Obama mandate on birth control coverage stirs controversy  —  WASHINGTON - Congressional leaders and Republican presidential candidates joined Catholic religious groups on Wednesday in denouncing the Obama administration's mandate requiring health insurers to offer birth control coverage, but the White House stood its ground.

States Negotiate $26 Billion Agreement for Homeowners  —  After months of painstaking talks, government authorities and five of the nation's biggest banks have agreed to a $26 billion settlement that could provide relief to nearly two million current and former American homeowners harmed …

Mitt Romney's message from GOP: Step it up  —  Mitt Romney's poor performance Tuesday is prompting congressional Republicans to go public with a bracing message to the front-runner: time to step it up, Mitt.  —  A day after Romney was convincingly defeated by Rick Santorum in non-binding contests …

Eye doctor warns of dangers of political protest on gay marriage  —  It's been called the “most fabulous form of protest,” but according to one medical expert, the potential dangers of “glitter bombing” are far from marvelous.  —  In an increasingly popular form of protest, activists are throwing glitter on unsuspecting targets.

The political transformation of Barack Obama  —  There are two indisputable facts about politics.  —  The first is that every modern president in the fourth year of his presidency resorts to the cheap political stunts, broken promises and truth-fudging it takes to win reelection in what has been and will be a 50-50 nation.

Aide injured in Giffords shooting will run to replace her in House  —  Ron Barber, an aide to former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) who was wounded in the shooting spree that also injured Giffords, will run to replace her in the House.  —  Barber announced Thursday he would run …

Santorum: Obama Has Put America On ‘The Path’ Of Executing Religious People By Decapitation  —  Rick Santorum continued to rail against President Obama's so-called war against religion during a town hall in Plano, Texas Wednesday night.  The former Pennsylvania senator …

First Thoughts: Romney retools his message  —  Romney retools his message — with his biography and even his policy... GOPers and conservatives tell Romney to step it up... Dems break ranks on the contraception issue... Yet polling (for now) shows the issue isn't as controversial …

Santorum takes on ‘environmental terror’  —  Oklahoma City (CNN) - Speaking in one of the top energy-producing states in the country, Rick Santorum tailored his stump speech here on Thursday to appeal to a raucous crowd of domestic energy-loving Okies.  —  Reaffirming his support …

States line up to challenge stringent Section 5 voting rights provision  —  Conservative activists and Republican attorneys general have launched a series of lawsuits meant to challenge the most muscular provision of the Voting Rights Act 0f 1965 before a Supreme Court that has signaled it is suspicious of its constitutionality.

A Fistful of Rebates  —  It's halftime.  —  Both teams are in their locker rooms discussing what they can do to win this game in the second half.  Diagramming plays.  Texting their agents and German supermodel wives.  Reviewing Belichick's aerial spy photos.  —  It's halftime in America, too.

Sure, Mr. President, if You Really Want Me To  —  ‘Once Upon a Secret’: Mimi Alford on Her Affair With Kennedy  —  The author of “Once Upon a Secret,” Mimi Alford, had an affair with President John F. Kennedy before she was old enough to vote.  Having kept this story under wraps for almost 50 years …

Flowers, dinner, bowling — and counseling — ordered by Broward judge in domestic case  —  FORT LAUDERDALE — A marital spat that began when a Plantation man didn't wish his wife a happy birthday and then escalated into a domestic violence charge, resulted in an unusual bond court ruling by a perceptive judge.

LA County OKs $1,000 Fine For Throwing Football, Frisbee On Beaches  —  LOS ANGELES (CBS) — When you head down to the beach for a little fun this summer, county officials want you to leave the pigskin at home.  —  The Board of Supervisors this week agreed to raise fines to up to $1,000 …

Pol ‘Tebows’ after bill Ok'd  —  Virginia Del. Robert Bell celebrated his bill passing the state House on Wednesday by taking a knee and Tebowing.  —  The legislation — dubbed the “Tebow bill” for the Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow — would allow the state's homeschooled students …

Michelle Obama Takes Aim at Military Weight  —  First Lady Michelle Obama leaves Thursday for a three-day, four-state tour to mark the second anniversary of her “Let's Move!” initiative to get Americans to eat healthier and be more physically fit. … The trip is a mix of events and announcements …