Wearing your hoodie in public could soon cost you up to a $500 fine  —  OKLAHOMA CITY,Okla.-The cold Oklahoma weather has many sporting hoodies outside to help fight the cold, but wearing a hood in a public place could soon be against the law.  —  The idea of banning hoods is not new to Oklahoma …

Dems warn GOP: No ‘ideologue’ in budget job  —  Senate Democrats are warning Republicans to tread carefully with their selection of a budget scorekeeper for the new Congress, saying they will “strongly object to any effort to politicize this important office.”

GOP focus for Congress: Cut deficit, don't stumble  —  Associated Press 1 hr ago  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — In the first Republican-dominated Congress to confront President Barack Obama, GOP leaders will focus on bolstering the economy and cutting the budget — and oh yes …

Kentucky Man Helps ‘Brave’ Girl Who Survived Plane Crash  —  Shaking and upset, a 7-year-old girl who survived a plane crash in southwestern Kentucky that killed her parents, sister, and cousin found herself on the doorstep of Larry Wilkins's home.  —  “When I answered the door, there was a bloody girl,” said Wilkins.

EXCLUSIVE: Brooklyn man hit in head by NYPD plans $3M lawsuit against city  —  His civil lawyer, Ilissa Brownstein, said she has filed notices to sue the city on behalf of Lawson and his gal pal who both starred in the bloody cell phone video showing the cop trying to arrest him on Nov. 20 …

Republicans in state governments plan juggernaut of conservative legislation  —  Legislators in the 24 states where Republicans now hold total control plan to push a series of aggressive policy initiatives in the coming year aimed at limiting the power of the federal government and rekindling the culture wars.

VIEWER VIDEO: Fights break out at Valley View Theater  —  Police investigating brawl involving hundreds  —  VALLEY VIEW, Ohio - A viewer sent NewsChannel5 video of the fight that broke out at the Valley View movie theater Friday evening.  —  Police say nearly 200 to 300 juveniles were involved …

The worst argument against Thomas Piketty yet  —  Harvard economist Greg Mankiw has been a vocal critic of Thomas Piketty's Capital in the Twenty-First Century since its release.  His paper for this weekend's Allied Social Sciences Association (ASSA) meeting contains his most recent response.

U.S. Attorney's Office Will Not Pursue Charges Against John W. Hinckley, Jr. for Death of James Brady  —  Legal Barriers Cited in Decision  —  WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia announced today that it will not pursue criminal charges against John W. Hinckley …

Republican Arizona schools chief says Hip-Hop class violates state ban on ethnic studies  —  DON'T MISS STORIES.  FOLLOW RAW STORY!  —  On his last day in office, Arizona state superintendent John Huppenthal (R) threatened to pursue sanctions against a school district for offering classes featuring artists …

Rikers Inmate Found Dead Despite Suicide-Watch Alert  —  The warning was sent at 4:45 p.m. on New Year's Eve: A Rikers Island inmate, distraught over an imminent prison sentence, was threatening to harm himself and was possibly suicidal.  —  According to jail policy, correction officers …

Al-Qaeda suspect dies days before US trial  —  New York (AFP) - A Libyan accused over the 1998 Al-Qaeda bombings of US embassies in Africa died on Friday, days before he was to stand trial in New York.  —  Abu Anas al-Libi, 50, was on the FBI's most-wanted list with a $5 million price …

Bratton warns NYPD not to turn backs on mayor at cop's funeral  —  Police Commissioner Bill Bratton is so worried his cops will turn their backs to his boss again that he sent out a memo pleading with them not to do it again, The Post has learned.  —  “A hero's funeral is about grieving …

In Sweden, the Land of the Open Door, Anti-Muslim Sentiment Finds a Foothold  —  ESKILSTUNA, Sweden — As Khalif Samantar knelt for afternoon prayers at the Eskilstuna Islamic Dawa Center on Christmas Day, he sensed a growing heat and a low, rushing sound coming from a nearby hallway.

Treasury Imposes Sanctions Against the Government of The Democratic People's Republic Of Korea  —  Action Targets the Government of North Korea in Response to Recent Provocations  —  WASHINGTON - In response to the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's numerous provocations …