Fox News and Mercury Radio Arts Announce New Agreement; Beck to ‘Transition Off’ Daily TV Program  —  Editor's note: After a great deal of speculation about Glenn Beck's future on television, here is the freshly-inked news release.  There will be a couple of key headlines out of this …

Paul Ryan's Multiple Unicorns  —  Gosh.  For a plan that supposedly sets a new standard of seriousness, Paul Ryan's vision (pdf) depends an awful lot on unicorn sightings — belief in the impossible.  Let me review the top three unicorns.  —  First, the plan assumes that tax cuts will set off a literally unprecedented boom.

Supreme Court race too close to call, Kloppenburg has narrow lead over Prosser  —  At left, Justice David Prosser speaks to supporters in Hartland.  At right, Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg speaks to supporters in Madison.  —  By Larry Sandler and Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel

Boehner, Obama budget call lasts three minutes  —  President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) had a brief phone call Wednesday as a government shutdown loomed, and Boehner told the president he is “hopeful” a spending deal can be reached, the Speaker's office said.

Abele defeats Stone for Milwaukee County executive  —  Chris Abele makes his victory speech at the Historic Pabst Brewery after beating Jeff Stone for the Milwaukee County Executive seat.  Abele's wife, Miriam, is at right.  —  By Steve Schultze of the Journal Sentinel

Bachmann: Why I'm qualified to be president  —  Michele Bachmann, after Bill O'Reilly asks her if she has the frame of reference to be the leader of the free world.

Man With Anti-Obama Sign Attacked In San Francisco  —  SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF/ BCN) — A man who set up a table with political literature and a sign opposing President Barack Obama was attacked in San Francisco's North Panhandle neighborhood, police and witnesses said Tuesday.

Is Palin the hot new baby name?  —  Met any baby Palins lately?  No, this isn't some new political joke — “Palin” gained some traction as a girl name in 2009.  But naming your child after a living politician is a tricky business these days, one naming expert explains.  —  By Sue Kidd

House Dem: Climate change bigger health threat than AIDS, malaria  —  Just hours before a vote Wednesday on a GOP plan to block Environmental Protection Agency climate regulations, Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) called climate change a bigger public health threat than AIDS, malaria and pandemic flu.

The Right to Offend  —  When I wrote over the weekend about the trial of Australia's most prominent columnist for expressing his opinions, I did not expect it to be quite so immediately relevant to the United States.  But perhaps what's most disturbing about Lindsey Graham's dismal defense …