Chris Christie Endorses Donald Trump and Calls Marco Rubio ‘Desperate’  —  Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey endorsed Donald J. Trump on Friday, a major turn in a wild race and one that gives the New York businessman a significant boost as he heads into the pivotal “Super Tuesday” contests.

Trump's 12 Years of Audits ‘Very Unusual,’ Ex-IRS Agent Says  —  Agency's review doesn't preclude him from releasing returns  —  Pressure could mount as GOP rivals plan their own releases  —  Donald Trump's disclosure that his tax returns have been under review by the Internal Revenue Service …

Teacher files lawsuit, saying 13-year-old student beat, bullied her … LOVELAND, Colo. — A Colorado teacher is speaking out after she says she was beaten and bullied by her own student, and prohibited by her superiors from reporting the abuse.  —  “I was told that was my job …

Top Snyder aides urged going back to Detroit water  —  The city of Flint, Snyder's top legal aide wrote in October 2014, “should try to get back on the Detroit system as a stopgap ASAP before this thing gets too far out of control.”  —  Two of Gov. Rick Snyder's top lawyers privately advocated moving …

Kansas Gunman Got Court Warning Just Before Attack  —  NEWTON, Kan. — A gunman who killed three people and injured more than a dozen at a Kansas manufacturing plant worked at that factory, and had been served with a restraining order just 90 minutes before he began his shooting spree, the county sheriff said Friday.

What Do We Call Options Worse Than “Nuclear?”  —  Remember when the Democrats' move in 2012 to partially curtail the use of the Senate filibuster was called the “nuclear option?”  I fear the blogosphere will soon be tasked to generate hyperbolic epithets yet more cataclysmic.

Donald Trump: We're going to ‘open up’ libel laws  —  Donald Trump said on Friday he plans to change libel laws in the United States so that he can have an easier time suing news organizations.  —  During a rally in Fort Worth, Texas, Trump began his usual tirade against newspapers …

The CNN-Telemundo Republican debate transcript, annotated … State of the 2016 race  —  The hall is set before the Republican presidential primary debate at The University of Houston.  (Pat Sullivan/AP) … CNN's Wolf Blitzer introduced the candidates, laid out the rules and the debate began.

Donors ask GOP consulting firm to research independent presidential bid  —  Conservative donors have engaged a major GOP consulting firm in Florida to research the feasibility of mounting a late, independent run for president amid growing fears that Donald Trump could win the Republican nomination.

Mark Zuckerberg Asks Racist Facebook Employees to Stop Crossing Out Black Lives Matter Slogans  —  The Black Lives Matter movement has shed light on the racial profiling, police brutality, and racial inequality experienced by the African-American community across America.

2nd Marine attacked, left for dead in DC … WASHINGTON (WUSA9) — Not one but two Marines were brutally attacked on February 12 in two unrelated incidents.  —  One attack happened at a McDonald's when two teenagers assaulted and robbed a veteran Marine.  —  A second Marine …

Why Electing Hillary in '16 Is More Important Than Electing Obama in '08  —  A former Obama '08 speechwriter explains how why Secretary Clinton is a lot more compelling than you might think.  —  I hear you're still not Ready for Hillary.  —  I get it.  I didn't start off as her biggest fan either.

Apple's Lawyer: If We Lose, It Will Lead To A ‘Police State’  —  PHILADELPHIA (CNN) — Apple's attorney painted a scary picture if Apple loses its fight with the FBI.  —  In an interview with CNNMoney's Laurie Segall on Friday, Ted Olson warned of a government with “limitless” powers that could “listen to your conversations.”

Scalia Took Dozens of Trips Funded by Private Sponsors  —  WASHINGTON — Antonin Scalia was the longest-tenured justice on the current Supreme Court and the country's most prominent constitutionalist.  But another quality also set him apart: Among the court's members, he was the most frequent traveler …