Gingrich tears up while discussing his mother at Iowa town hall  —  Newt Gingrich choked up while discussing his mother's struggle with mental illness during a town-hall meeting in Des Moines.  —  Gingrich was asked to speak about a time his mother affected him at the event sponsored by CafeMom …

What's the Deal with Romney's Taxes?  —  So what's the deal with Romney's tax returns?  Or more specifically, what's the deal with Mitt Romney letting himself get more and more nippy press by refusing to release his tax returns when virtually every serious presidential candidate of the last 40 years has done it?

Iowa kingmaker rips Ron Paul, hints at late endorsement in attempt to stop him  —  Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) blasted Ron Paul's foreign policy views Friday in an interview with The Hill and hinted that he might endorse someone else in order to try and stop Paul from winning the Iowa caucuses.

RSS Feeds … CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Four protesters, including the spokesman of Occupy Charlotte, were charged after setting fire to two American flags early Friday near the Occupy camp in Center City, police said.  —  Charlotte-Mecklenburg police weren't sure earlier if the four men …

Gingrich sees Sarah Palin as vice president, Cabinet secretary  —  Newt Gingrich said that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would be among the candidates that he would consider when considering a potential running mate, adding that the former GOP vice presidential nominee would be an ideal candidate for secretary of Energy.

Conservative woman misses the point  —  Nancy French asks what marriage has to offer men and decides that some major changes have to take place if young men are going to start considering marriage part of the normal and anticipated process of adulthood: … Changing both of these things won't accomplish anything.

Occupy's Rose Parade float: 70-foot octopus of corporate greed  —  Occupy protesters are busy finishing their float that will run at the end of the Rose Parade: a 70-by-40-foot octopus made of recycled plastic bags.  —  The octopus, said activist Mark Lipman of Los Angeles …

Why I Am Endorsing Newt Gingrich for President  —  This country is in trouble and bold leadership is needed.  As someone that has had the privilege to vet these candidates as closely as just about anybody else has, I've come to the conclusion there are several good, Christian people running that most years I would vote for.

Democratic fundraiser convicted of engineering $21 million bank fraud scheme  —  Courtney Dupree is a former Tarheel basketball player who hosted a 2008 fundraiser for Obama  —  Attorney Thomas Foley, 43, leaving Federal Court in Brooklyn after a jury acquitted him of bank fraud.

Have the youth given up on Obama?  —  Editor's Note: Brad Chase is a partner with Capitol Media Partners, a Los Angeles-based communications and public affairs consultancy.  —  By Brad Chase - Special to CNN  —  In 2008, the youth vote helped sweep Barack Obama into office.

Iowa Update: Slow and Steady May Win the Race for Romney  —  Mitt Romney has led Ron Paul in five of the seven Iowa caucus polls released since Christmas.  A sixth one has them tied, leaving only one survey that still has Mr. Paul ahead.  —  Mr. Romney's lead is small in all of the polls …

Norman Lear on fighting the good fight  —  The Occupy Wall Street movement has unleashed patriotic outrage.  If you don't want to camp out or protest in the street, find another way to let your voice be heard in the new year.  —  Occupy Wall Street protesters carry American flags up Seventh Avenue toward Times Square.

Are we alone in the universe?  —  Huge excitement last week.  Two Earth-size planetsfound orbiting a sun-like star less than a thousand light-years away.  This comes two weeks after the stunning announcement of another planet orbiting another star at precisely the right distance — within the …