In first, Minnesota poll finds Obama unpopular  —  Half of the residents of Minnesota now disapprove of President Obama's performance, according to a new poll.  —  Results of The Star Tribune survey represent the first time that his approval rating has turned negative in the state since the president took office in 2009.

LIU ANNOUNCES 2013 GEORGE POLK AWARDS IN JOURNALISM  —  Winners include four reporters who broke the story on secret NSA surveillance.  —  Brooklyn, N.Y. - Four reporters who revealed the extent of secret surveillance and massive data collected by the National Security Agency are winners …

Dems' new 2014 plan: Neutralize Obamacare  —  Democrats know their biggest problem in this year's midterm election is Obamacare.  So top party operatives have settled on a strategy to try blunting the GOP's advantage: Tell voters Republicans would make the problem worse …

Abba admit outrageous outfits were worn to avoid tax  —  New book reveals band's style was influenced by Swedish laws that allowed cost of outfits to be deducted against tax  —  The glittering hotpants, sequined jumpsuits and platform heels that Abba wore at the peak of their fame were designed …

GOP slams stimulus on fifth anniversary  —  Washington (CNN) - Five years after the signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law, the measure, which is better known as the Stimulus or Recovery Act, was roundly criticized once again by Republicans.

Bill Nye Scolds GOP Congresswoman on Global Warming  —  “We need you to change things, not deny what's happening,” he told Representative Marsha Blackburn on Meet the Press  —  Bill Nye “The Science Guy” told Republican Representative Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee to stop questioning …

Missouri gun murders ‘rose after law repeal’  —  There are more than 300 million handguns in circulation in the US  —  Researchers claim a new study provides some of the most compelling evidence yet for tighter gun controls in the US.  —  The team followed the consequences of the State …

Microaggression Mania: McGill U. student leader apologizes for .gif of Obama kicking open door  —  “Microagression” is the latest craze in racial grievance, something we highlighted when a UCLA professor was accused of the transgression for correcting grammar on minority students' papers.

Common Core Curriculum Now Has Critics on the Left  —  The Common Core has been applauded by education leaders and promoted by the Obama administration as a way to replace a hodgepodge of state standards with one set of rigorous learning goals.  Though 45 states and the District of Columbia …

Barons of Broadband  —  Last week's big business news was the announcement that Comcast, a gigantic provider of cable TV and high-speed Internet service, has reached a deal to acquire Time Warner, which is merely huge.  If regulators approve the deal, Comcast will be an overwhelmingly dominant player …

In Kansas, Right Joins Left to Halt Bill on Gays  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A bill that would have allowed individuals to refuse to provide business services to same-sex couples in Kansas because of religious beliefs met a surprising and quick end last week when conservative senators sided …

Same-sex marriage moving swiftly back toward Supreme Court  —  Lower-court rulings have struck down state bans, meaning the issue could face a definitive test before justices as early as next year.  —  Demonstrators support same-sex marriage outside a federal courthouse in Virginia.

Restricted Access  —  An extensive collection of papers related to Bill and Hillary Clinton's years in the Arkansas governor's mansion remains under tight control at a public library in Little Rock, with access restricted by the Clinton Foundation.  —  President Bill Clinton donated his papers …

Reality show snake-handling preacher dies — of snakebite  —  (CNN) — A Kentucky pastor who starred in a reality show about snake-handling in church has died — of a snakebite.  —  Jamie Coots died Saturday evening after refusing to be treated, Middleborough police said.