Poll: Americans favor union bargaining rights  —  MADISON, Wis. — Americans strongly oppose laws taking away the collective bargaining power of public employee unions, according to a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll.  The poll found 61% would oppose a law in their state similar to such a proposal in Wisconsin …

Emanuel Triumphs in Chicago Mayoral Race  —  CHICAGO — Rahm Emanuel, a former congressman who worked for two presidents, was elected mayor of Chicago on Tuesday, a victory that marks a new path for a city that has, for 22 years, been led by a singular, powerful force, Richard M. Daley.

Libya protests: UN Security Council condemns crackdown  —  Libyan envoy to the UN Ibrahim Dabbashi: UN condemnation “not strong enough”  —  The UN Security Council has condemned the Libyan authorities for using force against protesters, calling for those responsible to be held to account.

Federal Judge In D.C. Upholds Health Care Reform, Says Some Arguments ‘Ignore Reality’  —  A federal judge on Tuesday upheld the health care reform law signed last year by President Barack Obama and found that Congress had the clear authority to regulate health insurance under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.

Wisconsin's Walker Signs Bill Requiring 2/3 Majority for Tax Increases  —  How Wisconsin becomes California.  (photo: FredR on Flickr)  —  I got a sense from Sen. Chris Larson and some others in Wisconsin that the Governor and his Republican allies had run amok in the Capitol before attention …

W.H.: Obama won't speak on Libya  —  Jay Carney said that he didn't anticipate Obama speaking about Libya.  —  AP Photo  —  White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters on Air Force One that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will speak about Libya at 2:30 p.m. He referred questions on Libya to …

WikiLeaks Cables Detail Qaddafi Family's Exploits  —  WASHINGTON — After New Year's Day 2009, Western media reported that Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, a son of the Libyan leader Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, had paid Mariah Carey $1 million to sing just four songs at a bash on the Caribbean island of St. Barts.

Wis. Licensing Dept. Looking Into Doctors' Notes  —  UW Health Says It's Also Investigating  —  MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin officials are investigating complaints about doctors who handed out medical excuses for pro-labor protesters at the Capitol.  —  Dave Ross, of the state Department …

Newt Gingrich confronted over affair  —  PHILADELPHIA — Newt Gingrich's speech at the University of Pennsylvania Tuesday night quickly took a turn for the dramatic when the first student to question him brought up his admitted extra-marital affair and accused him of being “hypocritical” for espousing moral values.

D.C., Hawaii Still Most Approving of Obama; All States Decline  —  Approval is higher than average in 12 states plus D.C., lower than average in 18 states  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Residents of Hawaii gave native son President Barack Obama the highest average 2010 job approval rating (66%) …

Democrats trigger Statehouse showdown over anti-union legislation  —  House Democrats are leaving the state rather than vote on anti-union legislation, The Indianapolis Star has learned.  —  A source said Democrats are headed to Illinois, though it was possible some also might go to Kentucky.

GAY BLACK TEA PARTYER Attacked By Racist SEIU Activists at Denver Tea Party (Videos)  —  A pro-public union SEIU rally turned ugly today outside the Colorado Capitol in Denver.  —  The Colorado union supporters started out the day chanting, “Tax the rich!”  —  But later the unhinged SEIU thugs accosted a gay black tea partyer.

Our World: Obama's devastatingly mixed signals  —  By adopting a policy it openly hated and then condemning its own behavior, the US essentially told Israel, America is not a credible partner.  —  Talkbacks (82)  —  For better or worse, each passing day the Middle East is becoming more unstable.

Fidel Castro: US ready to order Libya invasion  —  Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro says the US has no interest in seeing peace in Libya but is solely concerned with the country's oil reserves.  —  Mr Castro, in a column published in state media, said it was too early to evaluate what was happening in Libya.

Why Cuts Don't Bring Prosperity  —  Remember the German economic boom of 2010?  —  Germany's economic growth surged in the middle of last year, causing commentators both there and here to proclaim that American stimulus had failed and German austerity had worked.