Why I'm Supporting Bernie Sanders  —  NO decision we make as Americans more dramatically affects the direction of our country than our choice for president.  He or she is more than the manager of the executive branch, commander in chief or appointer of judges.

Colorado GOP chairman considers bringing sheriff to convention over Trump supporter threats  —  The chairman of the Colorado Republican Party has gotten such a violent reaction to the results of his state's caucus last weekend that he says he is considering bringing a local sheriff …

Octopus slips out of aquarium tank, crawls across floor, escapes down pipe to ocean … Inky the octopus didn't even try to cover his tracks.  —  By the time the staff at New Zealand's National Aquarium noticed that he was missing, telltale suction cup prints were the main clue to an easily-solved mystery.

Donald Trump meets with Megyn Kelly at Trump Tower  —  Donald Trump and the Fox News host Megyn Kelly met at Trump Tower on Wednesday morning, a person with knowledge of the matter told CNNMoney.  —  The meeting was brokered by Fox News chairman Roger Ailes.  —  Representatives for Trump and Fox News had no immediate comment.

USS Donald Cook buzzed again by Russian jets in Baltic  —  Yet again Russian jets made provocatively close passes to an American warship, as tensions continue between Moscow and Washington over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.  —  A senior defense official told CBS News that two recent incidents were …

The Time Ted Cruz Defended a Ban on Dildos  —  His legal team argued there was no right “to stimulate one's genitals.”  —  In one chapter of his campaign book, A Time for Truth, Sen. Ted Cruz proudly chronicles his days as a Texas solicitor general, a post he held from 2003 to 2008.

Trump spokeswoman comes out swinging against Zuckerberg  —  Katrina Pierson, Trump Campaign Spokeswoman, responds to comments made by Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg about not building walls.  —  Katrina Pierson, a spokeswoman for GOP front-runner Donald Trump's presidential campaign …

Gov. Edwards Signs Non-discrimination Executive Order; Rescinds Marriage and Conscience Executive Order  —  BATON ROUGE - Today, Governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order providing employment protections for state employees and employees of state contractors on the basis of race …

Regulators Propose Banning Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes for at Least Two Years  —  Startup hopes to avoid sanctions, but Holmes and No. 2 executive could be forced out of blood-testing business for failing to fix problems  —  Federal health regulators have proposed banning Theranos Inc …

36,000 Verizon workers go on strike  —  36,000 Verizon workers have walked off the job Wednesday after failing to reach a new labor agreement.  —  This is the largest strike in the United States since Verizon workers last walked off the job in 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Trump fans threaten gun violence against protesters ahead of Pittsburgh visit  —  DON'T MISS STORIES.  FOLLOW RAW STORY!  —  Donald Trump supporters are planning an armed demonstration to intimidate protesters when the Republican presidential candidate visits Pittsburgh for a town hall meeting and campaign rally.

Clinton's dismal approval ratings prompt Dem fears  —  's favorability ratings are historically low and increasingly a concern for her supporters.  —  Clinton is now viewed unfavorably by 55 percent of the electorate, according to the HuffPost Pollster average, which tracks findings from 42 different polling outfits.

Hillary Clinton Wants to Eliminate Lead Within Five Years  —  In a speech on environmental justice today, Hillary Clinton made a bold proposal: … Be still my heart!  Hillary's plan has eight parts, and the first one is all about lead poisoning: … I don't think five years is anywhere near feasible …

Toddler shot in face when gun stashed in mom's purse goes off while waiting at hospital  —  DON'T MISS STORIES.  FOLLOW RAW STORY!  —  A child was shot in the face at a Mississippi hospital after a gun went off inside her mother's purse.  —  The 2-year-old girl was waiting Wednesday morning …

In blow to defense, judge to consider lies by Hastert at his sentencing  —  Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert through the years.  —  The federal judge overseeing Dennis Hastert's hush money case said he intends to factor in at Hastert's upcoming sentencing that the former speaker lied …

The 6 elements of an effective apology, according to science  —  COLUMBUS, Ohio - There are six components to an apology - and the more of them you include when you say you're sorry, the more effective your apology will be, according to new research.  —  But if you're pressed for time or space …

How a Clinton insider used his ties to build a consulting giant  —  When Hillary Clinton became secretary of state she personally sought out a man named Declan Kelly to be her economic envoy to Northern Ireland, giving her 41-year-old former fundraiser a special status outside normal diplomatic channels.

Video of Montebello officer slamming man's head onto pavement results in criminal charges  —  A former Montebello officer was arrested Wednesday after being charged with assaulting an alleged tagger in an incident captured on video by a restaurant security camera.

By Opposing Obama, the Republicans Created Trump  —  MEMO to Republican legislators biting your nails over the New York primary, wondering if you can finally derail Donald J. Trump's candidacy with, gulp, Ted Cruz: You brought it on yourselves.  —  Not just by failing for too long …

A State-By-State Roadmap For The Rest Of The Republican Primary  —  Three weeks ago, when we last took a detailed look at Donald Trump's quest to win 1,237 delegates, his path looked rocky but endurable.  The panel of eight experts FiveThirtyEight assembled projected Trump to wind up with 1,208 …

Chicago Police Dept. Plagued by Systemic Racism, Task Force Finds  —  CHICAGO — Racism has contributed to a long, systemic pattern of institutional failures by this city's police department in which police officers have mistreated people, operated without sufficient oversight …