Syria Could Avoid Attack, Obama says … If Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gives up his chemical weapons, a military strike would “absolutely” be on pause, President Obama said today.  —  “I consider this a modestly positive development,” Obama told ABC News' Diane Sawyer in an interview …

No charges filed in George Zimmerman's alleged gun threat against wife  —  George Zimmerman, Shellie Zimmerman say the other was aggressor  —  LAKE MARY, Fla. -  —  No charges have been filed against George Zimmerman on Monday as the investigation continues into if he threatened …

Poll Finds Support Fading for Syria Attack  —  Only 33% Favor Action as Backing by GOP, Independents Slumps; Almost 75% Say Focus Needs to Be on Home Turf  —  President Barack Obama's push for Congress to authorize military action in Syria faces headwinds from an American public that increasingly …

Senior House GOP aides: WH not reaching out to House Republicans  —  Washington (CNN) - Senior House Republican aides are frustrated that the Obama administration has done little to reach out to rank-and-file House GOP members to make the case for why military action is needed in Syria.

Western Maryland secessionists seek to sever ties with the liberal Free State  —  The push by 50 western Virginia counties to secede in 1863, forming West Virginia at the height of the Civil War, was led by a charismatic store-clerk-turned-lawyer who famously urged his supporters: “Cut the knot now!

Assad Tells PBS' Charlie Rose Syria Prepared to Retaliate if Hit  —  Updated with full video of the interview  —  Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Charlie Rose on Sunday that he is preparing for a U.S. strike, and that Syria and some of their allies would retaliate if one occurs.

What is Israel's interest in Syria?  —  While the Assad regime is linked to Iran and Hezbollah, some experts say most of the groups opposing him are in one way or another close in ideology to either al-Qaida or the Muslim Brotherhood.  —  What is Israel's interest in Syria and the possibility of a US-led attack?

Labor, with union membership declining, will woo non-workers  —  Facing what AFL-CIO chief Richard Trumka called a “crisis” of membership, officials took the dramatic step at their annual convention of adopting a resolution that invites anyone in the country to join, regardless of union affiliation.

House v. Napolitano  —  In May 2011, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Massachusetts filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts challenging the suspicionless search and seizure of electronics and personal data belonging to David House …