A three-day-long stand-off at the Wisconsin state capitol between union supporters and those backing the Republican governor’s budget cuts just went to another level Thursday as Democratic senators apparently fled the area to prevent a vote on Gov. Scott Walker’s budget-repair bill, which would cut public employee union collective bargaining rights and require them to contribute to pensions and health care. (more)
A young man who claims he routinely held a handgun to his older wife’s head during roleplaying sex now faces murder charges after the gun went off and killed her. (more)
1.) Michael Steele decides that he has done enough damage to the RNC — It appears that RNC Chairman Michael Steele spent some time reviewing his contributions to the health and wealth of the Republican Party this past weekend. What else could have catalyzed his decision–forthcoming tonight, a little birdie told FOX News–to not run for a second term as RNC failman? According to FOX, Steele “sent an e-mail to committee members Saturday night with the subject line, ‘conference call,’ in which “he asked members to join him ‘for a private conference call’ Monday evening.” Perhaps Steele will review his greatest hits before bowing out? Or maybe he has plans to anoint a successor! All we know is that the field of Steele challengers (Reince Priebus, Ann Wagner, Maria Cino, Saul Anuzis, and Gentry Collins, oh my!) will all need to find new campaign slogans: “I’m NOT Michael Steele” isn’t going to cut it now! (more)
BARTLESVILLE, Oklahoma — A 41-year-old Bartlesville man being arraigned in Washington County District Court Monday for DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, driving under suspension and assault on a police officer was re-arrested for reportedly being drunk after he fell down before the judge. (more)
Despite the fact that the Republican caucus has sworn off earmarks, the Senate failed this week to receive the necessary 2/3 majority for a legislative ban on earmarks. A silly narrative emerged prior to this vote warning cities of all shapes and sizes that they would suffer colossal funding losses if earmark reform was enacted. Lacking in this analysis were basic facts that everyone should know. (more)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama-Auburn has always been one of the most storied rivalries in college football, in a class with Ohio State-Michigan, Texas-Oklahoma and Florida-Georgia as the best in the country. (more)
Karina Smirnoff is set to take a spin down the aisle. (more)
Trent Lott, the former senate majority leader from Mississippi, made news last summer when he said this of incoming tea party-backed senators: “As soon as they get here, we need to co-opt them.” Lott’s words have since been held up as evidence that the Republican establishment in Washington is corrupt and out of touch – as case made most recently by Sen. Jim DeMint, in a widely-read op-ed that ran in Wednesday’s Wall St. Journal. (more)
A group vowing to fight “Islamofascism” has launched a media blitz in Oklahoma supporting a state constitutional amendment that would prohibit the courts from considering Islamic or other international law when ruling on cases in Sooner State courtrooms. (more)
The first BCS standings are out and Boise State is already chasing a couple of teams from the power conferences. (more)
What kind of a person steals a donut from a car, proceeds to pull down her pants and urinate in a parking lot, and, when being questioned by cops, offers to perform a sex act on the officer for $80? (more)
The games over the weekend didn’t have the buildup of those on Sept. 11. (more)
Lest you think there’d ever be a “Real Housewives” hiatus in your life, think again! Bravo is taking viewers into the zany, palm tree-lined world of rich women ( or “woman,” if you’re Danielle Staub) in Beverly Hills. Vivian Ward, your strut down Rodeo Drive will now be considered child’s play. The network officially announced Wednesday the bevy of ladies of the newest edition to the franchise (but if you’re a ShowTracker reader, you’re already familiar with the names). (more)
Gold Star father, George Lutz, is a man on a mission. He wants to ensure that all American soldiers killed in battle are honored with a national flag to serve as a visible reminder of their sacrifice. (more)
Experienced political operatives often refer to the “T” in Pennsylvania. This has nothing to do with a beverage or new political movement and everything to do with the socio-economic demographics of the Commonwealth. The supposed wisdom of the “T” theory is that Pennsylvania is made up of the sophisticated, that’s political-speak for moderate/liberal, elements in and around Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and divided by Alabama across the northern tier and down the middle of the state. No offense to Alabama, but I think the implication of the theory is that most of Pennsylvania is a bunch of blue collar, white, rednecks. (more)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia student managers, graduate assistants and other non-coaching staff worked with football players on their skills and techniques in violation of NCAA limits during the Rich Rodriguez era and under current coach Bill Stewart, according to NCAA allegations released Thursday. (more)
The federal government may have taken BP to the cleaners for the oil spill on the Gulf Coast, but taxpayers are still footing the bill for a BP energy plant on the other side of the country. (more)
Hundreds of federal employees may have improperly reaped millions in Social Security disability benefits, according to a government watchdog that caught workers at several major agencies pocketing fraudulent payments. (more)
In 1971, the environmental organization Keep America Beautiful launched a Public Service Announcement featuring a crying Indian lamenting the litter that supposedly coated America’s landscape. If in the 1970s the crying Indian was tearing up over some Coke cans on the bank of a river, today he would be sobbing at the environmental devastation occurring on the U.S.-Mexico border due to illegal immigration. (more)
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