Meteorite hits central Russia, more than 500 people hurt  —  (Reuters) - More than 500 people were injured when a meteorite shot across the sky and exploded over central Russia on Friday, sending fireballs crashing to Earth, shattering windows and damaging buildings.

Why President Obama went all-in on Chuck Hagel  —  President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have fiercely defended the nomination of Chuck Hagel, despite advisers and Hill Democrats who questioned the move and predicted a firestorm, according to Democratic sources.

Over a Decade, Maureen O'Connor Spent $1 Billion on Bets  —  LOS ANGELES — A former mayor of San Diego spent the last decade wagering more than a billion dollars at casinos across the country, eventually liquidating her savings, auctioning her belongings, selling off real estate …

Congressman says deleted tweets were to his recently discovered daughter  —  Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., tells NBC News that the 24-year-old woman he tweeted at during the State of the Union address was not a romantic interest, but in fact his daughter.  —  After “The Hill” reported that Cohen …

Rahm Emanuel May Be Toying With 2016 Presidential Run  —  Obama's former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel might make a go for 2016, two well-connected Democrats tell Lloyd Grove—as long as Hillary doesn't.  And the potty-mouthed Chicago mayor could win.  —  Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel …

Bionic Eyes and “Health Care Costs”  —  Argus II glasses with embedded camera.  —  Second Sight publicity still for Argus II  —  I read an informative piece in the NY Times from Ezekiel Emannuel today delivering the “good news” that health care spending volumes are increasing at a slower pace …

JW Releases Confidential USDA Videos Revealing “Cultural Sensitivity Training” Program … Videos Reveal Indoctrination Program Requiring USDA Staffers to Bang on Tables, Chant, “The pilgrims were illegal aliens”  —  (Washington, DC) - Judicial Watch today released previously unseen USDA videos revealing …

Lone Star rising  —  AUSTIN, Texas — California fancies itself as a trendsetter and Florida prizes its claim as a microcosm of America.  —  But when it comes to politics — both present-day battles and future trends — ground zero right now is the fastest-growing of the mega-states: Texas.

Pelosi: Congressional pay cut undermines dignity of the job  —  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday that she opposes a cut in congressional pay because it would diminish the dignity of lawmakers' jobs.  —  “I don't think we should do it; I think we should respect the work we do …

Rubio and the Zombies  —  The State of the Union address was not, I'm sorry to say, very interesting.  True, the president offered many good ideas.  But we already know that almost none of those ideas will make it past a hostile House of Representatives.  —  On the other hand, the G.O.P. reply …

First on CNN: New player in gun control ad wars  —  Washington (CNN) - MoveOn.org is moving into the TV fight over curbing gun violence.  —  The progressive group will announce Friday that it's going up with a television commercial that goes after members of Congress who accept donations from the National Rifle Association.

When Families Fail  —  Today millions of American children grow up in homes where they don't learn the skills they need to succeed in life.  Their vocabularies are tiny.  They can't regulate their emotions.  When they get to kindergarten they've never been read a book …