Levi Johnston's mother hit with drug charges  —  Arrested: her son was in the spotlight as father of bristol palin's baby.  —  zhollander@adn.com  —  WASILLA — A 42-year-old Wasilla woman was arrested Thursday at her home by Alaska State Troopers with a search warrant in an undercover drug investigation.

Auto Makers to Get $17.4 Billion  —  The White House announced a $17.4 billion rescue package for the troubled Detroit auto makers that allows them to avoid bankruptcy and leaves many of the big decisions for the incoming Obama administration.  —  Speaking from the White House …

Taking Yes For An Answer  —  Dish readers will know my own conflicted feelings about the selection of Rick Warren for the Inaugural Invocation.  But feelings must at some point cede to reason.  And I sense an understandable but, the more I think about it, misjudged response on the part of my fellow gays and lesbians.

Franken pushes his lead over Coleman past 150  —  The state Canvassing Board's first rush of ballot rulings in the U.S. Senate race has unofficially put challenger Al Franken in the lead by more than 150.  —  The intense scrutiny of “voter intent” resumed this morning by the five-member board charged …

Blago: I am not a crook  —  Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich struck a defiant tone in a Chicago press conference today, pledging to fight federal corruption charges in court and to stay in office despite calls for his resignation and talk of impeachment.  —  “I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing,” Blaojevich said.

With Little Fanfare, Kennedy Meets Weingarten  —  (Photo: Ruby Washington/The New York Times)  —  Today's stop on the whirlwind Caroline Kennedy listening and political-exploration tour could not have been more different from the circus-like atmosphere that has been a fixture of her meetings with notable New Yorkers in recent days.

Caroline Kennedy Is No Sarah Palin  —  WASHINGTON — It is a legitimate question: Why is the resume-thin Caroline Kennedy being treated seriously as a prospective appointee to the U.S. Senate when the comparatively more-qualified Gov. Sarah Palin received such a harsh review?

Faith on the Hill: The Religious Affiliations of Members of Congress  —  Members of Congress are often accused of being out of touch with average citizens, but an examination of the religious affiliations of U.S. senators and representatives shows that, on one very basic level, Congress looks much like the rest of the country.

CNN Meteorologist: Manmade Global Warming Theory ‘Arrogant’  —  Network's second meteorologist to challenge notion man can alter climate.  —  Business & Media Institute  —  Unprecedented snow in Las Vegas has some scratching their heads - how can there be global warming with this unusual cold and snowy weather?

Music Industry to Abandon Mass Suits  —  After years of suing thousands of people for allegedly stealing music via the Internet, the recording industry is set to drop its legal assault as it searches for more effective ways to combat online music piracy.  —  The decision represents …

Bush Has Made Us Vulnerable  —  Two incompetently prosecuted wars have undermined our deterrent power.  —  In his great Civil War history, “Decision in the West,” Albert Castel describes the last Confederate hope of victory.  If in 1864 the Confederate armies continue to exact a steep cost from the North …

GOP slams Bush over bailout  —  Republican leaders across the board have let loose on President Bush's auto industry bailout in what may be some of the toughest GOP criticism of the Bush presidency.  —  John McCain is leading the way, saying it is “unacceptable that we would leave …

What's Obama hiding about Blagojevich?  —  Probably nothing.  But by mishandling the scandal, his team has allowed questions to be raised where there were none.  —  Top to bottom: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, President-elect Barack Obama, and Rahm Emanuel.

The Employee Free Choice Act Is Unconstitutional  —  Free speech and the takings clause are at stake.  —  A top priority of the incoming Democratic Congress and Obama administration is the misnamed Employee Free Choice Act.  The EFCA, as is well known, introduces a card-check procedure …

32 days to inauguration — Bailout for GM, Chrysler requires profitability ‘soon’ — CBS and Fox embeds land Sarah Palin book contract  —  N.Y. Post: “Bubba of Arabia” — Guest “Sports Blink” from Ari Fleischer — Dessert: New reason to take piano lessons  —  Good Friday morning.

COPS EYE QUEENS REP FOR GAL BEATING  —  POLICE: SLASHED GIRLFRIEND'S FACE WITH BOTTLE  —  City Councilman and State State-senator-elect Hiram Monserrate, who touted himself as a staunch advocate of victims of domestic violence, was arrested early this morning for allegedly attacking and cutting …