It's All Politics
1:06 pm
Tue February 7, 2012

Why Missouri Voters Have The 'Beauty Contest' Blues

There's no waiting in line at O'Fallon City Hall. A half-dozen election volunteers have been eagerly hoping that more people will turn up for Tuesday's Republican primary.

After five hours, they've seen a grand total of 33 voters. Normally, the City Hall precinct gets about 250 people to turn out for a primary.

"We haven't had many," says Vince Scully, a retired printer and election official. As for a late rush in the evening, he says, "We won't have that today."

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Education
1:00 pm
Tue February 7, 2012

Staff Removed From L.A. School With Sex Abuse Charges

The L.A. Unified School District is replacing the entire staff of the elementary school at the center of a growing sex abuse scandal. Two teachers from Miramonte Elementary have been arrested on suspicions of abusing and conducting lewd acts on children.

The Two-Way
12:55 pm
Tue February 7, 2012

Flipping 'The Bird' Just Isn't Obscene Anymore, Law Professor Argues

Credit Christopher Polk / Getty Images
M.I.A.'s now famous finger during halftime of the Super Bowl.
(Note: This is a post about obscenity. Proceed with caution if the subject bothers you.)

We've got one more thing to say about "the bird" and singer M.I.A.'s flipping of her middle finger on national TV during Sunday's halftime show at the Super Bowl.

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Living on Earth
12:27 pm
Tue February 7, 2012

Microbes Transform Wastewater to Energy

Credit Photo by Lisa Raffensperger
The wastewater treatment plant at Penn State.

Wed. 2/08 8a: At Penn State, engineers are creating a promising new energy technology. They’ve designed a microbial fuel cell, using bacteria to clean wastewater and produce electricity. 

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Native America Calling
12:23 pm
Tue February 7, 2012

For the Love of Chocolate

Credit Photo by Siona Karen

Wed. 2/08 11a: Often the word chocolate can garner a smile at almost any given moment. The silky flow of its rich flavor has captivated our senses for centuries. 

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Art of the Song
12:16 pm
Tue February 7, 2012

Ian Moore

Wed. 2/08 10p: Austin based guitarist songwriter best known for his blues infused rock n roll guitar. Moore opened for the Rolling Stones and worked as Joe Ely's guitar player for many years. 

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It's All Politics
11:54 am
Tue February 7, 2012

Poll: Majority Of Voters Support Birth-Control Benefit Rule

The Obama administration's controversial decision to require religiously affiliated institutions like universities and medical centers to provide workers with health insurance that covers prescription birth control without a co-pay appears to have support from a majority of voters, according to a new poll by Public Policy Polling.

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It's All Politics
11:10 am
Tue February 7, 2012

For Obama, The SuperPAC Rubber Has Met The Road

Originally published on Tue August 7, 2012 1:41 pm

The late conservative writer William F. Buckley Jr. once said that "idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive."

That seems to be the political calculation being made by President Obama and his campaign team when it comes to opposing superPACs.

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The Two-Way
11:01 am
Tue February 7, 2012

California's Same-Sex Marriage Ban Is Unconstitutional, Court Says

Credit Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
At the top: Proposition 8's supporters (who oppose same-sex marriage). Below: Proposition 8's opponents. Outside the court today in San Francisco.

Originally published on Tue February 7, 2012 4:26 pm

California's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriages is unconstitutional, a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today in a much-anticipated decision from the nation's most populous state. The judges upheld a lower court's ruling.

As you'd expect, the ruling has drawn praise from those who support same-sex marriage and condemnation from those who oppose it. Both sides acknowledge that the decision isn't the last word on the subject — an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is expected.

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The Two-Way
10:45 am
Tue February 7, 2012

Ticker-Tape Sure Sounds Better Than 'Recycled Unprinted Newspaper' Parade

Originally published on Tue February 7, 2012 11:59 am

Ah, the ticker-tape parade.

A celebration of heroes. A welcome home for champions. An outpouring of joy.

And since the late '60s, a ticker-tapeless affair.

As the NFL champion New York Giants parade Broadway's Canyon of Heroes today in the 200th-or-so "ticker-tape parade," let's take a moment to consider just what is floating down from buildings above.

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