Whew: America's Candidate funded by ... US and South Carolina taxpayers  —  When Alvin Greene came out of nowhere to win the Democratic nomination to run against Jim DeMint for the Senate, people wondered how this unknown got 60% of the Democratic vote in the primary.

Box left at woman's door explodes  —  HOUSTON (KTRK) — Local and federal investigators were at a northwest Houston home Friday night where an explosion sent a woman to the hospital.  —  The woman was opening a package left at her doorstep in the 2100 block of Seamist Court Friday evening.

The Obama administration has started sending federal agents to audit records of thousands of companies, forcing businesses to fire every illegal immigrant.

Blasting right wing lies right out of the oil soaked water  —  Blamo!  —  Here's something you don't see every day: a news anchor actually challenging a lying winger on the air and then going back the next day with a thorough fact check:  —  See, it's really not that hard.  —  h/t to bb

First rig sails away over drilling ban  —  Lawmakers and experts fear loss is only the start of offshore exodus  —  WASHINGTON — Diamond Offshore announced Friday that its Ocean Endeavor drilling rig will leave the Gulf of Mexico and move to Egyptian waters immediately …

Obama's Israel policy could loom large as midterm election issue in key races  —  As the Obama administration tries to mend its strained ties with Israel, strategists say U.S. policy on the Jewish state could influence several battleground House and Senate races this fall.

Blue Suede Jihad: PJM Gets the MSM Treatment  —  A Memphis mosque turns to its dinosaur media allies over a PJM story on a Hamas fundraiser's scheduled appearance.  —  Last week, I wrote about the scheduled appearance of Sheikh Mohammed Al-Hanooti, a long-time terrorist supporter and known Hamas fundraiser …

Ivy Cred  —  OK, so the FBI has said they were Russian spies, the Russian government has said they were Russian spies, and the Russian spies have said they were Russian spies, and Vladimir Putin has cracked jokes about it.  —  That leaves ... Harvard.  The nation's premier Ivy League U.S …

Serious Questions About the Veracity of Michael Bellesiles's Latest Tale  —  A few days ago, questions were raised first by Big Journalism and then by me about a story that Michael Bellesiles published in the June 27th issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education: Teaching Military History in a Time of War.

Mehserle apologizes - Grant family unimpressed  —  (07-09) 16:28 PDT OAKLAND — While the jury was deliberating his fate, former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle crafted a handwritten statement in which he apologized for the first time for shooting Oscar Grant, saying he will be forever haunted by Grant's dying words.

University of Illinois Instructor Fired Over Catholic Beliefs  —  URBANA, Ill. — The University of Illinois has fired an adjunct professor who taught courses on Catholicism after a student accused the instructor of engaging in hate speech by saying he agrees with the church's teaching that homosexual sex is immoral.

Senate Democrats yet to lock down votes for financial regulations bill  —  As he shepherded a far-reaching and ever-expanding bill to remake financial regulations through the Senate during the past year, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd uttered the same warning again and again: Nothing's finished until everything is finished.

Clinton to Perform Weiner Wedding  —  Bill Clinton is not giving away his daughter Chelsea's hand in marriage for another three weeks.  But he is going to get a little practice at the altar on Saturday, when he officiates at the wedding of Representative Anthony D. Weiner and Huma Abedin …

First Family To Vacation In Maine  —  Obamas Will Visit Acadia National Park  —  WASHINGTON — The first family's summer vacation plans will include a trip to Maine.  —  The White House says the Obamas will travel next Friday to Mount Desert Island, which is home to Acadia National Park.

Bay Bank, FSB, Lutherville, Maryland, Assumes all of the Deposits of Bay National Bank, Baltimore, Maryland  —  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  —  Bay National Bank, Baltimore, Maryland, was closed today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver.