preciseNews

Hanna berates Ohio legislators on exotic pet laws

By ANN SANNER — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 14:07:22 -0800

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Celebrity zookeeper Jack Hanna criticized Ohio lawmakers Thursday for not yet passing a bill to regulate exotic animals, months after authorities shot dozens of lions, tigers, bears and other wild creatures let loose by their suicidal owner.... [AP Top U.S. News] [Read More]

Rap mogul arrested on Vegas traffic, drug charges

By KEN RITTER — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 14:06:38 -0800

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Rap music mogul Marion 'Suge' Knight is facing a March court date in Las Vegas following his arrest on a 2009 traffic warrant and a new misdemeanor drug charge, authorities said Thursday.... [AP Top California Headlines] [Read More]

Los Angeles school reopens amid sex abuse scandal

By CHRISTINA HOAG — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 14:01:14 -0800

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A hubbub of controversy surrounded the reopening of an elementary school on Thursday where the arrest of two former teachers on lewdness charges led to the entire staff being replaced.... [AP Top U.S. News] [Read More]

House Republicans Cut an Ethics Bill Provision

By ROBERT PEAR — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 14:00:38 -0800

Republican lawmakers have deleted a provision that would regulate the collection of political intelligence from political insiders for the use of hedge funds, mutual funds and other investors. [NYT Washington] [Read More]

Josh Powell Told Boys He Had 'Surprise' For Them

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:59:52 -0800

Josh Powell shrugged and sheepishly slammed the door, social worker Elizabeth Griffin Hall told ABC News exclusively today. Moments later she heard Powell tell son Charlie he had 'a big surprise' for him, then Braden cried out, and the house exploded. [ABC News: US] [Read More]

News Analysis: Romney Campaign Still Faces Challenges

By JEFF ZELENY — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:58:01 -0800

The persistent competition with Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich is forcing Mitt Romney to guard his right flank instead of directing his attention to President Obama. [NYT Washington] [Read More]

Two New Nuke Plants Win Go-Ahead

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:55:33 -0800

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the construction of two new nuclear reactors, the first time a license has been issued in three decades since the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island in Dauphin County, Pa. [ABC News: US] [Read More]

Mike Huckabee to Begin Radio Show

By BRIAN STELTER — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:54:54 -0800

Rush Limbaugh will soon have a new radio rival: Mike Huckabee, who will be running a radio show from noon to 3 p.m. for Cumulus Media Networks. [NYT Washington] [Read More]

A fourth defeat for Romney Lack of ads could hurt

By BETH FOUHY and STEVE PEOPLES — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:54:48 -0800

NEW YORK (AP) -- Mitt Romney is in danger of losing his fourth straight state in Saturday's caucuses in Maine, where he and his allies have been all but absent from TV.... [Associated Press - Elections] [Read More]

The Caucus: The Obama Spotify Playlist

By THE NEW YORK TIMES — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:54:41 -0800

Our colleagues over at the Media Decoder blog look at the Spotify playlist released by the Obama campaign team, which spans a wide array of musical genres, including country, 'raw choral pop' and REO Speedwagon. [NYT Washington] [Read More]

Hold the mystery meat: Military food gets upgrade

By NANCY BENAC — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:54:08 -0800

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Hold the mystery meat: Military mess halls soon will be serving more fruits, vegetables and low-fat dishes under the first program in 20 years to improve nutrition standards across the armed services.... [AP Top U.S. News] [Read More]

Hundreds ask Vt. to keep prank pig on police decal

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:51:20 -0800

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- Remember the pig hidden within the decal on the doors of some Vermont State Police cruisers?... [AP Top Strange News] [Read More]

Cambodia court to pursue more Khmer Rouge

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:49:48 -0800

A judge at Cambodia's genocide court says that he will reverse a decision to end a controversial investigation into the role of more Khmer Rouge leaders. [MSNBC.com: World news] [Read More]

Necklace flushed down toilet returned months later

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:49:25 -0800

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) -- A California woman has her gold necklace back months after she accidentally flushed it down her toilet.... [AP Top Strange News] [Read More]

Victim's father: Serial killer map leads to skull

By PAUL ELIAS — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:47:59 -0800

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Searchers following a map prepared by a serial killer on California's death row have unearthed human remains that could be one of his victims.... [AP Top California Headlines] [Read More]

Famous Spain judge convicted of misusing authority

By DANIEL WOOLLS — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:47:40 -0800

MADRID (AP) -- The superstar Spanish judge who won global fame for aggressively taking on international human rights cases was convicted Thursday of overstepping his jurisdiction in a domestic corruption probe and barred from the bench for 11 years, marking a spectacular fall from grace for one of the nation's most... [AP Top International News] [Read More]

Va. Moves Forward to Let Agencies Bar Gay Adoption

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:47:20 -0800

Virginia legislation advances to let private adoption agencies bar adoption by gay parents [ABC News: US] [Read More]

West offers words, only, as Syria killing rages

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:46:12 -0800

Opposition group in Homs puts death toll as high as 110 at nightfall; Arabs to discuss joint UN-Arab mission to Syria. [Jerusalem Post] [Read More]

Democrats renew push for campaign finance overhaul

By JACK GILLUM — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:45:25 -0800

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The campaign finance system is so broken that legislative changes, including a constitutional amendment, are needed to rein in runaway, secret spending in elections, congressional Democrats said Thursday.... [AP Top Political News] [Read More]

Group wants Supreme Court to save CA war memorial

By JULIE WATSON — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:44:56 -0800

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Supporters of a war memorial cross on federal land in San Diego have rallied at the Mount Soledad site as they prepare to ask the Supreme Court to reverse a decision deeming it unconstitutional.... [AP Top U.S. News] [Read More]

Thousands join first lady for 'Let's Move' outing

By NANCY BENAC — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:44:39 -0800

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Wild arm swings, sharp robotic turns, pulsing fist pumps.... [AP Top U.S. News] [Read More]

Giffords Aide to Run for Ariz. Seat

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:43:32 -0800

A top aide to former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who was shot in the leg and face in the Tucson rampage that also left the congresswoman severely wounded announced Thursday that he will seek to replace her in a special election. Democrat Ron Barber declared he would run to serve the last six months of Giffords'... [ABC News: Top Stories] [Read More]

Bachmann and Perry Have CPAC Crowd Cheering

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:42:54 -0800

For a couple of hours at the Conservative Political Action Conference this afternoon, the presidential primary seemed to lurch into a time warp. There was Michele Bachmann bringing conservatives to their feet as she blamed President Obama for hurting the country and abandoning Israel. Israel has... [ABC News: Politics] [Read More]

President Obama on Contraception Rule - A Play in One Act

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:41:53 -0800

THE PRESIDENT sits in the Oval Office with MARIO MONTI, the prime minister of Italy. The two chat in their distinct languages, and at the very end of this pool spray, some impudent reporters get a chance to say something before being ushered out of... [ABC News: Politics] [Read More]

US Marines posed with Nazi symbol in Afghanistan

By JULIE WATSON — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:40:23 -0800

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The Marine Corps on Thursday once again did damage control after a photograph surfaced of a sniper team in Afghanistan posing in front of a flag with a logo resembling that of the notorious Nazi SS - a special unit that murdered millions of Jews, gypsies and others.... [AP Top U.S. News] [Read More]

CPAC 2012: The live blog

Aaron Blake, Rachel Weiner, Felicia Sonmez — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:38:00 -0800

The Fix team is at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) over the next few days, and we're live-blogging all the highlights from it. KEY LINKS: Read full article >> [Washington Post - Politics] [Read More]

Pro-Choice and Pro-Gay ... at CPAC

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:33:53 -0800

The Conservative Political Action Conference is packed with right-wing believers of what in politics is called traditional family values. An easy target for these conservatives is President Obama's recent mandate that religious groups provide health care services that include contraception, even if those groups... [ABC News: Politics] [Read More]

Quarterly loss hits $3.3B at Postal Service

By HOPE YEN — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:32:57 -0800

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, the U.S. Postal Service's quarterly loss ballooned to $3.3 billion amid declining mail volume and the soaring costs of health benefits for future retirees.... [AP Top U.S. News] [Read More]

Wallis Simpson: Was She Intersex Doctor Says Likely Not

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:31:49 -0800

Interesexuality affects 1 in 2,000 children, who are born with male chromosomes but are essentially female. [ABC News: Top Stories] [Read More]

Full Episode: GMA 2/9: Josh Powell's Sister 'GMA' Exclusive

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:30:45 -0800

The Help, Viola Davis, Face book, artist,Josh Powell, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, David Frei. [ABC News: US] [Read More]

The Caucus: Republican Vow of Revenge Falls Short

By JONATHAN WEISMAN — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:28:35 -0800

In the first test of a Republican promise to reject all Obama appointments, only six G.O.P. senators voted against the confirmation of a nominee for federal judge. [NYT Washington] [Read More]

Santorum Campaign's New Ambitions

By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:28:01 -0800

Rick Santorum is setting sights on home-state challenges to Newt Gingrich in Georgia and Mitt Romney in Michigan after a trifecta of wins on Tuesday. [NYT Washington] [Read More]

Germany Expels Four Syrian Diplomats in Spy Case

By NICHOLAS KULISH and ALAN COWELL — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:26:40 -0800

As tensions mounted between Western nations and Syria, Germany said on Thursday that it had ordered the expulsion of four staff members from the Syrian Embassy. [NYT International] [Read More]

Brazil: Rio police holding strike vote

By JULIANA BARBASSA and JENNY BARCHFIELD — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:26:04 -0800

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Police are threatening a strike that could prompt violence during this tropical city's popular Carnival bash in spite of government approval Thursday of a police pay raise.... [AP Top International News] [Read More]

Police issue warrant for ex Maldives president

By KRISHAN FRANCIS and HUSSAIN SINAN — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:20:02 -0800

MALE, Maldives (AP) -- A court in the Maldives issued an arrest warrant Thursday for former President Mohamed Nasheed, one day after his supporters rampaged in the capital and his claim of being ousted in a coup left unclear the stability of the fledging Indian Ocean democracy.... [AP Top International News] [Read More]

Payroll Tax Talks Offer Kyl One Last Stand in the Crossfire

By JONATHAN WEISMAN — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:18:57 -0800

Payroll tax talks are testing the reputation of Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona as a top Republican negotiator before retirement. [NYT Washington] [Read More]

Obama grants 10 states leeway on education law

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:17:25 -0800

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday he was granting 10 states exemptions from parts of the 'No Child Left Behind' education law, a move that could prove popular in an election year with parents and teachers who have criticized the law - but raises concern among some advocates for low-income... [Reuters - Politics News] [Read More]

Greeks Reach Deal on Austerity to Meet Condition of Bailout

By RACHEL DONADIO and NIKI KITSANTONIS — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:17:16 -0800

After days of talks, Greek political leaders reached a deal Thursday to support a package of harsh austerity measures demanded by Greece's financial backers in return for a bailout. [NYT International] [Read More]

Putin suggests limiting holiday time off

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:16:38 -0800

MOSCOW, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin suggested Thursday reducing the number of days Russians have off for New Year's and Christmas and shift them to May. [UPI] [Read More]

Farmers still fighting for immigrant guest-worker program

McClatchy Newspapers (Michael Doyle) — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:15:44 -0800

California and Southern farmers renewed their case Thursday for some kind of an agricultural guest-worker program, but they're sailing against the wind. Make that a hurricane. Click to Continue » [mcclatchydc.com: Nation] [Read More]

Judge: Firing for Lactation Not Sex Discrimination

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:15:28 -0800

Federal judge: Texas company didn't discriminate against new mom asking to pump milk at work [ABC News: US] [Read More]

Challenger to Chavez showing strength in Venezuela

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:15:17 -0800

When an opposition candidate challenged Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to a debate last month, his reply was 'aguila no caza mosca' -- 'the eagle doesn't hunt the fly.' [CNN.com - World] [Read More]

Quieter Hurricane Season This Year

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:14:53 -0800

Those cooler-than-normal tropical Pacific ocean temperatures known as La Niña are expected to weaken and dissipate this spring, government forecasters said today. La Niña or lack of it could mean good news when it comes to the upcoming hurricane season, said Mike Halpert, deputy director of... [ABC News: Top Stories] [Read More]

Russia to build powerful laser facility

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:12:43 -0800

MOSCOW, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Russia intends to build the world's most powerful laser research station at an estimated cost of $1.5 billion, a Russian nuclear official said. [UPI] [Read More]

State Dept. Cleared of Impropriety in Pipeline Case

By JOHN M. BRODER and DAN FROSCH — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:12:21 -0800

The department's inspector general found no improper political influence by officials but faulted the department's oversight of contractors who prepared an environmental impact analysis. [NYT Washington] [Read More]

Lawmakers: License plate for Giants, not 9/11

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:12:21 -0800

After team gets commemorative license plate, NY lawmakers say similar but delayed tribute to 9/11 heroes is overdue [CBSnews.com] [Read More]

Other Man in Lacrosse Murder Saw Choke Hold

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:10:36 -0800

The man whose on-and-off relationship with Yeardley Love allegedly enraged George Huguely V testified today that he once witnessed Huguely holding an hysterical Love in a choke hold. Michael Burns, a University of North Carolina lacrosse player,that he saw Huguely attacking Love after in February 2010 after hearing... [ABC News: US] [Read More]

Ex-Giffords aide to run for her House seat

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:09:48 -0800

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Ron Barber, a former aide to Gabrielle Giffords who was injured along with her in a deadly shooting last year, said on Thursday he would run in a special election to fill her seat representing southern Arizona in the House of Representatives. [Reuters - Politics News] [Read More]

Video of Chinese toddler sobbing in snow sparks outrage

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:09:27 -0800

A video of a toddler crying while running in the snow nearly naked has sparked a firestorm in China, but the boy's father says the exercise was meant to strengthen his son. [CNN.com - World] [Read More]

Police search for newborn's mom

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:08:40 -0800

PHOENIX, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Police in Phoenix are searching for the mother of a newborn girl found in front of a house wrapped in a blanket. [UPI] [Read More]

Senate transportation bill clears key hurdle

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:08:29 -0800

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan proposal for the government to spend $109 billion over two years to upgrade roads, bridges and transit systems and create jobs easily cleared a crucial hurdle in the Senate on Thursday. [Reuters - Politics News] [Read More]

Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:08:23 -0800

Syrian forces renew heavy bombardment in Homs; at least 20 people killed. [ABC News: Top Stories] [Read More]

Suge Knight arrested in Las Vegas

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:07:25 -0800

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Rap mogul Suge Knight was arrested in Las Vegas after a small amount of marijuana allegedly was found in his possession, authorities said. [UPI] [Read More]

From Armored Car Heist to Hooking Up Your Cable

foxnewsonline@foxnews.com — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:06:18 -0800

'Fast' Eddie Maher, wanted in $1.5M UK heist, is arrested in Missouri, where he now works as a cable guy Houston Mom Grabs Gun to Confront Burglars [FNC Latest Headlines] [Read More]

Coach Accused of Giving Teen 'Morning After' Pills

foxnewsonline@foxnews.com — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:06:18 -0800

Former Texas coach faces felony charges for allegedly giving student pills after she had unprotected sex POWER PLAY: Obama May Waive Away Birth-Control Rule Dispute DR. MANNY: Liberalizing 'Morning After' Pill Availability Sends Dangerous Message [FNC Latest Headlines] [Read More]