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 …

The Senate's 46 Democrats got 20 million more votes than its 54 Republicans  —  On Tuesday, 33 US senators elected in November will be sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden — including 12 who are new to the chamber.  The class includes 22 Republicans and 11 Democrats, a big reason why the GOP has a 54-46 majority in the Senate overall.

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 …

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.”

Dear PETA,  —  Chill.  At least Trig didn't eat the dog.  —  Hey, by the way, remember your “Woman of the Year”, Ellen DeGeneres?  Did you get all wee-wee'd up when she posted this sweet picture? http://conservatives4palin.com/.../ peta-woman-year-posts-phot... Hypocritical, much?

Former US Senator Edward W. Brooke dies at 95  —  Edward W. Brooke, the Massachusetts Republican who was the first African-American to be elected to the US Senate since Reconstruction, died today, according to Kirsten Hughes, chairwoman of the Massachusetts Republican Party.  He was 95.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

Protesters slam Oprah over comments that they lack ‘leadership’  —  Key organizers of the wave of recent protests over police treatment of African Americans lashed out at Oprah Winfrey Friday over comments she made to People magazine criticizing their movement as “leaderless.”

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 …

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.

WHO ‘probing’ whether ISIS fighters got Ebola  —  Demonstrators chant pro-Islamic State slogans as they carry the group's flags in front of the provincial government headquarters in Mosul in this June 2014 photo.  —  Islamic State fighters are no match for Ebola.

Mother Questioned After Infant Found Unconscious In East Harlem Apartment Dies  —  NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A police investigation is underway after a baby boy — just 23 days old — was found bruised and unconscious at his East Harlem home and later died.  —  Paramedics rushed …

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 …

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 …

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 …