HHS offers help for people who miss Obamacare deadline  —  People who can't finish the online signup for Obamacare health insurance by midnight today because of website problems can seek extra time to finalize their application and still get covered by Jan. 1, according to a message posted on HealthCare.gov early this afternoon.

Give her the heave-ho, de Blasio  —  Enough!  —  If Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio has a lick of sense in his 6-foot-5 frame, he'll cast out of his incoming administration Lis Smith — the randy Democratic operative who's got a freaky fetish for the black knee socks and balding pate of married ex-Love Gov Eliot Spitzer.

VIDEO: Santa Claus shot with pellet gun at toy giveaway in Southeast  —  WASHINGTON (WJLA) - A man in a Santa Claus suit was shot in the back with a pellet gun Tuesday morning during a toy giveaway in Southeast Washington.  —  The video is disturbing.  The man dressed as Santa has led …

Alan Turing gets royal pardon for ‘gross indecency’ - 61 years after he poisoned himself  —  He was the father of modern computing whose work on the Enigma code at Bletchley Park is said to have shortened the Second World War.  —  But he was also gay and in those less enlightened times …

Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission's accomplished  —  MOSCOW — The familiar voice on the hotel room phone did not waste words.  —  “What time does your clock say, exactly?” he asked.  —  He checked the reply against his watch and described a place to meet.

Sarah Palin: I didn't read ‘Duck Dynasty’ interview  —  Turns out Sarah Palin, who has been one of Duck Dynasty's biggest defenders, hasn't actually read the GQ interview that includes cast member Phil Robertson's controversial comments on homosexuality and other subjects.

Here Are The 15 Democratic Senators Bucking The White House And Threatening War With Iran  —  WASHINGTON — As the United States finally puts a decade of war behind it, a group of senators, including 15 Democrats, is defying the White House and threatening to push the country into a fresh war with Iran.

The Legitimacy Problem  —  It's pretty clear that the implementation of Obamacare will set the tone for how Americans think about government for years to come.  There are two large questions to be settled, which you might call the questions of competence and coercion.

The War on Terror's Jedi Mind Trick  —  National-security officials insist new violations of privacy are essential for keeping Americans safe from terror—but there's no evidence the programs have stopped any attacks.  —  A Republican-appointed judge and President Obama's own handpicked …

Kim Jong-un: North Korean leader ‘was very drunk’ when ordering executions  —  Source tells Japanese newspaper purge of Kim's powerful uncle Jang Song-thaek was inevitable after ‘surprising’ first deaths  —  The North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was “very drunk” when he ordered the recent execution …

‘Festivus’ writer grieves about Rand Paul  —  One of the writers of the famed “Festivus” episode of “Seinfeld” isn't too happy Sen. Rand Paul used the holiday to tweet a rant against Washington.  —  Airing his own grievance on Tuesday, writer Dan O'Keefe, took a swipe at the Republican senator from Kentucky.

The Snarf's at 600 W. Chicago just laid off all its employees via email  —  A River North sandwich shop gave its employees an unwelcome Christmas surprise on Sunday night, firing them all by email.  —  The 20 employees of Snarf's Sub Shop at 600 W. Chicago Ave. received the email last night around 5 p.m. Grid obtained it this morning.

Edward Snowden to broadcast Channel 4's alternative Christmas Day message  —  NSA whistleblower records message from Russia, filmed by Laura Poitras, warning of the dangers of a loss of privacy  —  Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who prompted a worldwide debate when he leaked a cache …

About 700 marriage licenses issued in Utah since judge's ruling  —  SALT LAKE CITY — Hundreds of same-sex couples waited for hours at the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office in a race against the clock Monday as Utah officials sought to close an unexpected window allowing them to wed in the state.

Christian activists show their love by covering Chicago atheist display and berating onlookers  —  A Christian activist group placed a banner over an atheist display at Chicago's Daley Plaza proclaiming that “A is for Angels.”  —  The banner covers a sign set up earlier this month by the Freedom …

The gist of Christmas lost  —  'Twas the season of Christmas, and all through the land  —  Were signs and symbols some folks couldn't stand.  —  The evergreen conifer many decorate with glee,  —  But don't you dare call it a Christmas tree.  —  Heaven forbid a Nativity in the town square