W.H. gun plan: An end run around the NRA  —  President Barack Obama is trying an end run around the NRA — rallying groups as varied as churches, medical organizations, retailers and the Rotary Club to build support for new gun regulations.  —  It's an unusual strategy but one the Obama administration …

Unhinged Tactical Response CEO Threatens to ‘Start Killing People’ Over Obama's Gun Control … Warning: Language NSFW.  —  The CEO of a Tennessee company that specializes in weapons and tactical training is threatening to “start killing people” if President Barack Obama moves forward with gun control measures.

Teen shoots high school student before being disarmed by teacher  —  A 16-year-old is in critical but stable condition in shooting at Taft Union High School southwest of Bakersfield.  'There's blood everywhere,' a student told her mother.  —  Tyler Smith, 18, left, weeps after reuniting …

Bachmann still hasn't paid presidential campaign staffers  —  Five Iowa staffers say they've waited 375 days for payment, but refuse to sign the gag order the campaign demands  —  Over a year after she dropped out, Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann has refused to pay five staffers …

West Virginia Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller won't run in 2014  —  Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller will not run for reelection in 2014, passing up a bid for a sixth term and putting in play a Senate seat in deep red West Virginia.  —  In an interview with POLITICO, Rockefeller …

Perry: New York governor envies Texas economy  —  Gov. Rick Perry said Thursday that many of the nation's 49 other governors — including New York's Andrew Cuomo — would love to be able to boast of the kind of employment and economic success found in Texas.

Hagel's hopes hinge on Schumer  —  Chuck Schumer is quietly letting out the word: He's far from sold that Chuck Hagel will be a staunch advocate of Israel.  —  And it's his vote that counts.  —  Schumer, the most powerful Jewish Democrat in Congress, has been noncommittal in his public statements on Hagel's nomination.

Obama Near a Choice on Next Chief of Staff  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama on Thursday publicly acknowledged the big problem that he has created for himself by picking for the next Treasury secretary Jacob J. Lew, his trusted White House chief of staff.  The shift left a vacancy …

Eric Bolling: Schools ‘pushing the liberal agenda’ by teaching algebra  —  Fox News host Eric Bolling on Wednesday accused some schools of “pushing the liberal agenda” for teaching an algebra lesson about the distributive property.  —  During a segment about “indoctrination in schools,” …

Thinking About the Brink  —  The platinum coin discussion has moved with startling speed, from an idea nobody took seriously (and which, as I've mentioned, senior officials were unaware of just last month), to assertions that it's ridiculous and illegal, to grudging acknowledgment …

Lesbian couple: Restaurant owner hands them letter condemning homosexuality  —  NEW BERN -  —  A lesbian couple said an owner of a restaurant handed them a letter condemning homosexuality as they were walking out of the building.  —  Ariel and Shawnee McPhail said they went into The Stingray Café …

Gov. Scott Walker proposes cutting income taxes  —  By Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel  —  Madison - Gov. Scott Walker pledged Thursday to cut income taxes in the state budget he signs this summer, calling it the best way to spark the economy.  But he also said the reduction would be phased in over a number of years.

Obama signs bill, gets Secret Service protection for life  —  Washington (CNN) - With the stroke of a pen Thursday, President Barack Obama gave himself and his wife Secret Service protection for the rest of their lives.  —  The new law, which passed the House and Senate in December …

Gov. Bobby Jindal calls for elimination of all Louisiana income and corporate taxes  —  Gov. Bobby Jindal is proposing to eliminate Louisiana's income and corporate taxes and pay for those cuts with increased sales taxes, the governor's office confirmed Thursday.  The governor's office has not yet provided the details of the plan.