Putin Asserts Right to Use Force in Eastern Ukraine  —  MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia emphasized on Thursday that the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament had authorized him to use military force if necessary in eastern Ukraine, and also stressed Russia's historical claim …

PAC to Shut Down After Name Draws Furor … A Texas political action committee called Boats 'N Hoes PAC will be just a memory by Thursday, according to the Republican political consultant who is the boss of the man who started it.  —  Houston consultant Allen Blakemore confirmed Wednesday evening …

The IRS Scandal's Smoking Gun?  —  A suspicious email could confirm Lois Lerner's culpability in recent IRS abuses.  —  In hot water  —  The so-called “smoking gun” proving the Internal Revenue Service played politics with conservative groups seeking official non-profit …

AFL-CIO chief calls Warren ‘prototype’ of good president  —  AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said Tuesday that “it don't get no better” than Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) when it comes to possible holders of the Oval Office.  —  “In my opinion she is the prototype of a person …

Early Senate Polls Have Plenty to Tell Us About November  —  Republican Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell is fighting for his political life — or is he?  The Senate minority leader is nearly tied in the polls with Democratic opponent Alison Lundergan Grimes.

‘X-Men’ Director Bryan Singer Accused of Sexually Assaulting Underage Boy  —  Lawsuit alleges Singer “manipulated his power” to exploit 17-year-old boy  —  “X-Men” director Bryan Singer is being accused of drugging, raping, and using his power to exploit a teenage boy in a lawsuit filed Wednesday …

The Obama nominee warned about politicizing the census.  —  It must have seemed like a good idea at the time.  In February 2009 a new Democratic president reached across party lines and nominated a Republican senator, New Hampshire's Judd Gregg, as commerce secretary.

When ‘Liking’ a Brand Online Voids the Right to Sue  —  Might downloading a 50-cent coupon for Cheerios cost you legal rights?  —  General Mills, the maker of cereals like Cheerios and Chex as well as brands like Bisquick and Betty Crocker, has quietly added language to its website …

The US is an oligarchy, study concludes  —  Report by researchers from Princeton and Northwestern universities suggests that US political system serves special interest organisations, instead of voters  —  The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country's citizens …

Regulator Without Peer  —  By at least one measure, Obama surpasses all of his predecessors.  —  Anyone wondering why the U.S. economy can't seem to grow at its usual pace should examine one product category where production is booming: federal regulation.

Parent says daughter warned by teacher for carrying Bible at local school  —  (KMOV.com) - The mother of a Potosi High School student said a teacher went too far when her daughter was reprimanded for carrying a Bible around school.  —  Angela English says her daughter, Kiela …

Bergen Administrators Fear ‘Game of Thrones’ Quote, Censor Professor  —  Brace yourselves; censorship is coming!  —  Displaying a lack of both pop culture and First Amendment awareness, administrators at Bergen Community College in New Jersey placed Professor Francis Schmidt on leave this past January …

Joe Biden posts Instagram selfie with Barack Obama  —  Not one to be left behind by a trend, US Vice President Joe Biden has joined Instagram and roped in a famous friend for his first selfie  —  The selfie trend shows no sign of slowing down after US Vice President Joe Biden got in on the act …

Minimum Wage, Maximum Outrage  —  No one should ever endure the kind of economic humiliation that comes with working a full-time job and making a less-than-living wage.  —  There is dignity in all work, but that dignity grows dim when the checks are cashed and the coins are counted and still the bills rise higher than the wages.

Jindo, South Korea (CNN) — Passengers aboard a sinking South Korean ferry faced a terrifying choice as the vessel rolled: obey commands barked over loudspeakers to stay in place, or don life vests and jump into the chilly ocean water.  —  “Don't move,” a voice warned, according to a recording obtained by CNN affiliate YTN.