Kentucky bridge collapses after being struck by cargo ship

AURORA, Ky. (Associated Press) – Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear on Friday promised speedy work to begin replacing a bridge that partially collapsed when it was struck by a cargo ship too tall to pass beneath the structure.

Two spans of the Eggner Ferry Bridge at US 68 and Kentucky 80 were destroyed Thursday night by the Delta Mariner. No injuries were reported on the bridge or in the boat.

The ship was traveling upriver toward the Kentucky Lock and Dam when it hit the aging steel bridge, which was built in the 1930s and handles about 2,800 vehicles a day.

17-Year-Old Girl Lived on Chicken Nugget Diet for 15 Years, is Rushed to Hospital

(By Eric Limer, Geekosystem) - 17-year-old Stacey Irvine of Castle Vale, Birmingham was living the dream until just recently; she’d been subsisting on a diet primarily composed of McDonald’s chicken nuggets, sometimes — but rarely — straying from the staple for some KFC or a piece of toast. Just recently, however, it all caught up to her when she had trouble breathing and collapsed. She was taken to the hospital where doctors found swollen blood vessels in her tongue and the prescense of anaemia and promptly loaded her up with vitamins. Considering she has had neither fruit nor vegetable — outside of ketchup, maybe — in 15 years, it’s a small miracle she didn’t also have scurvy.

MSNBC Analyst Compares AZ Governor To Segregation-Era Racist Screaming At Black Kids

(Breitbart.tv) - MSNBC analyst Melissa Harris-Perry appeared on "The Last Word" with Lawrence O'Donnell Thursday night to discuss the confrontation between AZ Governor Jan Brewer and President Barack Obama that occurred Wednesday afternoon.

Not surprisingly, Harris-Perry is sure that racial animus motivated the Governor's behavior.

Howard Coble Will Seek Reelection in Sixth District

GREENSBORO, NC (WGHP) — U.S. Representative Howard Coble announced Friday he will seek reelection in the 6th district.

Coble, 80, has represented the 6th district since 1985. He will be campaigning for his 15th term in Congress.

President Obama leaves event promoting clean energy in a motorcade of 22 fossil-fueled vehicles

Fox Nation: Biden Does Fake Indian Accent During Outsourcing Speech?

BIDEN: Even call centers, even call centers rushed over seas, hundreds of thousands. How many times you get the call, ‘I like to talk to you about your credit card’? Or that ad on TV, what is it? ‘Nancy, this is Nancy, can I talk to a supervisor?’ Right? Ok? Well, it’s a little overdone but the truth of the matter is these jobs now are paying about $19.50 an hour if memory serves me.

While at a jobs event in Rochester, New Hampshire: VP Joe Biden uses an Indian accent to imitate call service employees. (1/26/2012)

Democratic lawmaker likens GOP to terrorists for legislative tactics

(By NBC's Frank Thorp) - A senior Democratic congressman likened Republican lawmakers to terrorists on Thursday for their insistence on tying approval of construction of a new oil pipeline to must-pass legislation.

California Rep. Henry Waxman, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the coauthor of the 2009 cap-and-trade climate change bill, decried efforts by the GOP to force the Obama administration into approving a permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline.

"They want to use legislation as a way to act like terrorists. They hold things as hostage," Waxman said. "We almost couldn't fund the government because Republicans wanted to hold that idea hostage, we almost couldn't pay our debts because the Republicans wanted to hold that legislation hostage to their extreme agenda, and I wouldn't be surprised if they scuttled this conference by trying to hold us hostage."

Obama: Bush Is the Food Stamp President, Not Me

President Obama: I Want Second Term 'Badly'



(By Devin Dwyer, ABC News) - President Barack Obama today signaled an aggressive tact for his early re-election campaign, critiquing his Republican opponents by name and insisting he's ready to "fight with every fiber of my being" for a second term.

"How much do you want it?" ABC News' Diane Sawyer asked Obama during an exclusive interview in Las Vegas.

"Badly," the president said, "because I think the country needs it."

"Whoever wins the Republican primary is going to be a standard bearer for a vision of the country that I don't think reflects who we are," Obama said.

"I'm going to fight as hard as I can with every fiber of my being to make sure that we continue on a path that I think will restore the American dream," he said.

Obama pushed back against what he called Republicans' "rhetorical flourishes," including Newt Gingrich's oft-repeated contention that Obama is the "food stamp president."

"First of all, I don't put people on food stamps," Obama said. "People become eligible for food stamps. Second of all, the initial expansion of food-stamp eligibility happened under my Republican predecessor, not under me. No. 3, when you have a disastrous economic crash that results in 8 million people losing their jobs, more people are going to need more support from government."

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High School Teacher Refuses To Accept MLK Award From Paul Ryan

"Paul Ryan has no business at a MLK event."

Hillary: I’m Done With ‘High Wire Of American Politics’

(Breitbart.tv) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told State Department employees Thursday that she will not stay on the job if President Obama wins re-election.

Video: Romney vs. Newt on immigration, Santorum vs. Romney on RomneyCare

(By Allahpundit, Hot Air) - Two highlights of the evening, both via BuzzFeed. Remind me again, what’s the evidence from this interminable debate series that Newt would totally OWN Obama in the debates this fall? He’s had two memorable moments, one attacking Juan Williams and the other attacking John King, neither of whom is actually running for president. All day long we heard about how angry he was on the stump about Romney’s Freddie Mac hypocrisy and his secret bank accounts and his richie-rich richness, and how Newt was spoiling for a fight. So what ended up happening? Romney neutralized him on the big immigration exchange at the beginning, and then it fell to Santorum — for the second debate in a row — to pick Romney apart on his core policy vulnerability. (He did a darned fine job of it too.) If you’re operating under the illusion that the election will turn on the presidential debates in October, kindly explain why Gingrich is somehow superior to Santorum. He wouldn’t even accept Blitzer’s invite to hit Romney on his Swiss bank account even though he’s been criticizing him on the trail for it for days. The hapless moderator/punching bag had to badger him into answering. Mystifying. Didn’t Newt realize that the primary was on the line tonight?

You’ll be pleased to know that Romney is now a 91 percent favorite to win Florida on InTrade as I write this, up from 74 percent earlier today. Stats guru Nate Silver thinks it’s possible that Romney wins by double digits, perhaps by as much as 20 points. And why not? After Santorum’s strong performance tonight, there are bound to be tepid Newt fans and true undecideds who prefer him as the anointed Not Romney and will start peeling away tomorrow. Who could blame them?

Exit question: Did Brett O’Donnell just cinch the nomination for Romney?





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Perdue Shocker Creates More Work

RALEIGH (By John Hood, Carolina Journal Online) – When North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue rocked the political establishment January 26 by announcing her plans not to run for reelection, she made history. Since the state constitution was changed to allow Jim Hunt to seek a second term in 1980, each North Carolina governor has served eight years at a time.

In addition to making history, Perdue’s announcement will make state and national politicians do a bit more work this week than originally planned. Potential rivals for the Democratic nomination will scramble to assess their chances and, if favorable, set up campaigns. Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, whom Perdue narrowly defeated in 2008, will have to reshape his 2012 strategy to account for a different opponent.

Even the groups for and against same-sex marriage will have to refashion their strategies for the May 8 referendum on a proposed constitutional amendment. They were assuming that the primary date would either be a low-turnout affair or, if the Republican presidential campaign remained unsettled, attract a GOP-leaning electorate. Now the prospect of a contested Democratic primary for governor changes the calculation.

Liberal Rep Barney Frank (D-MA) to marry longtime partner

(NECN) - Congressman Barney Frank's office has confirmed that the retiring 71-year-old Representative is marrying is longtime partner, Jim Ready, in a Massachusetts ceremony. A date has not been set.

In November 2011, Frank announced he would retire from Congress at the conclusion of his current term in 2013.

Frank has served as a U.S. Representative for Massachusetts since 1981, and is considered the most prominent gay politician in the U.S.

36 Obama aides owe $833,000 in back taxes

(By Andrew Malcolm, Investors.com) - How embarrassing this must be for President Obama, whose major speech theme so far this campaign season has been that every single American, no matter how rich, should pay their "fair share" of taxes.

Because how unfair -- indeed, un-American -- it is for an office worker like, say, Warren Buffet's secretary to dutifully pay her taxes, while some well-to-do people with better educations and higher incomes end up paying a much smaller tax rate.

Or, worse, skipping their taxes altogether.

A new report just out from the Internal Revenue Service reveals that 36 of President Obama's executive office staff owe the country $833,970 in back taxes. These people working for Mr. Fair Share apparently haven't paid any share, let alone their fair share.

Howard Dean, Joe Scarborough trade fire on air

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

(By TIM MAK, Politico) - A passionate Joe Scarborough went on an extended rant about education reform Thursday, shouting down former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and accusing him of lying about the role Democrats have played in obstructing progress in the schools.

“The fact of the matter is, the system is broken and it has been the Democratic establishment over the past generation that’s been defending that broken status quo,” said Scarborough on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

Despite Unfair Tax Burden, Warren Buffett's Secretary Was Just Able To Buy A Second Home

(The Smoking Gun) - Despite a heavy tax burden, Warren Buffett’s secretary last year was able to purchase a second home in Arizona, a residence complete with a swimming pool and a “professional PGA putting green,” according to real estate records.

Debra Bosanek, 55, and her husband Gerald bought the 2100-square-foot home in Surprise, a city outside Phoenix. The Bosaneks paid $144,000 for the four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath property (the purchase was financed, in part, by a $115,200 mortgage).

The principal Bosanek residence is in Bellevue, Nebraska, several miles from Buffett’s corporate headquarters in Omaha. The couple’s 2568-square-foot home, built in 2000, also has four bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. But the modest property, which Sarpy County assessors last year valued at $217,716, offers no outdoor amenities for swimmers or golfers.

Bosanek, who last night attended the State of the Union speech, has become the face of President Barack Obama’s so-called Buffett Rule, which contends that the secretary of a wealthy individual should not pay a higher tax rate than their boss.

Woman Drives on Snow-Covered Median at Highway Speeds: ‘Lights Are on But Nobody’s Home’

(By Liz Klimas, The Blaze) - Morning rush hour earlier this week in a Pennsylvania township was a bit scary — and confusing — for commuters as the watched a 2009 Kia drive at highway speeds on the I-81 snow-covered median.

Watch the footage shot on a cell phone (Warning: Some strong language):

AZ Gov. Jan Brewer Talks About Heated Argument With Obama: ‘He Didn’t Feel I Had Treated Him Cordially’

(By Tiffany Gabbay, The Blaze) - Upon deplaning Air Force One for his fifth official visit to Arizona, President Barack Obama was greeted by Governor Jan Brewer.

According to KFYI, Brewer handed the president a handwritten letter, they spoke and at one point she pointed her finger at him. It seemed they were talking over each other, then Obama appeared to walk away from the governor while she was still talking.

Newt Flashback 1988: ‘If Bush Runs As Continuation Of Reaganism He Will Lose’

(Breitbart.tv) - In 1988 Rep. Newt Gingrich offered his expert political analysis of Vice President George H. W. Bush's election strategy.

Despite this prediction, Mr. Bush did run as a continuation of the Reagan years and did ride that strategy to victory over Gov. Michael Dukakis.

Video: Team Gingrich concedes claim on offering ABC “friends” rebutting ex-wife “wrong”

(By Ed Morrissey, Hot Air) - Better get used to seeing this, because I 'guarantee' you it will come up in tonight’s debate:

After nearly a week on the defensive, CNN’s John King reports tonight that Newt Gingrich’s claim about offering witnesses to ABC News in his defense — to rebut the network’s interview with his second wife, Marianne Gingrich — was not true.

“Tonight, after persistent questioning by our staff, the Gingrich campaign concedes now Speaker Gingrich was wrong — both in his debate answer, and in our interview yesterday,” King said on tonight’s edition of John King USA. “Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond says the only people the Gingrich campaign offered to ABC were his two daughters from his first marriage.”

Al Sharpton Ignores Tea Party Congressman Repeatedly Asking ‘What’s Your Income?’

(By Frances Martel, Mediaite) - Mitt Romney‘s tax returns provided at least one commentator plenty of fodder to feed his theory that the tax rates are unfair in this country: Al Sharpton, who invited on his program today Tea Party Congressman Rep. Tim Huelskamp for a spirited debate on social justice. It was the sort of debate where short questions were thrown in each other’s general direction but went, as ships passing in the night, equally unanswered. The two main questions: from Rev. Sharpton: “Is it fair?” after a number of statistics on tax rates that Rep. Huelskamp labeled untruths; and from Rep. Huelskamp: “What’s your income?”

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Liberal Rep Brad Miller (D-NC) Will Not Seek Re-election

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — U.S. Rep. Brad Miller says he will not seek re-election this year to the 13th Congressional District seat he's held since 2002.

Miller's office issued a statement Thursday morning saying he wants to avoid running against fellow Democrat David Price in a primary after the Republican-controlled Legislature drew them into the same district.

Miller says he does not have an agreement with Price to step down and run again in two years when Price is expected to retire.

Miller says he will continue to press hard for reform of the banking industry. He says he's also hopeful of getting legislation approved to provide compensation for victims of contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.

Miller planned to meet with reporters later Thursday to discuss his decision.

45k Dogs, Cats Euthanized in Year at Triad Animal Shelters

STOKES COUNTY, NC (WGHP) — Sarah Johnson and three coworkers at the Stokes County Animal Shelter euthanize pets every day, but they said it never gets easier emotionally.

"I don't think everybody is aware of how big the problem is and the pain it causes," said Johnson, a life-long florist who became an animal control officer at age 54.

Records from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture show Triad shelters put down more than 45,000 dogs and cats in 2010, the latest numbers available. That averages to one animal every 12 minutes.

Report: NC Gov Bev Perdue Will Not Seek Reelection in 2012

WASHINGTON (WGHP) — North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue is set to announce Thursday that she will not seek reelection in 2012, according to the Washington Post.

Sources told the paper she labored over the decision over the past few months. Perdue, who turned 65 earlier this month, was set for a rematch of her 2008 race with former Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory (R).

Perdue's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to the report, names that are likely to be bandied about as possible Democratic replacements include Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, Attorney General Roy Cooper, former White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles and Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx.

Perdue was elected in 2008.

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