Conflicting reports on Boston arrest  —  After the explosion: Moment-by-moment  —  (CNN) — Investigators scrambling to solve the fatal bombing at the Boston Marathon have made “significant progress” in the case but no arrests, a federal law enforcement source told CNN's John King Wednesday.

Republicans pull plug on Mark Sanford  —  National Republicans are pulling the plug on Mark Sanford's suddenly besieged congressional campaign, POLITICO has learned — a potentially fatal blow to the former South Carolina governor's dramatic comeback bid.  —  Blindsided by news …

New poison letter sent to Obama; police clear packages at Capitol  —  Authorities said Wednesday they had intercepted a letter to the White House that tested positive for ricin poison.  —  The Secret Service acknowledged the letter addressed to President Obama contained a suspicious substance …

Tom Friedman Continues His Journey To Insanity (The Terrorists Win)  —  Times columnist and global raconteur Tom Friedman outdoes himself as he tries to put the Boston bombing into perspective:  —  Bring on the Next Marathon  —  By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN  —  ...

Sen. Manchin: Background Checks Won't Survive Today's Vote  —  Potential GOP supporters out front on immigration won't risk second battle with conservative base on guns, Manchin tells NBC News..  —  In this April 10, 2013 file photo, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., left, and Sen. Patrick Toomey …

Congressman Says Bombings Reveal Danger Of Immigration Bill: ‘Radical Islamists...Are Trained To Act Hispanic’  —  During an appearance on CSPAN's Washington Journal on Wednesday, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) claimed that this week's bombings of the Boston Marathon should give pause …

‘Daily News’ doctored front-page photo from Boston bombing  —  Detail from the original photo (left) and the News' version. via Charles Apple  — Looking for answers for nypost.com, Rupert Murdoch and Col Allan rely on a standby general: Jesse Angelo  —  The New York Post was derided Tuesday …

Why Weiner's Mayoral Bid Is a Long Shot  —  A poll released on Tuesday by Marist College shows former Representative Anthony Weiner running in second place in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York.  Mr. Weiner has 15 percent of the vote, behind Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker, at 26 percent.

Roofers union calls for Obamacare's repeal … The United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers is reportedly the first union to officially call for repeal of the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare.  The health care law is prompting some serious buyer's remorse in Big Labor …

Vagina's and Children First!  —  The NH House recently passed HB 135, a bill aimed at repealing parts of the so-called Stand Your Ground law that was passed by the last legislature.  —  A great deal of hysteria has ensued.  One would think that the many urgent problems that beset our state …

Hey Reddit, Enough Boston Bombing Vigilantism  —  It's only the illusion that what we do online is not as significant as what we do offline that allows this to go on.  —  If there's one thing we want to believe about the Boston bombing, it's that someone saw the perpetrator.

U.S. military to step up presence in Jordan in light of Syria civil war  —  Washington (CNN) — In a critical indication of growing U.S. military involvement in the civil war in Syria, CNN has learned Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is ordering the deployment of up to 200 troops to Jordan, according to two Defense Department officials.

Further Further Thoughts On Death By Excel  —  A few somewhat unrelated notes on the Reinhart-Rogoff fiasco:  —  1. I thought I remembered another recent Excel disaster — and sure enough, spreadsheet coding played a role in the London Whale disaster at JP Morgan: