Protests Over Koran Burning Reach Kandahar  —  KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Violent protests over the burning of a Koran in Florida flared Saturday for a second straight day, with young men rampaging through the streets of this southern capital city, flying Taliban flags and wielding sticks.

Reconsidering the Goldstone Report on Israel and war crimes  —  We know a lot more today about what happened in the Gaza war of 2008-09 than we did when I chaired the fact-finding mission appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council that produced what has come to be known as the Goldstone Report.

Barack Obama: Losing $84 billion big success  —  Barack Obama has some ‘splaining to do about taxpayers’ profitable “investment” in General Motors.  It turns out the president is imagining things.  —  Though Democrats tout the auto bailout as a success, recent reports illustrate the taxpayer cost …

Making a case vs. Obama's health care law  —  Legal scholar's opposition gets attention  —  ‘Giving the Congress the power to do these mandates is essentially giving the Congress the power to take over your life,’ said Randy Barnett, a legal scholar.  —  ARLINGTON, Va. …

Reactor Pit Found Leaking Radioactive Water Into Sea  —  TOKYO — Highly radioactive water is leaking directly into the sea from a damaged pit near a crippled reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, safety officials said Saturday, the latest setback in the increasingly messy bid to regain control of the reactors.

Ex-Mujahedeen Help Lead Libyan Rebels  —  DARNA, Libya—Two former Afghan Mujahedeen and a six-year detainee at Guantanamo Bay have stepped to the fore of this city's military campaign, training new recruits for the front and to protect the city from infiltrators loyal to Col. Moammar Gadhafi.

House GOP passes ‘force of law’ spending bill mocked by Dems  —  The House narrowly passed legislation on Friday that calls for a House-passed FY 2011 spending bill to become law should the Senate fail to approve a spending bill by April 6.  It would also prevent members of Congress from being paid during a government shutdown.

Firefighters, Cops Warn Republicans Anti-Union Stance Has Consequences … WASHINGTON — Leaders from two unions known to support the Republican Party warned of serious repercussions for GOP candidates in the 2012 elections, saying the onslaught of anti-labor bills in state capitals has shifted their political allegiances.

RNC may sanction presidential debates that double as fundraisers  —  The Republican National Committee is considering sanctioning a series of monthly presidential candidate debates beginning in August that would be paired with committee fundraisers, a party official confirmed to The Ballot Box.

$5B Subsidy for Early Retiree Health Coverage Going Quickly, Drawing GOP Criticism  —  House Oversight and Investigations subcommittee Chairman Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla. presides over the subcommittee's hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011.  (AP)

NATO Airstrike Reportedly Kills Rebels in Libya  —  BREGA, Libya — A NATO airstrike intended for the forces of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi apparently killed at least eight rebel fighters in the battle outside this pivotal oil port, an ambulance driver and news reports said Saturday.

Caregivers for disabled call Scott's emergency 15 percent cuts of their payments ‘draconian’  —  TALLAHASSEE — A day after Gov. Rick Scott ordered deep cuts to community organizations caring for developmentally disabled Floridians, the state Senate moved Friday to impose tight controls on future spending.