Men's Rights: Mandatory Paternity Testing.

In Texas, it's mandatory before any child support is awarded.

Price Middle School Shooting: Multiple Injuries In Attack At Southeast Atlanta School

Police responded to a shooting at Price Middle School in Atlanta early Thursday afternoon, WSBTV reports.

Debt Limit Increase Approved In Senate Vote

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to pass a short-term suspension of the debt limit, warding off another showdown over raising the nation's borrowing limit and turning its attention to two more looming fiscal deadlines: deep sequestration-related cuts and funding for the federal government.

Wyoming House Approves Unconstitutional Ban On Non-Existent Gun Laws

On Thursday, members of the Wyoming state House gave initial approval to a bill that would nullify any gun laws passed by the U.S. Congress pertaining to extended magazine clips or semi-automatic weapons. The move is not only unconstitutional, but it is thus far unnecessary: Congress has yet to pass any new gun laws for Wyoming to attempt to nullify.

Hagel Takes On McCain: Calls Iraq War ‘Most Fundamentally Bad, Dangerous Decision Since Vietnam’

The confirmation hearing of former Sen. Chuck Hagel to take on the role of Secretary of Defense — already sure to be testy — heated up with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) pointedly asking Hagel to justify his stance on the Iraq War.

Anheuser-Busch-Grupo Modelo Merger Challenged By Justice Department

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department on Thursday filed a lawsuit to stop Anheuser-Busch InBev's proposed $20.1 billion purchase of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo, which would unite the ownership of popular beers like Budweiser and Corona.

Colin Powell Makes Sense Again, By Stopping O'Reilly's Rant Of Spin! (‘Why Do You Only See Me As An African-American?’)

In a ‘No Spin’ interview with General Colin Powell, Bill O’Reilly insinuated that Powell engaged in identity politics by voting for President Barack Obama. O’ Reilly claimed to be “perplexed” that Powell would vote for Obama when his economic policies have failed African-Americans. And that’s when the general called him out for passive racism.

The New Anti-Choice Legislation To Watch: ‘Fetal Heartbeat’ Bills Banning Nearly All Abortions

2011 and 2012 were both record-breaking years for new abortion restrictions, and abortion opponents are aren’t showing signs of letting up this year. The “personhood” movement to endow zygotes with the full rights of U.S. citizens, effectively outlawing all abortions and even some forms of contraception, has largely been a failure — but that doesn’t mean anti-choice lawmakers are giving up their quest to redefine the medical terms of pregnancy. The push for “fetal heartbeat” bans is the next anti-choice movement to watch.

Ishema Kane, 9-Year Old German Girl, Responds To Use Of Racist Language In Children's Books

One German girl is not okay with the use of racist language in children's books. Or newspapers that seem to defend it.

The Most Ridiculous Law of 2013 (So Far): It Is Now a Crime to Unlock Your Smartphone

PENALTY: In some situations, first time offenders may be fined up to $500,000, imprisoned for five years, or both. For repeat offenders, the maximum penalty increases to a fine of $1,000,000, imprisonment for up to ten years, or both.*

Female Gun Rights Advocate's Outrageous Testimony

WASHINGTON -- Lawyer and gun rights activist Gayle Trotter gave vivid testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee at a Wednesday hearing on gun violence. Trotter, a senior fellow at the conservative Independent Women's Forum, argued that a proposed ban on assault weapons would "disarm" vulnerable women and "put them at a severe disadvantage" in fights with multiple criminals.

Nearly Half Of Americans Are One Financial Shock Away From Poverty

A new report from the Corporation for Enterprise Development shows that many Americans are just one financial hit away from poverty, as the nation slowly drags itself out of the Great Recession. According to the report, nearly half of Americans lack enough savings to keep themselves out of poverty for more than three months in the event of a financial shock such as a lost job or medical emergency:

5 Reasons To Be Optimistic The Republican Election-Rigging Plan Is Dead (And 3 Reasons It’s Not)

Two weeks ago, Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus called upon “states that have been consistently blue that are fully controlled red” to consider a Republican plan to rig future presidential races. Under the GOP plan, these blue states would stop awarding electoral votes to the winner of the state as a whole, and instead would award them one-by-one to the winner of each congressional district. Because these districts are highly gerrymandered to favor Republicans, the election-rigging plan ensures that Republicans will win the overwhelming majority of the electoral votes in these blue states regardless of how the people of those states cast their votes.

Home Of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Bombed On This Day In 1956

Of the many atrocities Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. faced during his time, the attack on his Montgomery, Ala., home in response to his involvement in the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott stands out as one of the most heinous. The attack happened on this day in 1956, while King was away helping to organize members of the boycott movement.

Tennessee ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Now Requires Teachers To Inform Parents If Their Child Is Gay

Tennessee’s so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay‘ bill died with the adjournment of the state assembly last year. But now the measure is back — with new, harsher requirements.

Five Things You Have To Know Before Today’s Gun Policy Hearing

At 10 AM on Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold its first hearings on new legislation to reduce gun violence in the United States. Here are the five things that’ll help you make sense of the policy and politics at play in today’s hearing.

Teenager Who Performed At Obama’s Inauguration Ceremony Is The Latest Victim Of Chicago Gun Violence (Update She May Have Been Hanging In The Park With Gang Members, See Video)

Less than two weeks ago, Hadiya Pendleton was leading her classmates in the King College Prep School Marching Band down Pennsylvania Avenue on the afternoon of President Obama’s second inauguration. It would be an opportunity of a lifetime for any 15 year old, but for Pendleton, it was her last. On Tuesday, she was gunned down in a park a few blocks from school on the South Side of Chicago, less than a mile from the first family’s home.

‘Fundamentally Unfair’: How States Tax The Richest 1 Percent At Half The Rate Of The Poor

The poorest Americans are subject to a tax rate at the state and local level that is twice as high as the tax rate paid by the wealthiest earners thanks to “fundamentally unfair” state tax laws, according to a new report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). Middle-class taxpayers also pay higher effective rates than the wealthy.

Missouri Bill Would Require All First Graders To Take NRA-Sponsored Gun Class

Students in Missouri have no sexual education requirement, so there’s a good chance they don’t know how to properly protect themselves from STIs or unintended pregnancy. Soon, though, they may be able to protect themselves from guns.

Hey You Got A "B" On You! (B, or Bee)

Thought this was kind of funny, with this guy playing on the usage of the word Bee and letter B to get people hyped up. What would you do?

NAACP President Ben Jealous: Black People “Are Doing Far Worse” Under Obama Administration

In an interview with David Gregory on Meet The Press, NAACP President Ben Jealous (pictured) said that Black Americans “are doing far worse” under the Obama Administration than when the president first took office, reports The Washington Times.

Latino Gang Members Arrested For Alleged Hate Crimes Against Black Family

Two Hispanic gang members were arrested last Thursday on allegations they had 15 to 20 gang members surround a house owned by an African-American family and tell them they couldn’t live in the area, according to the LA Times.

Why Lilly Ledbetter Wasn’t Enough: The Facts About The Persistent Pay Gap

Four years ago today, President Obama signed his first bill into law: the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, meant to address the pay gap between men and women. Ledbetter famously worked years without knowing that she was being paid less than her male co-workers for doing similar work. The Supreme Court threw out a case against her employer, saying that she had waited too long to challenge the pay disparity. The Ledbetter law is meant to ensure that women have ways to take action against pay discrimination.

GOP Rep Says He Opposes Immigration Reform Because Latinos Are Uneducated, Will Never Support Republicans

Republican senators in the so-called Gang of 8 working to enact comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship argue that repairing the broken system would attract Latino voters to the GOP. As Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) explained during a Sunday appearance on ABC’s This Week, “We are losing dramatically the Hispanic vote, which we think should be ours for a variety of reasons, and we’ve got to understand that.” In November, President Obama “won 71 percent of the Hispanic vote while Mitt Romney won 27 percent.”

31 Senate Republicans Opposed Sandy Relief After Supporting Disaster Aid For Home States

When the Senate passed the long-delayed $50.5 billion Hurricane Sandy relief package Monday, 36 Republicans voted against the bill. But of the 32 no-votes from Senators who are not brand-new members, at least 31 came from Republicans who had previously supported emergency aid efforts following disasters in their own states.

Mississippi Tea Partiers Seek To Nullify Any Federal Laws They Don’t Like

Responding to President Obama’s plan to issue 23 executive orders on gun violence prevention, radical lawmakers in a number of states have re-upped their efforts to exempt their state from federal gun laws through the insidious and unconstitutional practice of nullification. Now, Tea Partiers in Mississippi want to institutionalize the nullification process, with a proposal to create a permanent committee devoted to nullifying all kinds of federal laws. The Dispatch reports:

Three Charts Reminding The GOP That Domestic Spending Is Already Headed Toward Historic Lows

Republicans like to portray President Obama as a big government spender, despite the fact that government spending under Obama has grown at its slowest pace since the Eisenhower administration. The GOP is also trying to pretend the spending cuts that Obama has signed into law over the last two years simply didn’t happen.

Everything You Need To Know About The Bipartisan Immigration Reform Framework

One day before President Obama kicks off his push for immigration reform in Las Vegas, a bipartisan group of eight senators announced their own deal. In a press conference on Monday, Sens. John McCain (AZ), Lindsey Graham (SC), Marco Rubio (FL), Jeff Flake (AZ), Chuck Schumer (NY), Dick Durbin (IL), Robert Menendez (NJ), and Michael Bennet (CO) will unveil a set of principles that will guide legislation introduced in the Senate.

Kenan Thompson Spoofs Ray Lewis On Week-end Update

In last night’s installment of Saturday Night Live’s “Week-end Update,” cast member Kenan Thompson made an appearance as Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and what followed was three minutes of sheer hilarity.

Oscar Grant Film Wins Big At Sundance

Fruitvale, the true story of 22-year-old Oscar Grant, took home the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award prizes for U.S. Dramatic at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The prizes are the festival’s two highest honors.

Gun Industry Aims To Sell Youth On Assault Weapons

Responding to Americans’ declining interest in shooting sports, gun manufacturers are developing programs to market their products to younger children. The National Shooting Sports Foundation trade association and the industry-funded National Rifle Association spend millions of dollars annually to recruit kids as gun enthusiasts. And those efforts increasingly focus on pushing semi-automatic assault weapons, including the very model used by the shooter in the Newtown, Connecticut tragedy.

Paul Ryan Embraces Spending Cuts He Said Would Devastate The Country

During an interview on Meet The Press on Sunday, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) predicted that the sequester cuts are “going to happen” and made no concrete proposals for how to avoid the reductions. The tone represents a sharp rhetorical and policy shift for the onetime GOP vice presidential nominee, who warned during the 2012 presidential campaign that the cuts would “devastate” the country and undermine job growth.

Arizona Bill Requires Hospitals To Screen Immigration Status Of Uninsured Patients

Hospitals would need to check the immigration status of uninsured patients under a new bill introduced by an Arizona lawmaker. Rep. Steve Smith’s (R) H.B. 2293 would require hospital staff to “reasonably confirm” patients’ status during check-in or treatment, and immediately report those who do not have the required papers to immigration officials.

Brazil Nightclub Fire Kills At Least 245 People

BRASILIA, Brazil — A blaze raced through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil early Sunday, setting off a stampede that killed at least 245 people attending a university party, police and firefighters said. It appeared to be the world's deadliest nightclub fire in more than a decade.

Before Calling 911, Sheriff Tells Residents To Get ‘In The Game’ With A Gun

Wisconsin County Sheriff David Clarke is facing backlash for telling Milwaukee, Wisconsin residents to get a gun for emergencies, rather than call 911. In a radio ad, Clarke claims personal and public safety is no longer a “spectator sport,” and urges civilians to “get in the game” before police arrive to a scene:

Bill Maher & Howard Dean Defend Obama Inauguration From GOP Panelists

On Friday night, Bill Maher hosted his first show of President Obama's second term. But based on the panel discussion which included the liberal former Vermont governor Howard Dean as well as conservatives GOPAC president David Avella and Republican pollster Kristen Soltis, one might think the election was still raging on.

Republicans’ Effort To Rig Electoral College Gets National Backing

Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R), who was the chief elections officer when the state experienced massive voting problems in 2004, is planning to lead a national effort to rig the electoral college in favor of the 2016 Republican presidential candidate.

Arizona Bills Require Public School Students To Recite Loyalty Oaths Just To Receive A Diploma!

Public high school students in Arizona will have to “recite an oath supporting the U.S. Constitution” to receive a graduation diploma, if a new bill introduced in the new session of the state legislature is passed and signed into law. The measure, House Bill 2467, was offered by Rep. Bob Thorpe (R), a freshman tea party members who also backs a bill preventing state enforcement of federally enacted gun safety laws. Here is the text of HB 2467:

The First Prison Sentence Related To Gitmo Torture Goes To Someone Who Spoke Out Against It

Ex-CIA officer John C. Kiriakou became the first person to be sentenced to prison for issues related to torture at Guantanamo Bay on Friday– because he talked about, but did not participate in, “enhanced interrogation” techniques. Kiriakou pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act in October for revealing the name of a former operative involved the Bush era’s brutal interrogation of detainees at Guantanamo to a reporter.

How To Convince The NRA That Assault Weapons, Not The Media, Are Responsible For Gun Massacres

Stephen King — best selling author of the very kind of violent books that gun advocates say contribute to gun violence — has penned Guns, a 25-page essay dismissing their criticism, while calling for universal background checks for gun purchases, and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

For The Sixth Time In One Week, Man Shot At Gun Show

Gun activists designated last Saturday “Gun Appreciation Day” in an attempt to highlight their opposition to gun safety laws. The PR stunt proved to be more of an embarrassment, however, when 5 people were shot at 3 different gun shows on Gun Appreciation Day. On Friday afternoon, an Iowa gun dealer closed out the week by becoming the sixth person shot at a gun show. The man claims he was “showing off a .25 caliber pistol he thought was unloaded when he slid the action of the gun.” The gun was not unloaded, and a bullet went through his left palm.

Obama recess appointments found unconstitutional

A US court has found three National Labor Relations Board appointments made by President Barack Obama during a 2012 Senate recess were unconstitutional.

Is New York's supersize soda ban a civil rights issue?

New York City's ban on large-size sodas and other sugary drinks is being challenged by African American and Hispanic groups. How did cola become a civil rights issue?

FLASHBACK: Republicans Opposed Electoral Vote Rigging In 2004, Calling It ‘A Really Stupid Idea’

Nearly a decade before the GOP responded to President Obama’s re-election by proposing to rig the Electoral College in states like Pennsylvania and Virginia, Republicans vehemently opposed the plan and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting its implementation.

Controversial Gun Appreciation Group Targets Black America

What better way to get Black people to oppose gun control than to evoke everyone’s new favorite slave, Django — and the thought of being free to murder every White person in sight?

CNN Anchor Tricks Opponent Of Women In Combat To Endorse Racial Segregation

Conservatives are outraged over Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s decision to lift the ban on women in combat, which opens up more than 200,000 frontline positions to women. Opponents of the move have called it “humiliating” and dangerous to unit cohesion. On CNN’s Starting Point, host Soledad O’Brien caught one such critic off guard by anonymously quoting a similar argument made during integration of African Americans into the military.

Five Reasons Bobby Jindal Is Responsible For Transforming The GOP Into ‘The Stupid Party’

Days after Mitt Romney lost his bid for the presidency, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (R) kicked off a publicity campaign for his 2016 run, casting himself as a different kind of Republican. In a series of interviews, statements and op-eds, Jindal called for reform within the GOP, embracing a more moderate message that could appeal to middle class voters.

The Rich Are Enjoying The Recovery While Wages Fall For Everyone Else

As income inequality skyrockets, a new report from the Economic Policy Institute finds that the economic downturn and gradual recovery has exacerbated the trend. The wages of the richest Americans are making a dramatic comeback, while the rest of the country has seen its income drop by 1.2 percent since 2007.

Olean General Hospital Warns 1,915 Patients Of Possible HIV Exposure From Insulin Pens

OLEAN, N.Y. — A second western New York hospital is notifying patients that they may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C through the improper sharing of insulin pens, hospital officials said Thursday.

Apple Discovers Underage Workers After Stepping Up Labor Audits

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Apple Inc stepped up audits of working conditions at major suppliers last year, discovering multiple cases of underage workers, discrimination and wage problems.

Romney Would Have Won Under The Republican's Vote-Rigging Plan (Not Good)

Republicans have a new strategy for 2016: Change the rules of presidential elections in order to swing the electoral college in the GOP's favor.

Coal Company Rehires Workers After Pinning Blame For Layoffs On Obama

Throughout the 2012 presidential election, Murray Energy CEO Robert Murray used his employees as a political tool to try to defeat President Obama. Murray allegedly forced miners to attend a pro-Romney rally without pay and to contribute to Republican candidates. He announced layoffs at mines in Ohio and Utah, claiming that Obama’s “war on coal” has cost jobs and hurt his business.

GOP Florida House Speaker Blasts Plan To Rig Electoral College

Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford (R) poured cold water on a Republican plan to rig the Electoral College that is being considered in a number of states to all but ensure that the next president will be a Republican.

Police In Georgia Investigating KKK Fliers Dropped On Residents’ Lawns

Residents in South Newton County, Ga., are disturbed by the fact that Ku Klux Klan fliers were distributed throughout their neighborhoods and have summoned the sheriff’s office to investigate the activity, the Newton Citizen reports.

Pioneering American Black Nationalist Martin R. Delany Died On This Date In 1885

The name Martin R. Delany (pictured) may not ring in the minds of many African Americans; however, the American Civil War veteran, abolitionist, writer, and explorer is often said to be America’s first supporter of Black Nationalism. Delany lived a long and fruitful life, passing at the age of 72 on this day in 1865. NewsOne takes a look back to honor this amazing Black pioneer.

Allowing Women On The Front Lines Could Reduce Sexual Assault, Joint Chiefs Chairman Says

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey today expressed his hope that allowing women into combat roles would bring down sexual assault rates in the military.

Kerry Pledges To Confront Climate Change: ‘I Will Be A Passionate Advocate’ Of Action

At his confirmation hearing for Secretary of State, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) took a strong position on the urgent need for climate action.

Sorry, New Orleans: The Super Bowl Won’t Bring A Major Boost To Your Economy

New Orleans is gearing up to host Super Bowl XLVII, the National Football League’s annual championship that will pit the Baltimore Ravens against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, February 3. The city and its businesses are predicting an economic boom that will result in the ultimate comeback for a city that was decimated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Astroturf Gone Wrong: Fake Protesters Offered $20 To Stand At Anti-Wind Energy Rally

Most Americans like clean energy. So when conservatives wage campaigns against clean energy initiatives, they have typically resorted to fronting  astroturf  groups and paying fake protesters to generate noise.

New Mexico Bill Would Imprison Rape Victims Who Receive Abortions

Should a recently introduced bill in New Mexico become law, rape victims will be required to carry their pregnancies to term during their sexual assault trials or face charges of “tampering with evidence.”

Three Winners And Three Losers In Today’s Filibuster Deal

The Huffington Post reports that Senate Leaders Harry Reid (D-NV) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) reached a deal today to support minor — and in some cases, temporary — changes to the Senate Rules, rather than push through the more robust reforms championed by many Democratic senators. The language of the deal, which is divided into two separate resolutions, is available here and here.

How Republicans Plan To Rig The Next Presidential Election, In Six Pictures

Yesterday, Virginia Republicans took the first step to move a GOP plan to rig the Electoral College forward in that state. Similar plans are under consideration in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

Secretary Of Defense Lifts Ban On Women In Combat

In a surprise move, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta removed the military ban on women in combat on Wednesday. Lifting the ban will open service on the front lines to thousands of women.

GOP Rep: ‘The Only Constitution That Barack Obama Upholds Is The Soviet Constitution’

For more than four years, a never-ending parade of conservatives have sought to label President Obama a socialist hell-bent on destroying the very fabric of America, but Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) has managed to take the rhetoric a step further.

Clinton Scolds GOP Senator For Focusing On Whether Protest Sparked Benghazi Attack

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shot back at a Republican senator during today’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Benghazi terror attacks, arguing that the Republicans’ focus on whether there was a protest against an anti-Muslim video at the time of the attack is irrelevant.

See How Yahoo Used Tax Havens To Cut Its Taxes By $42.8 Million

Tech companies are some of the most notorious tax dodgers, as their business is easily shifted from place to place and their revenues easily hidden in tax havens. Case in point, Yahoo has funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into low-tax countries, saving it tens of millions of dollars in taxes, as Bloomberg News reported:

Morocco To Change Law That Allowed Rapists To Avoid Punishment By Marrying Their Victims

RABAT, Morocco — Nearly a year after Morocco was shocked by the suicide of a 16-year-old girl who was forced to marry her alleged rapist, the government has announced plans to change the penal code to outlaw the traditional practice.

Senate Republicans In Disarray Over Popular Gun Control Measure

WASHINGTON -- Ask a Senate Republican if he or she supports an assault weapons ban and you'll likely get a "no." But ask about tighter background checks -- one of few items in President Barack Obama's gun violence package with a shot at passing Congress -- and you'll likely get a vague response about needing more information, if you get a response at all.

House GOP To Supreme Court: Gay People Are Too Powerful To Get Equal Rights

For nearly two years, House Republicans paid conservative superlawyer Paul Clement $520 an hour to defend the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act in federal court — and then sent the bill to the American taxpayer. In total Clement has now cost the American people up to $3 million for his efforts on behalf of this unconstitutional law. Last night, we taxpayers finally found out what we were paying for — a 60 page brief explaining why the justices should leave marriage discrimination untouched.

By The Numbers: Abortion Rights On The 40th Anniversary Of Roe v. Wade

Tuesday is the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that ensures legal access to abortion services. But four decades after Roe gave women the freedom to make their own reproductive choices, the reality for women in the U.S. isn’t so clear cut — even though more Americans now support legal abortion than ever before, abortion rights are under serious attack across the country. Here’s the current state of abortion rights in the U.S., by the numbers:

Multiple People Wounded In Texas School Shooting

Multiple people were shot in a shooting at Lone Star College in north Houston, Texas some time before 12:50 PM. Police are describing the incident as an “altercation between two individuals,” one of whom had student ID and a hand gun. Both are now in police custody and experienced gun wounds. A maintenance man was caught in the crossfire and was shot in the leg. A woman on the scene was hospitalized for a medical condition.

House Republican Leader Blames Gun Violence On ‘Welfare Moms’

Rep. James Lankford (R-OK), the fifth-ranking House Republican, laid the blame for gun violence at the feet of an unusual suspect: the children of “welfare moms” who commit fraud.

Why Obama’s Second Inaugural Was Not A ‘Far Left’ Speech, In One Graphic

After President Obama finished his second inaugural speech, Republicans jumped to claim that it was a “full-throated defense of government activism,” and that “he seeks to move the country even further left.” Overall, the conservatives concluded, the speech was partisan.

CHART: Labor Strikes Become Rare As Employers Gain The Upper Hand

According to an analysis of Current Population Survey data by Matt Bruenig, the number of workers exercising their right to strike has plummeted since the 1970s:

Virginia Republican Blames Democrats For GOP’s Secret Redistricting Plan

Virginia Senate Republican Leader Tommy Norment defended Monday’s GOP sneaky maneuver to subvert majority rule and gerrymander the Senate maps as nothing more than politics. And, even though he voted for the current bipartisan maps, he blamed Senate Democrats for having employed an unfair process two years ago.

Texas Republicans Call For More Guns In Schools Following Shooting At Lone Star College

On Tuesday afternoon, the nation experienced its 49th school shooting since the Columbine massacre in 1999, when an altercation between two individuals set off at least five gunshots at Lone Star College in north Houston, Texas, injuring both parties and a nearby janitor caught in the crossfire. The college and the surrounding schools went into lockdown as police secured the area, chasing one of the suspects involved in the incident into a wooded area behind the school. Both men suffered gun shot wounds and are now in custody.

Mega-Rich Professional Golfer Complains That Paying Higher Taxes ‘Doesn’t Work For Me Right Now’

As governments at both the federal and local levels attempt to cut down budget deficits, taxes are going up on wealthy Americans like superstar professional golfer Phil Mickelson. The federal tax rate returned to its Clinton-era levels for income above $450,000 at the beginning of 2013, and voters in California, where Mickelson lives, approved a three percentage point tax increase on incomes above $1 million in November.

Michelle Obama Dress At The Inauguration Ball 2013: Jason Wu Red Gown!

It seems like only yesterday that First Lady Michelle Obama took the stage at the Inaugural Ball in that sparkling white gown and immediately made Jason Wu a household name.

Graduation Rate Hits Record High For High School Students: Government Report

More U.S. high school students than ever are graduating on time, according to new information released by the research arm of the U.S. Education Department.

Groupon Halts Gun-Related Deals After Newtown Shooting

Collective couponing company Groupon is dipping its toes into the gun debate this week with a promise to halt all gun-related coupon deals.

Republican Official Hangs Upside Down American Flag In Protest Of Obama’s Inauguration

The head of the Mon Valley Republican Committee in Pennsylvania is facing backlash from his local community after displaying an American flag upside down — a statement usually meant as a distress signal by soldiers in times of war — during President Obama’s second inauguration ceremony. The flag was placed outside the Mon Valley Republican Party’s meeting spot on the main road in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.

South Carolina Bill Creates A High School Gun Class

Since the shooting in Newton, Connecticut, some lawmakers have introduced legislation to allow teachers and school officials to carry firearms. But one South Carolina lawmaker is taking the NRA’s “more guns will keep schools safe” argument even further, with a new bill that would teach teenagers how to shoot.

FLOTUS Eye Roll Says It All: First Lady Not Amused By President's Banter With John Boehner

First Lady Michelle Obama kept up with her husband stride for stride on Monday, smiling brightly as they proceeded through a second inauguration ceremony chock full of pageantry. But that doesn't mean that she was entertained by all of the day's events.

Virginia Senate Sneaks Through Gerrymandering Bill While Country Watches Inauguration

While the eyes of the nation were turned toward President Barack Obama’s second inauguration on Monday, the Virginia State Senate managed to hurriedly pass a bill that would redistrict the state’s senate seats.

Twitter Goes Down On Inauguration Day 2013

Just as thousands took to Twitter to comment on the presidential motorcade as it made its way through Washington, D.C. after the second inauguration for Barack Obama, bam: Twitter's website appears to have stopped working.

How Obama Made His Second Inaugural Address A Landmark Moment For LGBT Equality

President Obama just concluded what was arguably the most inclusive inaugural address ever delivered by any president. Of particular note was his inclusion of a direct call for marriage equality for gays and lesbians, reflecting the milestone from last May when he became the first president of the United States to ever make such an endorsement:

Obama Pushes Back On ‘The 47 Percent’: Entitlements ‘Do Not Make Us A Nation Of Takers’

In the months of campaigning that unfolded after Mitt Romney was skewered for saying that “47 percent” of the country “believe that they are victims… believe the government has a responsibility to care for them,” President Obama was relatively silent about the remarks. But today, during his second inaugural speech, Obama got the last word in on the issue. He took the opportunity to push back on the idea that there are “takers” in America, and to stand up for the social safety net:

Paul Ryan Booed By Inauguration Crowd

If things had gone differently in November, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) might have departed the Capitol on Monday as the vice president of the United States. Instead, he faced a chorus of boos as he left the building to attend President Barack Obama's second inauguration ceremony.

Second Inauguration Recognizes America’s ‘Disenfranchised Votes’

The second inauguration of President Obama today opened with an invocation by Myrlie Evers-Williams, the wife of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, who was assassinated by a white supremacist in 1963. Mrs. Evers-Williams was the first layperson and first woman to deliver a prayer at an inauguration, and she used the unique opportunity to carry her own civil rights message — a reminder that true equality requires fair voting.

Martin Luther King’s Progressive Legacy

Today is the official ceremony for President Obama’s second inauguration and the national celebration of Martin Luther King Day. The holiday, which was not officially observed in all 50 states until 2000, honors the civil rights leader and nonviolent activist who led the struggle for African American equality, and against militarism, materialism, and poverty. And while conservatives (and even gun advocates) have seized on King’s legacy to promote their own political agendas, King explicitly espoused, pursued, and defended progressive values:

The Worst Run Cities In America: 24/7 Wall St.

From 24/7 Wall St.: The population of the United States living in urban areas is growing faster than the national rate. At last count, more than four in five Americans lived in a metropolitan area, an increase of over 12 percent in the last decade. Meanwhile, the proportion of Americans living in rural areas declined. If this trend continues, nearly all Americans will live in megacities in the near future.

Big Senate Gift to Drug Maker

WASHINGTON — Just two weeks after pleading guilty in a major federal fraud case, Amgen, the world’s largest biotechnology firm, scored a largely unnoticed coup on Capitol Hill: Lawmakers inserted a paragraph into the “fiscal cliff” bill that did not mention the company by name but strongly favored one of its drugs.

Lupe Fiasco, Rapper, Thrown Off Stage At Inaugural Concert (Good Point, Wrong Time. I Hope His Tax Payments Are Up To date!)

Lupe Fiasco reportedly created a bit of a row on Sunday by insulting President Obama during an inaugural event.

MLK Memorial Wreath-Laying Ceremony Held To Honor Slain Civil Rights Leader

WASHINGTON -- Dignitaries and celebrities participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall.

Super Bowl XLVII: 49ers, Ravens Reach New Orleans Set Up Matchup Of Harbaugh Brothers

Super Bowl XLVII will be the Harbaugh Bowl -- or the #HarBowl if you're following along on Twitter.

Just hours after Jim Harbaugh's San Francisco 49ers (13-4-1) clinched a berth in the big game in New Orleans by defeating the Atlanta Falcons in in the NFC Championship Game, John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens (13-6) locked up the other spot by dispatching the New England Patriots.

Schumer Rips GOP Senator’s Pro-Gun Propaganda: ‘That Just Is Dumb’

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) debunked Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)’s pro gun advocacy during a debate on Meet the Press this Sunday, dismissing his arguments as “just dumb.”

Jennifer Granholm Destroys Santorum’s Opposition To Gun Safety: ‘Why Do You Need An Armor Piercing Bullet?’

Former Republican presidential candidate and likely 2016 contender Rick Santorum dismissed the need for gun safety regulations during an appearance on ABC’s This Week Sunday, arguing that Americans should have access to military-style weapons and magazines, including the armor piercing bullets used by criminals to kill cops.

Teenager Accidentally Kills Brother While Playing With Mother’s Gun

A 14-year-old in Henry County, Georgia unintentionally shot and killed his 15-year-old brother early Saturday morning while playing with his mother’s gun, according to police. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that charges may be brought against the teenager and his mother, who have not yet been named. Though the mother left the handgun unloaded, the brothers were apparently still able to use it:

Joe Scarborough: Republicans Only Kept House Majority Because Of Gerrymandering

MSNBC host and former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough admitted on Sunday that Republicans only kept their majority in the House of Representatives as a result of gerrymandering, noting that the GOP received less votes than Democrats in the 2012 election. Scarborough argued that Republicans must prevent radical ultra-conservative voices from dominating the party’s message and pointed out that the GOP is already losing electoral ground among voters who view it as too extreme and out of touch with middle class Americans:

The Sunday January 20th, 2013 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

Just to demonstrate the utter genericness of pre-Inauguration coverage, we begin today by noting that President Obama begins his second term "with challenges at home and overseas," in startling contrast to all the Presidents who had no worries to speak of domestically and a broad agreement from the rest of the world to chill out and leave us alone. But to talk about all this stuff, we'll have David Plouffe and Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who probably isn't a so much a guy "who will play a large role in Obama's second term" as he is "someone we could get booked on this show this weekend."

Congressman Receives Threats From Gun Advocates Warning Him To ‘Watch His Back’

Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN), gun safety advocate who represents “real gun country,” told MSNBC’s Chris Hayes on Saturday that his office is receiving anonymous threats, warning the Congressman to watch his back.

States Aim To Strengthen Gun Safety Regulations

A new analysis from the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence finds that out of “more than 190 gun-related bills filed in statehouses between Jan. 1 and Jan. 15″ — in the aftermath of the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut — 114 bills strengthen gun regulations, while 67 weaken them.” The remainder are neutral. The Huffington Post has this map:

Is Washington DC Trying To Hide Its Homeless Population During Inauguration?

This weekend, as many as 800,000 people will show up in downtown Washington D.C. to watch President Obama’s second inauguration. What they won’t see, however, is D.C.’s homeless population.

5 People Shot At 3 Different Gun Shows On Gun Appreciation Day

If the gun advocates behind this year’s inaugural Gun Appreciation Day had hoped to use the day’s festivities to build support for their anti-regulation platform, they are going to have to wait another year.

Utah Man Carries Rifle Into JC Penney To Defend Against ‘Criminals, Cartels, Drug Lords’ and ‘Evil Men’ (Some Of Those "People" I Hear On Cspan In The Morning Are Coming Out!")

A man in Utah was photographed at a JC Penney carrying around an unloaded version of the gun used in the Newtown tragedy to prove that guns aren’t as dangerous as they’re portrayed.

Rubio’s New Foreign Policy Adviser Called For War With Iran

The Tampa Bay Times reported on Friday that Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) will name Foreign Policy Initiative executive director Jamie Fly his new top foreign policy and national security adviser.

Limbaugh (Limballs) Tarnishes Civil Rights Movement To Advance Pro-Gun Agenda

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh sought to equate the fight for African American civil rights with opposition to gun safety on Friday, suggesting that the movement could have better protected itself from segregationists had it been armed. Limbaugh specifically signaled out Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), a nonviolent civil rights activist who was beaten during the 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery.

James Hood: The Man Who Defied Racial Segregation At University Of Alabama Dies At Age 70

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — One of the first black students who enrolled at the University of Alabama a half century ago in defiance of racial segregation has died. James Hood of Gadsden was 70.

Assault Weapons Ban Proposal Recalls Memories Of 1994 Battle

WASHINGTON -- It was the early fall of 1994 when Rep. Dan Glickman (D-Kan.) got his first piece of ominous news. An administrative aide in his district office reported an abnormal number of angry letters from constituents upset with his support for a ban on the manufacturing of assault weapons. Glickman sought counsel from his colleagues.

Robert F. Chew, ‘Prop Joe’ From ‘The Wire’ Dead At 52

Robert F. Chew, the actor who played “Proposition Joe” on the cult HBO series “The Wire,” is died in his sleep at his Baltimore home, the Baltimore Sun reports.

What The Daily Beast’s Absurd Vaccine Truther Screed Tells Us About Journalism

I’m not going to link to the execrable anti-vaccine screed published on The Daily Beast today. I’m not even going to link to the thoughtful, well-written counterpoint they published by a infectious disease specialist. To do either would reward a transparent attempt to gin up a pageview-inducing “controversy.” Moreover, it would treat the two pieces as if they were two sides of an argument, as opposed to medical fact and conspiratorial lunacy.

Armed School Guard Leaves Gun In Student Bathroom

A gun was left in the bathroom of a Michigan public school by an armed guard paid to protect it, according to the school’s director. The Chatfield School, a charter school that teaches K-8 students, hired a retired police weapons instructor to provide armed protection after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary. The result wasn’t exactly what they intended:

House Science Chair’s First Action Is To Hold A Climate Change Denier Hearing

Coming off of the hottest year in U.S. history and 333 months of higher-than-average global temperatures, Rep. Lamar Smith’s (R-TX) first move as the new chair of the House Science and Technology Committee includes a hearing on climate science, according to Dallas News.

Whole Foods CEO: ‘Climate Change Is Not Necessarily Bad’

It has been a week of controversial statements from Whole Foods CEO John Mackey. First, the self-described libertarian quickly walked back his statement that Obamacare is “like fascism,” admitting it was a “bad choice of language.” And on Friday Mackey — a longtime denier of manmade climate change — told Mother Jones that warming temperatures is “not necessarily bad”:

7 Hippie Companies That Aren't As Liberal As You Think

Whole Foods CEO John Mackey recently ticked off a lot of his grocery chain's customers when he decided to compare Obamacare to "fascism" during an interview with NPR. But he's not the first CEO to have alienated a left-leaning customer base -- not by a long shot. Check out some other dust-ups below:

Solving Kathy Mabry's Murder: Brutal 15-Year-Old Crime Highlights Decades-Long Mississippi Scandal

BELZONI, Miss. -- J.D. "Bubba" Roseman, the first black sheriff of Humphreys County, is a convivial man. In his office and in casual conversations on the street in this town of 2,200, he engages people quickly and easily, inquiring about a son on the football team, a niece in college or a grandmother in the hospital. He talks loud and fast, always smiling, and works a deep, infectious laugh into just about every conversation.

Defense Secretary: ‘I Don’t Know Why The Hell People Have To Have Assault Weapons’

President Obama’s new set of proposals on gun violence prevention are enjoying broad support within his administration — including the support of Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. The Secretary not only heads up the armed forces but is himself a veteran and hunter, making his recent comments in favor of the initiative salient to the heated debate of how gun owners will receive the proposals.

Republicans Extinguish Right-Wing’s Calls To Impeach Obama

Republicans have characterized Obama’s executive actions preventing gun violence as “a power grab,”, pledged to introduce legislation nullifying his orders, and even floatedimpeaching the President for allegedly overstepping his Constitutional powers.

The Dangers Of Putting More Armed Guards In Schools

The National Rifle Association outraged many when CEO Wayne LaPierre blamed the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre on violent video games, natural disasters, and corporate media. Deflecting calls for tighter gun regulations, LaPierre also attacked school security and demanded more armed guards in schools. Since LaPierre’s incendiary press conference, the NRA’s approval rating has plummeted.

Meet The NRA-Backed Senate Democrats Who Oppose Obama’s Gun Violence Prevention Plan

On Wednesday, President Obama unveiled a comprehensive plan to reform American gun laws and take action against the 32,000 firearm-inflicted deaths per year in the United States. His proposals ranged from stricter, universal background checks to more funding for police officers to expanding access to mental health care.

As Many As 64 Percent Of Republicans Are Birthers, Poll Finds

For the last five years, a small pocket of professional conspiracy theorists have carved out a corner of the internet for the express purpose of advancing the theory that President Obama was not born in the United States, his birth certificate is a forgery, and that therefore he is not eligible to serve as president of the United States.

Corporate Profits Have Grown By 171 Percent Under ‘Anti-Business’ Obama

Business executives like to portray the Obama administration as the “most anti-business” in history, creating an “increasingly hostile environment for investment and job creation.” However, the data tells a far different story. According to a Bloomberg News analysis, corporate profits have grown by 171 percent under Obama, the most in the post-war era:

NRA President Rewrites History: ‘The NRA Has Been Very Supportive Of Doing Background Checks’

Since President Obama unveiled his anti-gun violence proposals, National Rifle Association President David Keene has denied the NRA’s well-documented efforts to weaken background checks.

Republicans Brag They Won House Majority Because Of Gerrymandering

In a classic Kinsley gaffe, the Republican State Leadership Committee released a report boasting that the only reason the GOP controls the House of Representatives is because they gerrymandered congressional districts in blue states.

Rubio Claims Obama Doesn’t Have ‘The Guts’ To Admit He’s Against The Second Amendment

Florida Senator and likely 2016 presidential candidate Marco Rubio was first out of the gate to criticize President Obama’s violence prevention plan on Wednesday, issuing a statement claiming that “Guns are not the problem; criminals with evil in their hearts and mentally ill people prone to violence are.”

Dentist Caps Every 'One' Of This Childs Teeth With Steel Caps/Silver Crowns: Hold The Bond Villian Jokes People

Mom shocked by 4-year-old’s silver teeth. An Arizona mom discovers her four-year-old daughter has had all of her teeth capped with silver.

Gun laws in the US, state by state – interactive

President Obama has indicated a move towards strengthening federal gun control measures, but the reality is that the majority of gun legislation in the US is enacted at the state level. That has brought broad variations across the country, with states taking different approaches to issues ranging from sales, permits, licensing, self-defence and carry laws

10 Million Burgers With Horsemeat Recalled From British, Irish Supermarkets

DUBLIN -- An Irish meat processor recalled 10 million burgers Wednesday from supermarkets across Ireland and Britain amid fears that many could contain horsemeat, a discovery that poses no danger to public health but threatens to undermine the beef business central to Ireland's rural economy.

EPA's Water Contamination Investigation Halted In Texas After Range Resources Protest

WEATHERFORD, Texas (AP) — When a man in a Fort Worth suburb reported his family's drinking water had begun "bubbling" like champagne, the federal government sounded an alarm: An oil company may have tainted their wells while drilling for natural gas.

Whole Foods CEO: Obamacare Is ‘Like Fascism’

In an interview with NPR, Whole Foods CEO and self-professed libertarian John Mackey revived his previous criticism of Obamacare — but this time, with a new twist. While Mackey incorrectly denounced the landmark health reform law as “socialism” in a controversial 2009 Wall Street Journal op-ed, the multimillionaire CEO has revised his assessment and now considers Obamacare — also incorrectly — to be closer to “fascism”:

Everything You Need To Know About Obama’s Gun Violence Prevention Proposals

In a press conference on Wednesday, President Obama outlined a sweeping effort to prevent gun violence in the United States. Surrounded by children who had written him letters voicing their desire to see gun laws passed, Obama announced that he will sign 23 executive orders and bring a set of proposals to Congress.

Obama Calls On Each And Every American To Stand Up To The NRA

President Obama unveiled a comprehensive list of proposals to help reduce gun violence during a press conference on Wednesday, but said that gun safety will not be enhanced without support from the public. Obama called on Americans to stand up to uncompromising gun advocates such as the National Rifle Association (NRA) and challenge lawmakers to support common-sense reforms like universal background checks.

See The Republicans Who Want To Impeach Obama Over Gun Regulations

Republicans and pro-gun advocates are outraged over President Obama’s 23 executive orders to curb gun violence in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. Though executive orders have always been a standard element of the presidency, invocations of dictators like Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin and Saddam Hussein are becoming commonplace in the right-wing blogosphere. In reality, Obama has issued fewer executive orders than any other American president in the last century. The executive orders signed today focus on strengthening background checks, making it easier for law enforcement to track guns used in crimes, and ending the freeze on gun research.

Glenn Beck And The Price Of Independence

It’s kinda hard to knock Glenn Beck’s hustle. Since leaving Fox News in June of 2011, Beck has kept himself busy with projects like starting a jeans label and relaunching The Blaze as a libertarian online network. His continued presence as a right-wing personality has shaped him into an odd species of self-help guru, urging his audience to live their best lives by embracing his personal blend of faith and politics. But now Beck has his sights set on a loftier prize: Building an American oasis for free-market values.

Pennsylvania House Republicans Introduce Bill To Rig The 2016 Presidential Election

Earlier this week, Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus endorsed a Republican plan to rig the next presidential election to make it nearly impossible for the Democratic candidate to win the White House, no matter who the American people vote for. The election-rigging plan, which would allocate electoral votes by congressional district rather than by states as a whole in a handful of states that consistently vote for Democratic presidential candidates, would have allowed Mitt Romney to narrowly win the Electoral College last November despite losing the popular vote by nearly four points.

Wealthy CEOs Want To Force Americans To Retire Later

The Business Roundtable, a group representing the CEOs of the largest corporations in the nation — including the biggest banks, retailers, and insurance companies — is calling to raise the retirement age to 70. The group argues that Social Security is no longer affordable and plans to lobby Congressional lawmakers and the administration for its plan:

Sandy Relief Passes House Despite Conservative Opposition

A measure providing $51 billion for relief and recovery from Hurricane Sandy was approved by a bipartisan majority in the House on Tuesday evening, three weeks after Northeast Republicans excoriated the chamber's GOP leaders for failing to vote on storm aid before the end of the last Congress.

Luther Campbell: Spike Lee Is A 'Conniving And Scheming Uncle Tom' For 'Django' Comments

2 Live Crew veteran Luther Campbell has come out swinging against Spike Lee, taking issue with the director's harsh critique of Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained." Lee, who has publicly taken issue with Tarantino's repeated use of the n-word in "Django's" script, is on the receiving end of some pretty harsh epithets in Campbell's new op-ed for the Miami New Times.

Unconstitutional Texas Bill Would Make Enforcing Federal Gun Laws A Felony

Texas State Rep. Steve Toth (R-TX), with the apparent support of at least one of Texas’ most powerful politicians, will introduce unconstitutional legislation subjecting federal law enforcement officers to arrest and prosecution if they enforce new gun safety laws in the Lone Star State:

New Minnesota Vikings Stadium A Boondoggle Before It’s Even Built

Last spring, Gov. Mark Dayton (D-MN) and the Minnesota state legislature exploited a legal loophole to approve $348 million in public financing to help build a new stadium for the state’s National Football League franchise, the Minnesota Vikings. The majority of the state’s financing of the stadium would come from revenues gained from new electronic gambling machines placed in bars and restaurants — an idea that seemed fool-proof to Dayton and legislators since Minnesota ranks among the biggest states in charitable gaming.

What Everyone Should Know About New York’s New Gun Law

The New York State legislature has passed a piece of gun legislation called the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, or NYSAFE. The comprehensive measure makes sweeping changes to how the state approaches firearms and mental health. Here’s everything you need to know about the measure:

Happy Birthday To Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (pictured center) may be the most-iconic African-American figure of all time. The clergyman, activist, and Civil Rights Movement leader managed to impact race relations during one of the most-turbulent periods in America. His tireless devotion to promoting racial equality via peaceful means stands as an indelible footprint in the annals of Black History. Today, NewsOne honors Dr. King on what would have been his 84th birthday.

Virginia Waters Down Report On Impacts Of Climate Change After Tea Party Complaints

Earlier this year, Virginia’s legislature commissioned a study to determine the impacts of climate change on the state’s shores. After Tea Party complaints, lawmakers approved the report on condition it strike the words “climate change” and “sea level rise” from the title.

Utah Smoothie Shop Charges Liberals More, Donates Surcharge To Conservative Causes

A smoothie shop in Vernal, Utah is sparking outrage over an unorthodox pricing structure that charges liberals an extra dollar. The shop, tellingly named the I Love Drilling Juice and Smoothie Bar, is owned by George Burnett, a pro-oil and gas activist. He donates the extra money to conservative organizations like the Heritage Foundation.

The Five Gun Safety Laws That Gun Owners Support

Vice President Joe Biden is slated to deliver his suggestions for a series of gun violence prevention measures to the President today. Most likely, stronger gun regulations will be among the measures Biden proposes. And while the gun lobby may argue that such laws are out of step with the opinions of gun owners, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that people who have a firearm in their home actually support a lot of gun safety measures.

Dick Gregory Goes In On Spike Lee And Speaks On: Django Unchained

I’ve seen “Django Unchained” 12 times. Never in the history of Hollywood, have they ever made anything that freed the inside of me. The inside of me. I’m 80-years-old, I saw cowboy movies, wasn’t no Black folks in cowboy movies. I’m looking at a Western, plus a love story. To those of you all that see it, you’ll never see a love story about a black man and a black woman where it wasn’t some foul sex and foul language, huh. And Spike Lee can’t appreciate that. The little thug ain’t even seen the movie; he’s acting like he white.

Sanford And Son’ Debuted On This Day In 1972

In the world of television, iconic African-American sitcom “Sanford and Son” helped to change and revolutionize the Black entertainment landscape. Centered on the antics of a cantankerous junkshop owner played by actor-comedian Redd Foxx (pictured left), the show helped pave the way for other successful shows helmed by Black actors. “Sanford and Son” made its NBC network television debut on this date in 1972, and still stands as one of the most-popular shows of all time.

Rob Parker Was Right To Question RG3′s ‘Blackness’ — However Just Not On ESPN

It’s a pity that Rob Parker‘s commentary on Robert Griffin III’s “Blackness” was not expressed on a more appropriate platform than ESPN.

Ten States Take Action To Prevent Gun Violence

One month after Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre prompted a national debate about preventing gun violence, state lawmakers have indicated they will push gun violence prevention measures, such as universal background checks, limiting high-capacity ammunition, and banning assault weapons. Right now, the vast majority of states have no laws on many of these issues.

Republican Congressman Threatens To Impeach President Obama Over Gun Safety Measures

Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX), who just began his second stint in the U.S. Congress, is already threatening to impeach President Obama should the administration use executive power to implement gun violence prevention efforts.

Comment That Makes You Think About: My 10 Baby Mamas

I saw and read this comment on Diary Of A Tired Black Mans Site today. I started to think that some of it has bases in fact. If you have lived in the inner city, or "The Hood" you know of a women who have kids with a man who also has kids with another woman who are in throwing distance of each other. Or, they know each other and are actively having relations with that man. This is something I have seen all my life. Being from the hood I too was a product of the same type of behavior. So I asked myself, if most people, mainly women who know things like this happen all the time, why complain about it.

Accidental Exposure: More Than 700 Patients May Have Been Exposed To HIV, Hepatitis At Buffalo VA Hospital

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- More than 700 patients at the Buffalo Veterans Administration Center may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C because of accidental reuse of insulin pens, according to a hospital statement and published reports.

President Has A Direct And Sharp Exchange With A Reporter

President Obama had a lively exchange with CBS reporter Major Garrett during his press conference on Monday.

We Had 349 Military Suicides In 2012

WASHINGTON -- The Associated Press has learned that suicides in the U.S. military surged to a record 349 last year.

Obama On The Debt Ceiling: House GOP ‘Will Not Collect A Ransom For Not Crashing The American Economy’

President Obama today held the final press conference of his first term, and used the opportunity to reiterate that he is not interested in negotiating with House Republicans over the debt ceiling. “They will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the American economy,” Obama said:

GOP Rep Promotes Shutting Down The Government: It’s A ‘Good Thing’

Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (TN) insisted that shutting down the government should be “on the table” as Congress and the Obama administration deal with passing a continuing resolution, raising the debt ceiling, and addressing the sequestration cuts.

Aaron Swartz Faced A More Severe Prison Term Than Killers, Slave Dealers And Bank Robbers

On Friday, Internet pioneer and open information activist Aaron Swartz took his own life at the age of 26. At the time of his death, Swartz was under indictment for logging into JSTOR, a database of scholarly articles, and rapidly downloading those articles with the intent to make them public. If Swartz had lived to be convicted of the charges against him, he faced 50 years or more in a federal prison.

Samsung Proved They Were First, Now They Change The Game With Bendable Displays

Samsung’s newest technology could be the end of cracked phone screens. The company debuted its flexible phone prototype on Wednesday at the International CES in Las Vegas. Game changer.

Obama Administration To Seek Citizenship Pathway For Immigrants

According to the New York Times, the Obama Administration will not back down on its calls for comprehensive immigration reform that addresses all aspects of the issue, including provisions for high-skilled workers, students, and a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who achieve legal status.

Philip Coppens Of ‘Ancient Aliens’ Passes Away

Philip Coppens, commentator on The History Channel’s Ancient Aliens: The Series, has reportedly died.

Hundreds of “RIP” messages have poured in on the official Facebook page of Philip Coppens, the author and investigative journalist best known for his work in the fields of ancient history and paranormal sciences.

NRA President: Americans Are Buying Firearms Because They Fear Obama

Gun sales skyrocketed at the end of 2012 after the tragic shootings in Newtown, Connecticut. The FBI conductedmore than 2 million criminal background checks ahead of gun purchases in December, according to the National Sports Shooting Association, representing a 58.6 percent increase over December 2011.

Colin Powell: GOP Holds 'Dark Vein Of Intolerance'

Former Secretary Of State Colin Powell delivered some harsh words for the GOP as a whole on Sunday.

In an appearance on NBC's "Meet The Press," Powell noted that there is a "dark vein of intolerance in some parts of the party."

Ravens Beat Broncos 38-35 In Double OT

DENVER — Baltimore's Justin Tucker kicked a 47-yard field goal 1:42 into the second overtime Saturday, ending the NFL's longest game in 26 years and giving the Ravens a 38-35 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC playoffs.

Parasitic Worm VIDEO Shows Huge Nematode Emerging From Dead Spider Host, Biologist Says

When YouTube user Brent Askwith saw a freakishly large worm slither out of a spider he had just killed, he recorded the ghoulish event and appropriately named the video "WTF IS THIS?!?"

Obama Threat: Michigan Man's Alleged Remarks Of Assassination Alert Secret Service

An alleged threat against President Obama has brought the scrutiny of the U.S. Secret Service down on a resident of Clinton Township, Mich. A Comerica Bank employee told local police that he overheard the 57-year-old man tell another customer on Jan. 2 that he wanted the president to be assassinated, reports Clinton Township Patch.

Death Star Petition Gets White House Rebuff

Sorry, folks. The Obama administration will not be building a Death Star.

The White House responded Friday night to a petition on its website urging construction of a Death Star for job creation and national defense purposes by 2016.

Beijing, China Air Pollution Hits Hazardous Levels

BEIJING (AP) — Air pollution readings in China's notoriously polluted capital were at dangerously high levels for the second straight day Saturday, with hazy skies blocking visibility and authorities urging people to stay indoors.

Hospitals Crack Down On Workers Who Refuse Shots

CHICAGO — Patients can refuse a flu shot. Should doctors and nurses have that right, too? That is the thorny question surfacing as U.S. hospitals increasingly crack down on employees who won't get flu shots, with some workers losing their jobs over their refusal.

Gun Advocates Warn That New Safety Measures Could Foment ‘The Next American Revolution’

As Vice President Joe Biden prepares to offer legislative recommendations to reduce and prevent gun violence on Tuesday, gun advocates across the country fear that the administration may succeed in expanding background checks for all gun purchases or limiting the sale of high capacity magazines and assault weapons.

Conservative Think Tank Ranks Countries With Government-Run Health Care As The Freest In World

Former Senator Jim DeMint, the new president of the conservative Heritage Foundation, has decried Obamacare as “a cancer” that is “is fundamentally inconsistent with liberty.” During the Senate Obamacare fight, DeMint famously declared “If we’re able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.”

US set to build $120m rare earth research institute

The US Department of Energy is giving $120m (£75m) to set up a new research center charged with developing new methods of rare earth production.

Python challenge: Florida holds snake hunting contest

The US state of Florida is set to begin a competitive Burmese python hunt, in an attempt to rid the Everglades wetlands of the invasive species.

The Most Profitable Industry in History Doesn’t Need Tax Breaks

To close out our week of looking at the $1 TRILLION in loopholes, giveaways, credits, and deductions that we could eliminate through tax reform, let’s take a look at some of the most notorious tax giveaways on the books: billions of dollars in giveaways to Big Oil.

Oil Giant’s Rig Crash Could Be A Tax Dodging Attempt Gone Wrong

The latest of a series of Shell mishaps in the Arctic occurred on New Year’s Eve, when Shell’s drilling rig, Kulluk, ran aground while being towed out of Alaskan waters. Harsh weather conditions began shortly after Shell began towing, causing the rig and its 150,000 gallons of fuel and drilling fluid to wash up on an island along the Alaska coastline.

Don’t Believe The Media Hype: Obamacare's Is Not Responsible For Double Digit Premium Hikes

Small businesses and individual health policy holders could face dramatic premium spikes this year, as some insurers file double digit increases and attribute the changes to the Affordable Care Act. The sticker shock is mostly the result of rising health care costs — and the prevalence of sicker beneficiaries in health insurance risk pools. The media, however, is blaming health care reform.