade decision, 39 years of care for women
Sunday marks the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the momentous Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in the United Sates.
An antiabortion activist holds a cross near a Planned Parenthood in Dubuque, Iowa, to protest the 36th anniversary of the Supreme Court's ruling on Roe v. Wade. More...

Jan-22 -- Protesters demonstrate against election rule
About 200 people in Boston joining a national "Occupy the Courts'' protest on Friday to mark the second anniversary of a Supreme Court decision on campaign financing.
Move to Amend, the coalition that organized the rallies, says the ruling -- Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission -- allows corporations to leverage elections with money. More...

Jan-22 -- Senate Republicans returning to work irate over Obama recess appointments ...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's appointments to two key agencies during the Senate's year-end break ensures that GOP senators will return to work Monday in an angry and fighting mood.
Americans elect a president, not a dictator. More...

Jan-22 -- Harris says Obama only looking for Nov. votes
President Obama's decision last week to deny a permit for a Canadian pipeline that would run all the way to Texas helped solidify his support among environmental groups.
Rather it is the specific case people are objecting to. More...

Jan-22 -- Welcome boost for tourism
"Let's realise that in the years ahead, more and more tourists are going to come from countries, with rapidly growing economies, huge populations and emerging middle classes; countries like China, India and Brazil," Obama said.
'"Every year, tens of millions of tourists from all over the world come and visit America. More...

Jan-22 -- US to Keep 11 Aircraft Carriers to Show Sea Power
In an apparent show of strength, Washington is deploying a second carrier strike group in the Gulf.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, right, shakes hands with crew members as he arrives at the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, off of the southeastern coast of the United States. More...

Jan-22 -- Twenty-two show horses die in Sussex County barn fire
Barn owner Arthur Hahn walks away from the scene of the devastation.
More...

Sunday

Jan-22 -- Sen. Ron Wyden explains opposition to pair of online piracy bills
WASHINGTON: Lawmakers stopped anti-piracy legislation in its tracks, delivering a stunning win for internet companies that staged an unprecedented online protest this week to kill the previously fast-moving bills.
Hundreds of other websites joined in the protest and Google said more than seven million people in the United States had signed an online petition against the Bills. More...

Jan-22 -- After third-place finish, Rick Santorum declares race 'wide open'
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum was hoping his long campaign effort in South Caroiina would reignite the surge his campaign had back in Iowa.
Speaking on CNN , the former Pennsylvania senator said the race was far from over. More...

Jan-22 -- Stephen Colbert, Herman Cain train missing traction in South Carolina
Comedian Stephen Colbert shakes hands with former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain during a rally at the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C. Colbert held the event with Cain, titled "Rock Me Like a Herman Cain South Cain-olina Primary Rally," as part of his pseudo-run for president of "the United States of South Carolina."
Connelly said the party is not making special preparations in expectation of extra voters and was skeptical about translating the tally of Cain votes, which will be counted and reported, into Colbert's success. More...

Jan-22 -- Jackson: Film saved life of West Memphis 3 suspect
The documentary trilogy Paradise Lost was tantamount to the eventual release of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jesse Misskelley, who were convicted of murdering three young boys in 1994.
"By the time Judge Burnett turned down all the evidence in 2008, we had become friends with Damien and (his wife) Lorri Davis," Jackson said. (Echols and Davis serve as producers on "West of Memphis.") More...

Jan-22 -- Horrific Fresno murder no surprise in meth capital of US
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- When a 23-year-old Fresno woman fatally shot her two toddlers and a cousin, critically wounded her husband then turned the gun on herself last Sunday, investigators immediately suspected methamphetamine abuse in what otherwise was inexplicable carnage.
The Central Valley of California is a hub of the nation's methamphetamine distribution network, making extremely pure forms of the drug easily available locally. More...

Jan-22 -- Bonnie and Clyde guns bring $210000 in Missouri auction
A great-grandson of Lairmore, also named Mark Lairmore, said the family no longer saw a need for the guns, which had been in a police museum in Springfield, Missouri, from 1973 until late last year.
Brown had traveled to Kansas City from Las Vegas on Saturday to bid on the famed.45-caliber Thompson submachine gun that was believed to have been used by the bank robbing duo of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. More...

Jan-22 -- President delays pipeline
President Barack Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline resulted from a series of flawed processes, the lack of anything that passes for an energy policy and idiotic politics.
Work there could begin after the governor approved that section of the pipeline that would cross over the state. More...

Jan-22 -- More Than 20 Horses Killed in New Jersey Barn Fire
LAFAYETTE, N.J. -- Investigators were working to determine the cause of a Saturday morning fire at a barn in New Jersey that killed 22 show horses, the Asbury Park Press reported.
A nearby tractor had also been charred. More...