• 1

  8 minutes ago

  Romney and Santorum Spar in Arizona Debate

  

  AP
  Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum began their sparring match as soon as the twentieth GOP debate of the election season began Wednesday night. The two frontrunners, neck and neck six days ahead of the next pair of primaries in Arizona and Michigan, traded criticism over budgets, earmarks and which man was the most fiscally conservative in rapid-fire exchanges. The topic of birth control took center stage in the first hour of debate with the four candidates uniting in their disapproval of Planned Parenthood. On immigration—a divisive issue in Arizona where the CNN is being held–Ron Paul suggested the country invest more money on border security and cut "welfare" incentives for illegal immigrants. Newt Gingrich touted proposals for a double fence, Romney praised Arizona for their law that requires employers to verify their employees' employment status and Santorum, the most moderate of the four, said that he stood by deportation of illegal immigrants. Get More at MSNBC
• 2

  2 hours ago

  Former Va. Lacrosse Player Found Guilty of Slaying Ex

  
  After nine hours of deliberation, a Virginia jury found George Hugely, an ex-University of Virginia lacrosse player, guilty of second degree murder in the killing of his ex-girlfriend days before her graduation in 2010. The 24-year-old could face up to 40 years in prison for killing Yeardley Love, whom he was dating in 2010 when, prosecutors say, he beat her to death in an alcohol-fueled rage. The verdict came after a two-week trial that focused on how Love had died. Hugely admitted to grabbing her by the neck and wrestling her to the floor, but claimed she hit her own head. Medical examiners said she died from blunt force trauma to her head and Hughely's defense attorneys told jurors that while he may have played a role in Love's death, it was tragically unintentional. Get More at MSNBC
• 3

  3 hours ago

  Romney Gains Ground in New Polls

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  Get More at MSNBC
• 4

  2 hours ago

  Senators, Media Companies Receive Threatening Letters

  

  Getty Images
  The FBI and NYPD launched an investigation after U.S. lawmakers and media companies recieved letters that claim to contain hazardous pathogens. The letters, which are believed to have been sent from Oregon, claim they were sent to every U.S. senator and various media companies. Law enforcement officials told NBC New York that Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, The New York Times, Fox News and NPR received letters expressing anger about the economy and corporate greed. Some letters contained a powdery substance, which was found to be harmless. The Sergeant-of-Arms, the top law enforcement agent for the Senate, sent a letter to Hill staffers instructing them to use caution and report any suspicious mail. Get More at MSNBC
• 5

  2 hours ago

  FDA Panel Recommends Approval of Diet Drug

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  Get More at MSNBC
• 6

  6 hours ago

  Romney Proposes 20% Tax Cut For All Ahead of Debate

  

  AP
  Mitt Romney announced a plan that would reduce the income tax rate for all Americans by 20 percent, hours ahead of a Wednesday CNN debate and six days ahead of primary contests in two states. The plan would cut the individual tax rate for top earners to 28 percent from 35 percent and would be funded through spending cuts and the elimination of deductions and exemptions for the highest earning Americans. He insisted the cuts would not add to the deficit, though was not able to provide specifics on spending cuts. The Obama administration, which proposed its own tax overhaul Wednesday, preemptively responded to Romney's plan, casting doubt on his deficit assurances. President Obama's plan would slash the top corporate tax rate to 28 percent from 35 percent by eliminating a series of loopholes and subsidies. Get More at MSNBC
• 7

  2 hours ago

  US, French Journalists Killed in Syria

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  Get More at MSNBC
• 8

  2 hours ago

  9-Year-Old in Custody After Elementary School Shooting in Washington

  

  Getty Images / Scott Olson
  An 8-year-old girl was shot on Wednesday at an elementary school in East Bremerton, Washington, in what school officials described as an accident. Another third-grader, believed to be the shooter, is in police custody. The shooting occurred at about 1:30 p.m. just as students were being dismissed. The victim, whose name was not released, was airlifted to a trauma center in Seattle in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the stomach. The gun was detained in another classroom and the suspected shooter, a 9-year-old boy, was held for questioning. This is the second time a gun was brought to a Kitsap County School this year. In October police arrested two 10-year-old boys for bringing a loaded gun to another elementary school in October, according to The News Tribune. Get More at MSNBC
• 9

  Feb 22, 01:10PM

    I'm tired of Rick Santorum pretending he's some kind of DC outsider   — Donald Trump Speaking on behalf of Mitt Romney for a Michigan "robo-call"
• 10

  5 hours ago

  49 Dead, More Than 600 Injured in Argentina Train Wreck

  

  AP
  Forty-nine morning commuters were killed and more than 600 were injured Wednesday when a packed train slammed into a barrier at the end of a station platform in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s transportation secretary said. The incident is Argentina's worst train accident in decades, Reuters reports. The death toll—which includes one child—is Argentina's highest from a train accident since the 1970 Benavidez rail disaster, which killed 200. "There are people still trapped,” J.P. Schiavi told reporters. Witnesses told local media that the train did not appear to break as it approached Once station, CNN reported. Get More at MSNBC
• 11

  4 hours ago

  Va. House Passes Amended Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Bill

  

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  Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has reversed his decision on a controversial bill that would require women to have a vaginal ultrasound before an abortion. Following a strong backlash from protesters, who objected to the invasive nature of the procedure, McDonnell said he would ask for only a transabdominal, or external ultrasound before abortion. The Virginia House passed the revised bill Wednesday though the Senate is expected to strike it down. The ultrasound, which shows an image of a developing fetus, is intended to give women a chance to rethink their decision to terminate their pregnancy. Abortion, birth control and religion have become central topics along the campaign trail over the last few weeks, sparking passionate debate that's extended through all levels of government. President Obama recently faced off with Catholic advocacy groups over birth control legislation, which his administration ultimately watered down. Get More at MSNBC
• 12

  Feb 22, 10:03AM

  Rising Poll Numbers Are Sweet Music to Obama

  

  Getty Images
  President Barack Obama’s rising poll numbers and a surging stock market has given him something to sing about. The commander-in-chief tops 50 percent support against each of his GOP presidential rivals in head-to-head matchups, according to a new Associated Press-Gfk poll. On Wednesday, the Dow hit the psychologically significant 13,000 mark for the first time since May 2008. Hours later a beaming president was persuaded to join in on a blues jam with B.B. King and Mick Jagger at the White House. It was a reprise of his singing performance of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” last month at New York’s Apollo Theater. Check out the president showing off his pipes on “Sweet Home Chicago” by clicking below. "Singer in chief, for sure," noted the Obama campaign's Tumblr account, Politico reported. Get More at MSNBC