U.S. Added 192,000 Jobs in February; Rate at 8.9%  —  America's job engine picked up some steam last month.  —  The nation's employers added 192,000 jobs in February, after having added just 63,000 the previous month, the Labor Department reported on Friday.  —  The February number was about what economists had been forecasting.

The Disposable Woman  —  FORTY-THREE minutes into his “special live edition” with Charlie Sheen on Monday night, Piers Morgan finally got around to asking his guest a real question.  Before that, Mr. Morgan and Mr. Sheen had mostly traded chuckles and anecdotes about multiday benders …

Statement on SB 116 (Same-Sex Marriage Bill)  —  I have heard from constituents, friends, and advocates from across the spectrum of views and have thought about the issue of same-sex marriage extensively.  I understand their concern—this is a very serious issue, and one that many people feel passionately about.

Huckabee clarifies Portman criticism  —  (CNN) - Mike Huckabee is explaining comments he made earlier this week criticizing Oscar winner Natalie Portman for being pregnant and unmarried.  —  “In a recent media interview about my new book, A Simple Government, I discussed the first chapter …

How to Kill a Recovery  —  The economic news has been better lately.  New claims for unemployment insurance are down; business and consumer surveys suggest solid growth.  We're still near the bottom of a very deep hole, but at least we're climbing.  —  It's too bad that so many people …

Soldier in Leaks Case Was Jailed Naked, Lawyer Says  —  WASHINGTON — A lawyer for Pfc. Bradley Manning, the Army intelligence analyst accused of leaking secret government files to WikiLeaks, has complained that his client was stripped and left naked in his cell for seven hours on Wednesday.

McConnell: White House offer to cut $6.5B is ‘unserious’  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Friday rejected the White House's opening offer to cut an additional $6.5 billion in spending as “unserious.”  —  Speaking on the Senate floor, the GOP leader said that Republicans …

Presidential hopefuls Huntsman, Romney share Mormonism and belief in themselves  —  IN SALT LAKE CITY — Jon Huntsman Jr. and Mitt Romney go way back.  —  In the Huntsman Corp. headquarters below Red Butte Canyon, Peter Huntsman, the younger brother of Jon Huntsman Jr. …

Rick Scott Rejects Obama Administration's Last-Ditch Pitch On High-Speed Rail … WASHINGTON — Putting a formal end to attempts to satisfy his concerns with the project, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has rejected a last-ditch effort by the Department of Transportation to build a portion of a national high-speed rail system in his state.

Rep. Nick Milroy tackled while trying to enter Capitol  —  MADISON (WKOW) — Representative Nick Milroy (D-South Range) had a confrontation with Capitol police as he tried to enter the building Thursday night.  —  Milroy was trying to get clothes from his office but police would not let him into the building.

Public Broadcasting Should Go Private  —  If these outfits can afford to pay lavish salaries to their heads, they don't need taxpayer help.  —  When presidents of government-funded broadcasting are making more than the president of the United States, it's time to get the government out of public broadcasting.

NASA satellite rocket launch fails, lands in ocean  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — A rocket carrying an Earth-observation satellite plummeted into the Pacific Ocean after a failed launch attempt Friday, the second-straight blow to NASA's weakened environmental monitoring program.

Daley: U.S. a ‘country of whiners’  —  Retiring Mayor Richard Daley on Thursday contended America is a “country of whiners” that's spent the last four decades fearing the impact of foreign governments on the nation's economy instead of showing the confidence and sacrifice to lead on a global stage.

Agent: I was ordered to let U.S. guns into Mexico  —  ATF agent says “Fast and Furious” program let guns “walk” into hands of Mexican drug cartels with aim of tracking and breaking a big case  —  WASHINGTON - Federal agent John Dodson says what he was asked to do was beyond belief.

Wisconsin Governor Walker: 43% Approval Rating  —  Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker won his job last November with 52% of the vote, but his popularity has slipped since then.  —  A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Wisconsin Voters finds that just 34% Strongly Approve of the job he is doing …

Rory Reid's gubernatorial campaign circumvented contribution limits, created 91 shell PACs to infuse $750,000 into campaign  — Who funded Rory Reid's PAC — California bigwig, Vegas cab magnate, unions, gamers  —  In one of the most brazen schemes in Nevada history …

James Franco Straddles Two Roles at Yale  —  On Sunday night he was in Hollywood, as co-host of the Oscar telecast in black tie.  At 9 the next morning, he was in a Starbucks in New Haven, hunched over a book and barely recognizable in a gray sweatshirt, but still wearing his tuxedo pants.

GOP Aims to Tame Benefits Programs  —  Boehner Promises Entitlement Review  —  WASHINGTON—House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday that he's determined to offer a budget this spring that curbs Social Security and Medicare, despite the political risks, and that Republicans will try to persuade voters that sacrifices are needed.

Newt Gingrich's rough week  —  And so it didn't begin.  —  Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was supposed to make big news in Atlanta Thursday, announcing a major step toward running for president in 2012.  —  What he announced instead was a website, the oddly named NewtExplore2012.com.

Few Winning Scenarios for Gingrich  —  About a year ago, back at the old FiveThirtyEight, I had a very skeptical take on Newt Gingrich's potential candidacy for president.  The issue I highlighted is that Mr. Gingrich is neither especially well-liked by Republicans — his numbers among Republicans are fine …

Public Unions Get Too ‘Friendly’  —  They resemble ‘On the Waterfront’ more than ‘Norma Rae.’  —  When you step back and try to get a sense of the larger picture in the battle between the states and their public employee unions, two elements emerge.  One seems small but could prove decisive …