Vulgarity-laced emails show attempts to silence GWB story  —  Some of Governor Christie's closest loyalists made an effort to keep information about the George Washington Bridge lane closures out of public view for months, as questions swirled about what now appears to have been a politically …

Ariel Sharon, Fierce Defender of a Strong Israel, Dies at 85  —  Ariel Sharon, one of the most influential figures in Israel's history, a military commander and political leader who at the height of his power redrew the country's electoral map only to suffer a severe stroke from which he never recovered …

The GOP's tarnished golden boys  —  For a while, Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell were untouchable.  —  The first major Republicans elected after the 2008 Obama landslide, the tough-as-nails Garden Stater and the straight-edged Virginian heralded the conservative resurgence in 2010 and pointed …

PHOTOS: What It Looks Like When A Massive Chemical Spill Contaminates The Water Supply  —  Empty shelves at a local Foodland between Freedom Industries and American Water.  —  CREDIT: Foo Conner/@iwasaround  —  On Thursday morning, a chemical spill was detected at Freedom Industries' storage facility near …

A judge blocks subpoenas against conservative allies of Scott Walker.  —  Chalk up a big victory for the First Amendment.  On Friday a Wisconsin judge struck a major blow for free political speech when he quashed subpoenas to conservative groups and ordered the return of property to the targets …

Incoming NJ Assembly speaker to renew the subpoena power of panel in GWB scandal  —  The incoming Assembly speaker says he'll call a special session next week to renew the subpoena power of the panel investigating the George Washington Bridge lane closures.  —  The chairman of the committee leading …

A-Rod's ban reduced to 162 games  —  Alex Rodriguez has been suspended for the entire 2014 season by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, who reduced the New York Yankees third baseman's ban from 211 games to 162 for his involvement in Major League Baseball's Biogenesis scandal.

A Hammock In Kentucky?  —  National Review has an actually interesting report by Kevin Williamson on the state of Appalachia, providing a valuable portrait of the region's woes — plus an account of how people turn food stamps fungible by converting them into soda.

Reid backs down in unemployment fight  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) says he is now open to considering Republican amendments to a bill extending emergency unemployment benefits through most of 2014.  —  On Thursday, Reid clashed with several Republicans after saying …

Oregon Governor Walks Out Of Interview Over Questions About State's Health Care Website  —  KATU News' exclusive one-on-one interview with Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber ended abruptly Thursday when the station's interviewer asked about problems with the Cover Oregon website.