Rand Paul announces campaign manager for likely 2016 campaign  —  Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Tuesday announced the hiring of a campaign manager for his likely 2016 presidential bid, part of an aggressive effort to build a national political team as the race for the White House heats up.

EXCLUSIVE: FBI says John Boehner's West Chester bartender planned to poison him  —  Feds: Man said he was Jesus, Boehner was the devil  —  DEER PARK, Ohio - Ebola, evil voices and the devil.  —  Those are just a few of the things a Butler County bartender cited as reasons …

France arrests 54 for defending terror; newspaper sells out  —  14 photos  —  PARIS (AP) — Charlie Hebdo's defiant new issue sold out before dawn Wednesday around Paris, with some scuffles at kiosks over dwindling copies of the satirical paper fronting the Prophet Muhammad.

PBA's Patrick Lynch spurs yelling, shoving among cops over NYPD-City Hall feud  —  The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association was not so much on Tuesday as some cops shouted down Lynch regarding his demand that Mayor de Blasio apologize over comments related to race and police relations.

We Need Another Giant Protest  —  President Obama was criticized for failing to attend, or send a proper surrogate to, the giant antiterrorism march in Paris on Sunday.  That criticism was right.  But it is typical of American politics today that we focus on this and not what would have …

Father and son turned away from “Muslim-free” Hot Springs gun range for being brown  —  When we reported last fall on a Hot Springs firing range that was declared a “Muslim free zone” by its owner, several blog commenters asked, “how will she know who's a Muslim?”

Seattle dog's rush hour ride: on the bus, by herself, weekly  —  SEATTLE — Public transit in Seattle has gone to the dogs.  —  Commuters in Belltown report seeing a Black Labrador riding the bus alone in recent weeks.  The 2-year old has been spotted roaming the aisles …

DENVER AND THE WEST  —  FAMILY: LAKEWOOD CHURCH STOPS WOMAN'S FUNERAL BECAUSE SHE WAS GAY  —  LAKEWOOD — Hundreds of Vanessa Collier's friends and family gathered Saturday at New Hope Ministries, sitting before an open casket holding the woman they loved, when suddenly the minister overseeing her funeral stopped the service.

Women and Leadership  —  Public Says Women are Equally Qualified, but Barriers Persist  —  According to the majority of Americans, women are every bit as capable of being good political leaders as men.  The same can be said of their ability to dominate the corporate boardroom.

Armed customer stops restaurant robbery suspects in their tracks  —  A customer is being called a hero after pulling a gun on two armed robbers at a Houston restaurant.  —  CONNECT  —  HOUSTON, Texas — A customer is being called a hero after pulling a gun on two armed robbery suspects at a Houston restaurant.

Dieudonné arrested over Facebook post on Paris gunman  —  French comedian accused of justifying terrorism after linking attacker to tribute slogan by writing ‘I feel like Charlie Coulibaly’  —  Notorious French comedian Dieudonné M'bala M'bala has been arrested for being an …

Senate to vote on whether climate change is happening  —  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday he will allow the Senate to vote on an amendment asking if they agree that climate change is impacting the planet.  —  At his weekly press briefing, McConnell said …

NASCAR's Busch says ex is ‘assassin’; hearing concludes  —  It could be weeks before the court issues a final decision on a protection order filed against NASCAR's Kurt Busch, after a four-day hearing ended Tuesday afternoon.  Testimony has covered everything from the assassinations of drug lords …

Obama's approval rating ticks up in 2015  —  Shares -  —  President Obama's overall job approval rating has risen seven points since last October, although it still remains below 50 percent.  Forty-six percent of Americans now approve of the job the president is doing, while just as many disapprove.

John Thune: No ‘opening’ for a White House run  —  But the Senate GOP Conference leader and Commerce Committee chairman is plenty busy.  —  It's often said each senator wakes up, looks in the mirror and sees a future president staring back.  But John Thune admits his “window” for a White House run might have closed in 2012.