Abortion bill dropped amid concerns of female GOP lawmakers  —  This item has been updated.  —  House Republican leaders abruptly dropped plans late Wednesday to vote on an anti-abortion bill amid a revolt by female GOP lawmakers concerned that the legislation's restrictive language …

Sheldon Silver, New York Assembly Speaker, Faces Arrest on Corruption Charges  —  Federal authorities are expected to arrest Sheldon Silver, the powerful speaker of the New York State Assembly, on corruption charges on Thursday, people with knowledge of the matter said, in a case that is likely to throw Albany into disarray.

Romney and Jeb Bush to Meet in Utah  —  WASHINGTON — Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney are scheduled to meet privately this week in Utah, raising the possibility that the two former governors will find a way to avoid competing presidential campaigns that would split the Republican establishment next year …

Israeli Mossad Goes Rogue, Warns U.S. on Iran Sanctions  —  The Israeli intelligence agency Mossad has broken ranks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, telling U.S. officials and lawmakers that a new Iran sanctions bill in the U.S. Congress would tank the Iran nuclear negotiations.

Here's The “Willie Horton” Ad Romney Almost Ran Against Mike Huckabee  —  “This is my daughter... she was murdered by a serial rapist released early from prison in Arkansas.  Will we see a version of this unaired ad — obtained by BuzzFeed News — in 2016?  —  View Video ›

U.S. Not Expected to Fault Officer in Ferguson Case  —  WASHINGTON — Justice Department lawyers will recommend that no civil rights charges be brought against the police officer who fatally shot an unarmed teenager in Ferguson, Mo., after an F.B.I. investigation found no evidence to support charges …

US Senate votes that climate change is real but Republicans stop short of attributing that to human activity  —  Republicans outfox Democrats on climate votes  —  The GOP accepts the notion of climate change - but not the way Democrats wanted them to.  —  Senate Republicans head-faked Democrats …

Measles Cases Linked to Disneyland Rise, and Debate Over Vaccinations Intensifies  —  LOS ANGELES — A measles outbreak that began at Disneyland is spreading across California and beyond, prompting health officials to move aggressively to contain it — including by barring unvaccinated students from going to school in Orange County.

Joni Ernst's Family Got Hundreds Of Thousands In Farm Subsidies  —  I put Joni's SOTU response up there so you can listen to her little anecdote at the beginning again, but this time with a little more transparency and truth around her “bread bag” story.  —  Please be still, my beating heart …

The Pitchforks Are Coming... For Us Plutocrats  —  To: My Fellow Zillionaires  —  You probably don't know me, but like you I am one of those .01%ers, a proud and unapologetic capitalist.  I have founded, co-founded and funded more than 30 companies across a range of industries …

A Debt-Free State of the Union  —  Want to understand why President Obama sounded so exuberant last night and the Republicans who responded to him sounded so cautious?  The answer lies in the sudden disappearance of two all-important words from America's political lexicon: deficit and debt.

2-year-old child dead in Pinellas after accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound  —  Kaleb Ahles' grandparents sobbed as Pinellas detectives investigated the 2-and-a-half-year-old's death.  —  Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said the boy's father, Kevin Ahles, put his son in the family car.

‘American Sniper’ Is Almost Too Dumb to Criticize  —  I saw American Sniper last night, and hated it slightly less than I expected to.  Like most Clint Eastwood movies - and I like Clint Eastwood movies for the most part - it's a simple, well-lit little fairy tale with the nutritional value …

Illinois Says Rule-Breaking Students Must Give Teachers Their Facebook Passwords  —  School districts in Illinois are telling parents that a new law may require school officials to demand the social media passwords of students if they are suspected in cyberbullying cases or are otherwise suspected of breaking school rules.

St. Louis officers fatally shoot armed passenger in stolen car  —  ST. LOUIS  • A 19-year-old passenger in a stolen car was fatally shot when he got out holding a gun and confronted two officers late Wednesday, St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson said.  —  Dotson said the red Chevrolet Monte Carlo …