Federal Deficit Falls to Smallest Level Since 2008 - NYTimes.com

BAM!

Federal Deficit Falls to Smallest Level Since 2008 - NYTimes.com: "The federal budget deficit fell precipitously to $680 billion in the 2013 fiscal year from about $1.1 trillion the year before, the Treasury Department said Thursday. That is the smallest deficit since 2008, and marks the end of a five-year stretch when the country’s fiscal gap came in at more than a trillion dollars a year.

 The report comes days before the White House is expected to release a new budget. Democrats have said that the still-tepid recovery requires government investment along with commitments to reduce deficits in the long term — while also emphasizing the rapidly falling budget gap."



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Federal judge strikes down Texas same-sex marriage ban - CBS News

Federal judge strikes down Texas same-sex marriage ban - CBS News:

 A federal judge declared Texas' ban on gay marriage unconstitutional Wednesday, but left it in place until an appeals court can rule on the case.

The ruling is the latest in a series of victories for gay rights activists following similar decisions in Utah, Oklahoma and Virginia.

Judge Orlando Garcia issued the preliminary injunction after two gay coupleschallenged a state constitutional amendment and a longstanding law. He said the couples are likely to win their case and the ban should be lifted, but said he would give the state time to appeal to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals before do so.

"Without a rational relation to a legitimate governmental purpose, state-imposed inequality can find no refuge in our United States Constitution," Garcia wrote. "These Texas laws deny plaintiffs access to the institution of marriage and its numerous rights, privileges, and responsibilities for the sole reason that Plaintiffs wish to be married to a person of the same sex."

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Why 13 Million Left The Labor Force - Business Insider

Why 13 Million Left The Labor Force - Business Insider: "The U.S. unemployment rate has fallen sharply since the darkest days of the great recession.

 Much of this decline is due to the drop in the labor force participation rate (LFPR).

 Some people have attributed the change to discouraged workers. Others have pointed to young people going back to school. Many have recognized that many baby boomers are retiring.



 Earlier this week, Business Insider's Matthew Boesler brought light to some underappreciated stats from the Census that actually quantify this.  "The monthly Current Population Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (from which labor force participation data are derived) actually asks those leaving the labor force why they are doing so.""



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Obama to award Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans - CBS News

Obama to award Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans - CBS News: "President Obama will award the Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. All but three will be awarded the medal posthumously.

The awards ceremony will be March 18."



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Alice Herz-Sommer Dead: World's Oldest-Known Holocaust Survivor Dies At 110

Alice Herz-Sommer Dead: World's Oldest-Known Holocaust Survivor Dies At 110: "Alice Herz-Sommer Dead: World's Oldest-Known Holocaust Survivor Dies At 110"



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Jeff Flake, Arizona Senator, Calls On Governor Jan Brewer To Veto Anti-Gay Bill

Something is wrong with Arizona!  All types of hate in that state!

Jeff Flake, Arizona Senator, Calls On Governor Jan Brewer To Veto Anti-Gay Bill: "The Arizona senate passed SB 1062 on Wednesday; Governor Brewer has five days from when the bill arrives at her desk to decide whether to veto it. If she does nothing, the bill will become law. Arizona Central reported that, as of Friday afternoon, the bill had not yet been delivered to Brewer."



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Scott Walker, eyeing 2016, faces fallout from investigations as ex-aide’s e-mails are released - The Washington Post

Scott Walker, eyeing 2016, faces fallout from investigations as ex-aide’s e-mails are released - The Washington Post: "Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who has been eyeing a 2016 presidential run since his battles with labor unions made him a Republican star, is in the midst of dealing with the fallout of two criminal investigations at home that could complicate his move to the national stage.

One is ongoing, and while the other is now closed with no allegations of wrongdoing by Walker, it has the lingering potential to embarrass him."



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Union-Hater 'Joe The Plumber' Just Got A Union Job At Chrysler

I found it!

Union-Hater 'Joe The Plumber' Just Got A Union Job At Chrysler: "Wurzelbacher last made headlines when he ran for a congressional seat in Ohio, which he lost. But before that, he had this to say at an anti-union rally against Wisconsin state employees seeking collective bargaining rights: "Unions don't deserve anything, you don't deserve anything, you work for it yourself!" "

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Joe the Plumber takes job at unionized auto plant

Joe the Plumber takes job at unionized auto plant: "Joe the Plumber has taken a job at a unionized auto plant -- and he sounds proud of it.

Joe Wurzlebacher, who rose from obscurity during the 2008 presidential race when he was championed by Sen. John McCain and then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, says on his website that he just started a job at Chrysler Group's Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio."



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CBO Minimum Wage Increase Report - Business Insider

CBO Minimum Wage Increase Report - Business Insider: "A minimum-wage increase to $10.10 — the level advocated by President Barack Obama and Democrats — would cost about 500,000 jobs but raise earnings for more than 16.5 million low-wage workers by 2016, according to a report released Tuesday by the Congressional Budget Office."



The report: http://cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/44995-MinimumWage.pdf

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George Zimmerman: Obama Made Me 'Scapegoat' - Business Insider

George Zimmerman: Obama Made Me 'Scapegoat' - Business Insider: ""And they would be scapegoating you, why?" Cuomo said. "Just to show that they're taking a position on something that matters to a lot of people?"

"I don’t like others speaking for me, so I try to give other people the benefit and not speak for them," Zimmerman said in response. "I don’t know what they’re thinking or why they’re thinking it, all I know is that they’re doing it. I don’t know what agenda they have.""



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Observer-Reporter | Missing worker identified in gas well explosion

Way to go Texas!  Isn't this four so far this year?

Observer-Reporter | Missing worker identified in gas well explosion: " Although a spokesman for Chevron declined to answer questions about a contract employee still missing after a Feb. 11 gas well explosion in Dunkard Township, the Times Observer newspaper in Warren identified him as Ian McKee.

John Sanclemente, a senior drilling superintendent with Chevron, said he could not provide information about the missing individual, as this matter is currently under the jurisdiction of the state police in Waynesburg. It was confirmed by police Monday afternoon they are investigating and will issue a statement soon."

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Clean Debt Ceiling Bill Passes House - Business Insider

Clean Debt Ceiling Bill Passes House - Business Insider: "The final tally was 221-201, with Democrats carrying the vote. Twenty-eight Republicans joined 193 Democrats in voting for the measure. Meanwhile, 199 Republicans and two Democrats voted against it. "



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Missouri students block Westboro Baptist protest of Michael Sam - CBSSports.com

Very Cool!

Missouri students block Westboro Baptist protest of Michael Sam - CBSSports.com: "The Missouri community has shown overwhelming support for Michael Sam since the Tigers' football star announced that he was gay earlier this month. On Saturday a group of students united to drown out the protest efforts of the Westboro Baptist Church."



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Walmart Shooting Leaves 1 Dead In Arizona

Walmart Shooting Leaves 1 Dead In Arizona: "A man shot inside a Walmart store during a fight died, police in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler said Sunday night.

Detectives reviewing surveillance video report that two people got into a fight in the store, which ended in a shooting around 4 p.m. Sunday, Chandler police spokesman Joseph Favazzo said in a news release."



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Jury Reaches Partial Verdict in Florida Killing Over Loud Music - NYTimes.com

Frickin' Florida!

Jury Reaches Partial Verdict in Florida Killing Over Loud Music - NYTimes.com:

 After four days of deliberation, the jury in the racially tinged trial of Michael Dunn, a Florida man who set off another firestorm over the state’s self-defense laws when he shot a teenager to death in a parking lot during a dispute over loud music, said it could not agree on whether Mr. Dunn had acted to protect himself or was guilty of murder.

The jurors did find Mr. Dunn guilty of three counts of second-degree attempted murder for getting out of his car and firing several times at the Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle in which Jordan Davis, 17, was killed. Three other teenagers, the subjects of the attempted murder charges, were in the car but were not struck. Mr. Dunn continued to fire at the vehicle even as it pulled away. On the attempted murder convictions, he could be sentenced to 60 years in prison.

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Snake-Handling Reality TV Pastor Dies After Snakebite : The Two-Way : NPR

Kentucky!

Snake-Handling Reality TV Pastor Dies After Snakebite : The Two-Way : NPR: "Jamie Coots, a third-generation snake-handling Pentecostal preacher, died Saturday night after being bitten by one of his serpents.

Coots, known for handling poisonous rattlesnakes and featured on the National Geographic reality series Snake Salvation, was bitten on his right hand and died in his home after refusing medical treatment, NPR's John Burnett tells our Newscast unit."



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Snake-handling Kentucky pastor dies from snake bite - CBS News

Snake-handling Kentucky pastor dies from snake bite - CBS News: "A snake-handling Kentucky pastor who appeared on the National Geographic television reality show "Snake Salvation" has died after being bitten by a snake.

 According to a news release from the Middlesboro Police Department, someone called first responders at about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday regarding a snake-bite victim at a church.

 When the ambulance arrived, they were told that Jamie Coots had gone home. Contacted at his house, Coots refused medical treatment. Emergency workers left at a little after 9:00 p.m. When they returned about an hour later, Coots was dead."

WKYT 27 NEWSFIRST

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Federal Funding Re-Energizes MIT Fusion Reactor | Here & Now

Federal Funding Re-Energizes MIT Fusion Reactor | Here & Now: "A unique MIT laboratory is back in business. The Plasma Science and Fusion Center was shut down for more than a year due to federal budget cuts. But scientists are once again at work, creating and controlling the energy of the stars, and possibly the power source for our planet’s future."

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Republicans Who Voted To Raise Debt Ceiling - Business Insider

Republicans Who Voted To Raise Debt Ceiling - Business Insider: "Here's the list of Republicans that supported the measure:"

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio)

House Majority Leader Eric I. Cantor (R-Va.)

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)

Peter Roskam (R-Ill.)

Hal Rogers (R-Ky.)

Dave Camp (R-Mich.)

Buck McKeon (R-Calif.)

Darrell Issa (R-Calif.)

Ed Royce (R-Calif.)

Ken Calvert (R-Calif.)

Chris Collins (R-N.Y.)

Charlie Dent (R-Pa.)

Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.)

Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.)

Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.)

Doc Hastings (R-Wash.)

Peter King (R-N.Y.)

Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.)

Pat Meehan (R-Pa.) 

Gary Miller (R-Calif.)

Dave Reichert (R-Wash.)

Christopher Smith (R-N.J.)

David Valadao (R-Calif.)

John Shimkus (R-Ill.)

Devin Nunes (R-Calif.)

Reps. Howard Coble (R-N.C.)

Jon Runyan (R-N.J.)

Frank Wolf (R-Va.)

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Rand Paul to sue Obama, NSA - Natalie Villacorta - POLITICO.com

Rand Paul to sue Obama, NSA - Natalie Villacorta - POLITICO.com: "Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) will announce on Wednesday a lawsuit against President Barack Obama, the National Security Agency, and others involved in the spy agency’s mass collection of Americans’ personal data, according to a statement."



Commie: Rand Paul

Commie: Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli 

Commie: Matt Kibbe, president of FreedomWorks.
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Attorney General Eric Holder: restore felons' voting rights - POLITICO.com

Attorney General Eric Holder: restore felons' voting rights - POLITICO.com: ""Just last year, former Governor McDonnell adopted a policy that began to automatically restore the voting rights of former prisoners with non-violent felony convictions," the attorney general's prepared remarks say. "I applaud those who have already shown leadership in raising awareness and helping to address this issue.""



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Nevada State Officials Stop Defending Same-Sex Marriage Ban In Appeal

Nevada State Officials Stop Defending Same-Sex Marriage Ban In Appeal: "The Democratic attorney general says “the legal landscape” has changed, and the Republican governor’s office says that the constitutional amendment “is no longer defensible in court.”"



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GOP Congressman Compares Consumer Financial Protection Bureau To Nazis

GOP Congressman Compares Consumer Financial Protection Bureau To Nazis: "A Republican congressman compared the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data collection to the Gestapo at a Rules Committee hearing Monday.
“So this is far more than the NSA, far more than their meta-data, which only collects phone numbers but not names — far more because they have no reauthorization, far more because there is no appropriation restrictions placed on it,” Florida Rep. Daniel Webster said. “This is more than just NSA-style, this is more Gestapo-style collection of data on individual citizens who have no clue that this is happening.”"



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CVS Stock Rises Ahead Of Lost Tobacco Sales : NPR

CVS Stock Rises Ahead Of Lost Tobacco Sales : NPR: "Less than a week after CVS announced it would no longer sell tobacco products, its stock is on the rise."


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From 'Freedom Industries' to 'Patriot Coal' | MSNBC

..And that's why you're West Virginia!

From 'Freedom Industries' to 'Patriot Coal' | MSNBC: "Locals were initially told that a slurry line ruptured between a preparation plant and a refuse impoundment facility at Patriot Coal – yes, you read that right, we’ve gone from an incident at “Freedom Industries” to one at “Patriot Coal” – but state officials later said the spill was “caused by a malfunction of a valve inside the slurry line carrying material from the preparation plant to a separate disposal site, not to an impoundment.”"



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5 West Virginia schools reopen after water concern - CNN.com

5 West Virginia schools reopen after water concern - CNN.com: "Five West Virginia schools that were closed Thursday because of lingering water concerns reopened Friday, state Department of Education spokeswoman Liza Cordeiro said.
Most, if not all, of the five Charleston-area schools were closed Thursday because of a smell of licorice in the water -- the same smell given off by a methanol compound that leaked into a river and left about 300,000 people without water last month."



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West Virginia's Water Nightmare Closes Schools | Environment News Service

West Virginia's Water Nightmare Closes Schools | Environment News Service: "Crude MCHM, one of two chemicals that leaked into West Virginia’s Elk River last month, was detected in the water supply of George Washington High School this morning, according to Kanawha-Charleston Health Department officials, weeks after the water was declared safe to use.

But Nassandra Wright, the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department’s head sanitarian, said the school’s results are below the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation of one-part-per-million."



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2 more West Virginia schools closed with water concerns - SCNow: Nation

2 more West Virginia schools closed with water concerns - SCNow: Nation: "Watts and J.E. Robins elementary schools in Charleston are dismissing students early after reports of licorice smelling water.
Department of Education spokeswoman Liza Cordeiro says staff in both schools reported the smell in the kitchen areas as well as in a preschool room at Watts on Thursday."



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2 more West Virginia schools closed with water concerns - SCNow: Nation

2 more West Virginia schools closed with water concerns - SCNow: Nation:



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Accused “loud music” shooter Michael Dunn feared for his life - Videos - CBS News

Accused “loud music” shooter Michael Dunn feared for his life - Videos - CBS News: "Michael Dunn testified he feared for his life when he shot 17-year-old Jordan Davis at a Florida convenience store in November 2012. The confrontation began when Dunn asked the teen and his friends to turn down their truck stereo. A security camera captured the sound of Dunn firing 10 shots from a handgun he had in his car."



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President Obama signs emergency declaration for Georgia - WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, Sports

President Obama signs emergency declaration for Georgia - WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, Sports: " President Barack Obama has declared an emergency in Georgia as a winter storm brings snow and the threat of a thick layer of ice to the state.
  
Obama made the declaration Tuesday. It orders federal agencies to help the state and local response during the storm."



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Gov. Deal declares state of emergency | 11alive.com

Gov. Deal declares state of emergency | 11alive.com: "Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has extended the state of emergency due to a Winter Storm Warning that went into effect Monday night.


Deal announced Tuesday morning that he added 44 counties to the original 45."



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Latest on Winter Storm: Oliver Gospel Mission adding capacity | Weather | The State

Latest on Winter Storm: Oliver Gospel Mission adding capacity | Weather | The State: "Gov. Nikki Haley declared a state of emergency in South Carolina Tuesday as the worst of a two-part winter storm loomed on Wednesday."



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Deal declares a state of emergency for much of middle Georgia... | www.ajc.com

Deal declares a state of emergency for much of middle Georgia... | www.ajc.com: "Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency for another 43 counties across a wide swath of middle Georgia on Tuesday as a second wave of brutal winter weather zeroed in on the state."



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Immigration groups turn to anger - POLITICO.com Print View

Immigration groups turn to anger - POLITICO.com Print View: "Immigration reform advocates are done playing nice with House Republicans.

After holding their fire for years at the urging of the Obama administration, several immigration reform groups now plan to unleash their anger at the right.

A new, more aggressive campaign kicks off Tuesday, when these groups say they will begin confronting Republican lawmakers at public appearances, congressional hearings and events back in home districts. The goal: Shame Republicans in swing districts into taking up the issue — or make them pay at the ballot box in November.

(Also on POLITICO: Bill Gates: U.S. immigration ‘incredible’)

It’s unclear if the strategy will truly damage Republicans with their constituents. Or worse, whether it might backfire and oust some of the movement’s best potential allies across the aisle."



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Gift acceptance is an abuse of power - The Creightonian: Opinion

Gift acceptance is an abuse of power - The Creightonian: Opinion: "The former governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell, is accused of federal corruption while in office. Behind these charges is his wife, Maureen McDonnell. She is the one accused of taking almost $165,000 in loans and luxury goods from Jonnie Williams Sr., who was CEO at the time of Star Scientific.
This scandal brings to light the life of the political spouses. Mrs. McDonnell is not the only spouse to grab the media’s attention with taking bribes or seeking financial help from an individual aiming to gain a favor from her or his husband or wife. Williams received this favor by getting a seat next to the governor at a fundraiser and receiving attention for his newest products."



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Albemarle County Passes Ordinances Limiting Junk Cars

Just Straight Country!

Albemarle County Passes Ordinances Limiting Junk Cars: "The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors passed two ordinances Wednesday evening limiting the number of inoperable vehicles allowed to sit on residents' property. The new rules change the number of inoperable cars allowed outside from two to one in non-rural areas.

An inoperable vehicle is one that either cannot run, does not have a license plate, or has an inspection sticker that has expired by more than 60 days.

Cars must also be screened either a non-see-through fence, wall, or vegetation, or fitted cover -- you can't throw a blue tarp over it."



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AOL.com Article - Chris Christie booed off stage at Super Bowl event

AOL.com Article - Chris Christie booed off stage at Super Bowl event: "It's been a rough couple of weeks for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
That's booing you hear in the background. Christie was at an event in Times Square Saturday celebrating next year's Super Bowl which will be held in Arizona. By KYW-TV's count, the embattled governor only spoke for about 30 seconds and rushed off the stage without taking questions.

All that just just one day after news broke that one of Christie's former political appointees at the Port Authority was suggesting the governor knew about purposeful lane closures on the George Washington Bridge.
Allegations that have dogged his administration since they were first reported. Christie has repeatedly denied involvement.
"



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Subpoenaed Christie staffer Christina Renna resigns - Elizabeth Titus - POLITICO.com

Subpoenaed Christie staffer Christina Renna resigns - Elizabeth Titus - POLITICO.com: "A Chris Christie aide who was subpoenaed in a growing New Jersey traffic scandal resigned Friday, the aide’s lawyer confirmed to POLITICO.

Christina Renna becomes the second person to leave the Republican governor’s office since the scandal escalated in January. But she did not say the scandal, which has threatened Christie’s potential presidential ambitions, was the reason for her departure."



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L. O. B.

Legion Of Boom!

Seahawks Win Super Bowl 43-8: Highlights, GIFs - Business Insider: "The Seattle Seahawks destroyed the Denver Broncos 43-8 to win one of the most lopsided Super Bowls in NFL history.
The Seahawks beat the Broncos in every way that one football team can beat another football team.  It was a shockingly comprehensive beating by the Seahawks. Seattle did what they did well all year — pressed receivers, rushed the passer, forced turnovers, got into manageable 3rd downs — only better, and all at once."



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Seattle Seahawks : 43-8 victory

Warm Weather, Cold Manning at Super Bowl - NYTimes.com: " As it turned out, the weather was not nearly as cold as Peyton Manning.

On Sunday, the New York-New Jersey region concluded its big moment hosting the first outdoor Super Bowl in a Northern climate with a dominating 43-8 victory by the Seattle Seahawks over the Denver Broncos before an announced crowd of 82,529 at MetLife Stadium.

The weather could not have been more cooperative for this secular holiday and the nation’s No. 1 sporting event, even if many again probably found the commercials more riveting than the game."



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GOP Debt Ceiling Strategy - Business Insider

GOP Debt Ceiling Strategy - Business Insider:

"House Republicans are rallying around a new plan on their approach to raising the debt ceiling, according to The Washington Post's Robert Costa — a one-year increase tied to a request on the Affordable Care Act: "
[snip]

That means House Republicans could demand a repeal of Obamacare's "risk corridors." Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has said that the debt ceiling will need to be raised by the end of February to avoid a potential default on the country's obligations.

The "risk corridors" in question aim to make it easier for insurance companies to transition to the new health-care system, largely by making it less financially risky for them to sell new insurance plans on the exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have recently begun referring to them as a "bailout." 

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David Wildstein: Christie Knew About Bridge Closures - Business Insider

David Wildstein: Christie Knew About Bridge Closures - Business Insider:

A lawyer for David Wildstein, the Former Port Authority Director of Interstate Capital Projects and an ally of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, said Friday that there was evidence the Governor knew about the closure of lanes onto the George Washington Bridge from Fort Lee, N.J., as they were happening in September.

Wildstein's lawyer, Alan Zegas, released a letter to The New York Times (and, subsequently, other outlets) in which he said: "Evidence exists as well tying Mr. Christie to having knowledge of the lane closures, during the period when the lanes were closed, contrary to what the governor stated publicly in a two-hour press conference."

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