State Sen. Leland Yee indicted for public corruption in major FBI operation  —  SAN FRANCISCO — State Sen. Leland Yee has been indicted for public corruption as part of a major FBI operation spanning the Bay Area, law-enforcement sources said, casting yet another cloud of corruption …

Giving Up on 4-Year-Olds  —  A new report released by the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, examining the disciplinary practices of the country's 97,000 public schools, shows that excessively punitive policies are being used at every level of the public school system — even against 4-year-olds in preschool.

MSNBC is in serious trouble  —  This is the story of MSNBC in a nutshell: It rose to prominence on its criticism of George W. Bush, peaked during Barack Obama's historic 2008 campaign, and, by criticizing Republicans and championing liberal causes, sustained its viewership in the years that followed.

Despite ‘wake-up call’ in Ukraine, Europe reluctant to bolster its militaries  —  LONDON — After years of watching as defense cuts sliced away at the army he once led, Richard Dannatt decided Russia's thrust into Ukraine marked the right moment to start rebuilding the British military.

The Individual Mandate Goes Poof  —  The latest delays show that the supposed centerpiece of ObamaCare won't cause the uninsured to buy coverage.  —  One by one, the myths of the Affordable Care Act have been revealed.  When the curtain on open enrollment falls on March 31 …

The Season of the Twitch  —  Some of you appear to be very, very worried about which party is going to win control of the Senate in November.  Really, you should stop for a while.  Take a break.  No fretting about undecided voters until there's at least a minimal chance that the undecided voters know who's running.

On being a dirty old man and how young women lawyers dress  —  More than a decade ago, I freaked out when tall, statuesque, and beautiful daughter Lisa showed up at her older sister's (Marne's) wedding in a Catholic church (that we “borrowed” out of respect for the groom's religious preference) in a low-cut dress.

Grossman passes kidney stone during gubernatorial debate  —  There were more than a few pained expressions worn by gubernatorial candidates during Tuesday night's forum dedicated to issues affecting Massachusetts's LGBTQ community, mostly after Scott Lively, an anti-gay candidate running to …

Northwestern players get union vote … In a potentially game-changing moment for college athletics, the Chicago district of the National Labor Relations Board ruled on Wednesday that Northwestern football players qualify as employees of the university and can unionize.

GOP Senate Candidate On Uninsured: “Less Sophisticated...Less Educated”  —  In audio obtained by BuzzFeed, Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy spoke at the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association's annual meeting last week about an alternative health care plan with catastrophic insurance and HSA plans for the uninsured.

Reid the Elder dismisses gifts controversy at presser; and Reid the Younger defends daughter/Dad  —  UPDATE, 7PM: Now there is $5,000 more from 2012.  Total now $31,000.  —  And now Reid is playing the aggrieved grandfather.  Chutzpah: … “Any role” in creating this situation?  Any role?

Inclusiveness at Mozilla  —  I am deeply honored and humbled by the CEO role.  I'm also grateful for the messages of support.  At the same time, I know there are concerns about my commitment to fostering equality and welcome for LGBT individuals at Mozilla.

Bombshell In WaPo/Keystone Scandal: Did the Post Coordinate With Congressional Democrats?  —  A major development occurred today in the scandal surrounding the Washington Post's attempt to advance Democratic Party talking points by falsely linking Koch Industries to the Keystone Pipeline.

Economist Tyler Cowen Pepper Sprayed While Teaching Class at George Mason University  —  Economist, author, and George Mason University professor Tyler Cowen was pepper sprayed in his classroom today by a man trying to place him under citizen's arrest.  ArlNow.com reported on the incident …

The Baghdad Bob of Health Insurance  —  A core competency of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is issuing false assurances that all is well with Obamacare.  An administration about-face has left the Cabinet official looking like the Baghdad Bob of American health insurance.

U.S. intel assessment: greater likelihood Russia will enter eastern Ukraine  —  A new classified intelligence assessment concludes it is more likely than previously thought that Russian forces will enter eastern Ukraine, CNN has learned.  —  Two administration officials described the assessment …

Obama wants halo effect  —  ROME — President Barack Obama was once the biggest superstar on the international stage.  On Thursday, he heads to the Vatican to benefit from the popularity of his replacement: Pope Francis.  —  The visit is a rare chance for Obama to associate himself …

Queens assemblyman denies travel voucher payment abuse as FBI seizes records  —  Assemblyman claims innocence during apparent probe of travel voucher abuse  —  William Scarborough rose early Wednesday in his Howard Johnson motel room to down a few ibuprofen for his pre-arthritis.