Judge strikes down Prop. 8, allows gay marriage in California [Updated]  —  A federal judge in San Francisco decided today that gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to marry, striking down Proposition 8, the voter approved ballot measure that banned same-sex unions.

Google and Verizon in Talks on Selling Internet Priority  —  WASHINGTON — Google and Verizon, two leading players in Internet service and content, are nearing an agreement that could allow Verizon to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content's creators are willing to pay for the privilege.

Briton held for wearing a bikini in Dubai shopping mall after fight with Arabic woman  —  A British holidaymaker has been charged with indecency in Dubai after walking through the world's largest shopping centre in a bikini.  —  The woman was buying clothes and gifts in the Dubai Mall …

Rudy Giuliani's Daughter Allegedly Stole From Sephora Store  —  The daughter of Rudy Giuliani, the former federal prosecutor and one time presidential candidate, was arrested today when she allegedly tried to shoplift cosmetics, according to police.  —  Caroline Giuliani, 20 …

An August Surprise from Obama?  —  Main Street may be about to get its own gigantic bailout.  Rumors are running wild from Washington to Wall Street that the Obama administration is about to order government-controlled lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to forgive a portion of the mortgage debt …

Senate Vote Clears Way for $26 Billion in Aid to States  —  WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday cleared the way to provide $10 billion to states and local school districts to prevent teacher layoffs and an additional $16 billion in federal aid to cash-strapped states, and the Speaker …

Gibbs dismisses Missouri vote against federal health insurance mandate  —  White House press secretary Robert Gibbs flatly dismissed Missouri's vote Tuesday rejecting a key part of the healthcare law.  —  Gibbs said Missouri's vote approving a ballot initiative to exempt residents …

White House Statement on Proposition 8  —  A White House statement regarding Wednesday's ruling overturning Proposition 8 said President Barack Obama had spoken out against the measure because it was “divisive and discriminatory.”  —  A White House spokesperson sent the following statement …

Feds admit storing checkpoint body scan images  —  For the last few years, federal agencies have defended body scanning by insisting that all images will be discarded as soon as they're viewed.  The Transportation Security Administration claimed last summer, for instance, that “scanned images cannot be stored or recorded.”

Updated.  Must Watch: The Broken Window Fallacy  —  This brilliant video is a simple illustration on the fallacy of claiming that calamities stir economic growth.  Paul Krugman, a Nobel Prize - winning economist, says the attacks of 9/11 and World War II brought great economic benefits to the nation.

President Obama courts wealthy donors  —  Obama is speaking at these press-free events, if not behind a lectern or with a microphone.  —  Four times in the last week, President Barack Obama has quietly departed from his official White House schedule and slipped into private …

Why We Should Welcome McConnell's Demand for Hearings on Rescinding 14th Amendment  —  The “your papers, please” hysteria spreading through the Republican Party has reached a new low.  Now, they want to corrupt the U.S. Constitution to promote their opposition to immigrants and immigration.

The Tea Party's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Night  —  Moderates rule a series of high-profile primaries.  —  Kansas Rep. Todd Tiahrt, along with his wife, Vicki, concedes to Jerry Moran during a watch party for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.

New Policy Allows Pledge of Allegiance at Massachusetts School District  —  Students at Massachusetts high schools in Arlington can rejoice — they'll be allowed to recite the Pledge of Allegiance this fall.  —  Nearly two months after deadlocking on a proposal by senior Sean Harrington …

Creating a hybrid for the blogosphere  —  Not only is the blogosphere changing how voters consume information, it's also creating new jobs in politics, policy and online communications consulting.  Although there is still no formal job description for “blogger relations” staffers …

New CNN poll on birther myth  —  CNN has released a new poll on the birther myth and the news, as usual, is depressing.  Only 42% of the public thinks Obama was “definitely born in the United States” and 27% of Americans specifically stated that President Obama was “probably” or “definitely” born in another country.

Pence: Obama ‘most anti-Israel’ president in modern history  —  President Obama is running the most anti-Israel White House in modern history, a member of the House GOP leadership charged Wednesday.  —  House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.), a staunch ally of Israel, assailed Obama for his record on that country.

Diversity Debate Engulfs Hunter High in Manhattan  —  With one of its alumnae, Elena Kagan, poised for confirmation as a justice on the United States Supreme Court, it should be a triumphant season for Hunter College High School, a New York City public school for the intellectually gifted.