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.

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.

It's Morgan In America  —  Where did Piers Morgan come from?  And is there any way to send him back?  Reviewing the debut “gets”—Oprah!  Rudy!  Condoleezza!—of Larry King's blustery British heir, the author examines the failures behind Morgan's success.  —  If you're going to go in, go in big.

TRENDING: Huckabee's problem with Natalie Portman  —  (CNN) - Mike Huckabee is highlighting what he considers a symbol of degraded American values: Oscar winner Natalie Portman.  —  The former Arkansas governor and possible Republican presidential candidate criticized the actress this week …

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. …

House Republicans to fine Democrats $250 a day for avoiding votes  —  House Republicans voted Thursday to begin fining Democrats $250 a day for their absence, starting Monday.  —  Democratic representatives have not been on the House floor since Feb. 21, when they walked out to stop a series …

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.

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.

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.

Dems tried to recruit ‘Jeopardy!’ champ to challenge Sen. Orrin Hatch  —  Top Senate Democrats sought to recruit Ken Jennings to challenge Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) back in 2004, the “Jeopardy!” contestant revealed Thursday.  —  Jennings is famous for holding the record for consecutive wins on the quiz show.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

State says damage to marble at Capitol could hit $7.5 million  —  Madison - State officials said Thursday that damage to the marble inside and out the State Capitol would cost an estimated $7.5 million.  —  Cari Anne Renlund, chief legal counsel for the state Department of Administration …

New York Times online pay model details coming in ‘matter of weeks’  —  If you were the executive editor of one of the world's most prestigious and widely read newspapers, how would you justify billing a reader for a print version that he's no longer reading?

Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White indicted, faces 7 felony counts  —  Secretary of State Charlie White, along with attorney Dennis Zahn (right), is pursued by a WTHR (Channel 13) reporter outside the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office today after turning himself in to face seven felony counts …

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.