Republicans in House Resist Overhaul for Immigration  —  WASHINGTON — Meeting for the first time as a group to hash out their approach to immigration, House Republicans on Wednesday came down overwhelmingly against a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's immigration laws …

Ex-Sanford police chief: Zimmerman probe ‘taken away from us’  —  (CNN) — The George Zimmerman investigation was hijacked “in a number of ways” by outside forces, said the former police chief of Sanford, Florida.  —  Bill Lee, who testified Monday in Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial …

Sudden Improvements in Egypt Suggest a Campaign to Undermine Morsi  —  CAIRO — The streets seethe with protests and government ministers are on the run or in jail, but since the military ousted President Mohamed Morsi, life has somehow gotten better for many people across Egypt …

Palin fires back in war of words with Begich  —  Washington (CNN) - Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin hit back Thursday against Sen. Mark Begich after the Democratic senator, also from Alaska, argued Palin had lost touch with the values of their state.  —  “Really, Mark?  Really?” she wrote on her Facebook page.

Wegmans cuts health benefits for part-time workers  —  Et tu, Wegmans?  —  The Rochester-based grocer that has been continually lauded for providing health insurance to its part-time workers will no longer offer that benefit.  —  Until recently, the company voluntarily offered health insurance …

Spitzer a no-show in 2012 election vote after writing column about voting for Obama  —  Eliot Spitzer failed to vote in last year's presidential election — just four days after penning a column proclaiming “Why I Am Voting for Barack Obama,” The Post has learned.

Tim Huelskamp hits Barack Obama, Bill Clinton  —  Kansas Rep. Tim Huelskamp on Wednesday managed to jab both President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton in less than 140 characters.  —  The outspoken Republican tweeted that he doesn't trust Obama on border security any more than the 42nd president with women.

Obama's Big Problem Is Obama  —  For the White House, immigration reform perfectly encapsulates the most frustrating reality of President Barack Obama's second term: If it's to be a success, Obama needs to stay out of the lawmaking process.  —  That's the message he's gotten from Democratic and Republican legislators alike.

Rand Paul Stands By His ‘Southern Avenger’  —  WASHINGTON — In an interview with The Huffington Post, Sen. Rand Paul stoutly defended an aide who, as a radio shock jock in South Carolina, praised John Wilkes Booth, heaped scorn on Abraham Lincoln and wore a ski mask emblazoned with the stars and bars of the Confederate Battle Flag.

San Diego mayor accused of sexual harassment  —  A prominent onetime supporter of San Diego Mayor Bob Filner urged him to resign Wednesday less than a year after taking office amid allegations that he sexually harassed women.  —  Radio and television station KPBS obtained a letter to Filner …

Kane won't defend Pa. in gay-marriage suit, sources say  —  Attorney General Kathleen Kane is expected to announce Thursday that her office won't defend the state in a federal lawsuit that challenges Pennsylvania's ban on gay marriage, the Daily News has learned.

Judge considers lesser charges for Zimmerman  —  George Zimmerman's defense team rested Wednesday.  The jury deliberations are expected to start Friday. … The judge in the George Zimmerman murder trial will decide Thursday if she will grant a prosecution request to allow the jury …

Rubio: GOP should reject funding bills that don't cut ObamaCare  —  Republicans should reject stop-gap measures to fund the government if Democrats do not agree to defund ObamaCare, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said Thursday.  —  Rubio said Republicans should reject any continuing resolution …

Trapped: An air escape from Moscow unlikely for NSA leaker Snowden  —  WASHINGTON — Beginning a third week holed up in a Moscow airport's transit zone, Edward Snowden finds himself far enough away to evade U.S. authorities, but also too far from any of the sympathetic nations willing to shelter him.

McConnell raises $2.2m in 2nd quarter  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) raised $2.2 million in the second quarter, bringing his cash on hand for his reelection fight to $9.6 million.  —  According to the Washington Examiner, which first reported the news of McConnell's fundraising haul …

Showdown Nears in Senate Over Filibusters Change  —  WASHINGTON — A confrontation in the Senate between Republicans and Democrats over the confirmation of President Obama's cabinet nominees edged closer on Thursday toward a showdown over changing the rules on filibusters.