Does Ryan plan cause self-rationing?  - Coburn: Drop the riders - BCBSA tracks exchange bills - Arizona ‘no’ to waiver - Women's health rally on the hill  —  **With reporting contributions from J. Lester Feder and David Nather  —  CLOSING IN ON A BUDGET DEAL?

Winnebago County vote-count change alters Supreme Court race  —  By Sharif Durhams of the Journal Sentinel  —  The latest vote count in the state Supreme Court race in Winnebago County indicates incumbent David Prosser is leading Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg in votes.

Pence Lets Truth Slip On Uncompromising Stance: 'We're Trying To Score A Victory For The Republican People'  —  The federal government appears to be hurtling towards a shutdown following the inability of congressional negotiators to reach a compromise last night on a continuing resolution.

Obama Hits Losing Trifecta In Florida, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Increased Support For Offshore Drilling  —  President Barack Obama hits a losing trifecta with Florida voters: They disapprove 52 - 44 percent of the job he is doing; they prefer an unnamed Republican challenger …

First homosexual caveman found  —  Archaeologists have unearthed the 5,000-year-old remains of what they believe may have been the world's oldest known gay caveman.  —  The male body - said to date back to between 2900-2500BC - was discovered buried in a way normally reserved only for women …

Obama friend arrested in Hawaii  —  (CNN) - A friend of President Barack Obama was arrested Monday for allegedly soliciting sex from an undercover officer posing as a prostitute, according to CNN affiliate Hawaii News Now.  —  Robert Richard Titcomb, 49, was arrested with three …

Iron Dome intercepts first rocket  —  Ashkelon residents report seeing Grad explode in midair as dozens of rockets fired at south, meanwhile Hamas says Israel taking advantage of Goldstone's regret over Gaza war report to bomb Strip  —  Latest Update:  —  Residents in Ashkelon reported …

The fiscal purists go mad  —  A quarrel over ethanol lays bare Republican divisions on tax  —  IT IS bad enough that Republicans and Democrats are so divided on how much to spend and tax.  But if you want to feel really gloomy about America's ability to tackle its deficit, consider the ideological …

Cathleen Black Is Out as City Schools Chancellor  —  Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Walcott at a news conference at which he was introduced as the new schools chancellor by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.  Cathleen P. Black stepped down from the position Thursday.  —  Cathleen P. Black …

Riders Caused The Storm: Government Shutdown Looms Over Anti-Abortion And Anti-EPA Measures  —  If a government shutdown happens, it'll be because Republicans are demanding policy restrictions in addition to spending cuts before agreeing to fund the government through September.

General: U.S. may consider troops in Libya  —  Army Gen. Carter Ham says ground forces wouldn't be ideal, but may be a possible way to aid rebels; Says current operation largely stalemated  —  WASHINGTON - The United States may consider sending troops into Libya with a possible international ground force …

Nancy Pelosi's absurd math on senior citizens losing their meals  —  “In one of the bills before us, 6 million seniors are deprived of meals — homebound seniors are deprived of meals.  People ask us to find our common ground, the middle ground.  Is middle ground 3 million seniors not receiving meals?

The G.O.P.'s Dukakis Problem  —  The Republican Party's presidential-nominating process has always been run by elites.  Oh, the voters have their brief moments of triumph, hoisting up an unelectable right-winger (i.e., Pat Buchanan) or an uncontrollable moderate (John McCain, the circa-2000 version).

Mario Cuomo Still Believes  —  You would think that Mario Cuomo would have been proud to watch his son Andrew sworn in as governor of New York last New Year's Eve, ascending to the job his old man held for 12 years.  Apparently, you would be wrong.  —  “You really want to know how I felt?” the elder Cuomo asked me last month.

I Can't Help Myself  —  Sullivan: … The Ryan/GOP Plan, as has been pointed out to Sullivan a hundred times now with little to no effect, slashes taxes by trillions and makes up for those tax cuts by slashing trillions in services to our neediest members of society.

Military: No problems prepping for end to 'don't ask, don't tell'  —  Washington (CNN) — Preparations for repealing the “don't ask, don't tell” policy that bans openly gay people from the military have gone better than expected so far, military leaders told a House committee Thursday.