Reagan-Appointed Judge Strikes Down Gay Marriage Ban  —  Chuck Donovan of the Heritage Foundation denounces Judge Vaughn Walker for “extreme judicial activism” and “judicial tyranny” in striking down California's Proposition 8, which barred gay people from marrying.

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 …

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 …

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 …

President Obama celebrates birthday in Chicago  —  The president celebrated turning 49 on Wednesday with a relatively low-key overnight stay in Chicago.  AP  —  CHICAGO - It wasn't much of a party, just President Barack Obama catching up with some close friends and Oprah Winfrey over dinner in his adopted hometown.

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 …

Caroline Giuliani's Shoplifting Bust: Updated x 2  —  Here's what we've got on the shoplifting bust of Caroline Giuliani, by our Police Bureau Chief, Rocco Parascandola.  —  The Ivy Leaguer daughter of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani was busted Wednesday afternoon for trying to get a five-finger discount …

Is the GOP shedding a birthright?  —  Rather than shout, I'll just ask the question in a civil way: Dear Republicans, do you really want to endanger your party's greatest political legacy by turning the 14th Amendment to our Constitution into an excuse for election-year ugliness?

Marcela Hoeven Bikini Scandal?  —  North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven is 47 points ahead in a Senate campaign that is, by all odds, the closest thing to a surefire pick-up for Republicans this fall.  And yet it appears that there are some fiendish Democrats who hope that “family values” …

After flood of outrage, police will investigate shooting of husky in dog park  —  A day after dog's death becomes public, officials vow to look into the incident  —  Bea-Bear the Siberian husky was shot and killed at an Anne Arundel County dog park.  (Baltimore Sun / August 3, 2010)

Jobless Claims in U.S. Unexpectedly Climb to Three-Month High  —  More Americans than projected filed applications for unemployment insurance last week, indicating firings remain elevated as the recovery moderated.  —  Initial jobless claims climbed by 19,000 to 479,000 in the week ended July 31 …

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 …

Todd S. Purdum's big question of Obama's presidency: Can he play the game, yet transcend the game?  - GPG hires top Republican - How Malia used her one phone call from camp  —  BULLETIN — Michael Hastings, the Rolling Stone contributing editor who wrote “The Runaway General,” tells Mika …

Obama offers Iran an opening on engagement  —  President Obama put the issue of negotiating with Iran firmly back on the table Wednesday in an unusual White House session with journalists.  His message was that even as U.N. sanctions squeeze Tehran, he is leaving open a “pathway” for a peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue.

Food stamp use hit record 40.8m in May  —  WASHINGTON — The number of Americans who are receiving food stamps rose to a record 40.8 million in May as the jobless rate hovered near a 27-year high, the government reported yesterday.  —  Recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program subsidies …