Witness to a shelling: first-hand account of deadly strike on Gaza port  —  There is a deafening explosion, then a second.  Four children are dead.  Four survivors reach the safety of our hotel  —  The retaining wall of Gaza's harbour sticks out into the Mediterranean about 100 metres …

Democrats fail in attempt to reverse Hobby Lobby contraceptive ruling  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Republicans have blocked a bill aimed at restoring free contraception for women who get their health insurance from companies that object on religious grounds.

How Americans Feel About Religious Groups  —  Jews, Catholics & Evangelicals Rated Warmly, Atheists and Muslims More Coldly  —  Jews, Catholics and evangelical Christians are viewed warmly by the American public.  When asked to rate each group on a “feeling thermometer” ranging from 0 to 100 …

Pelosi, in Reversal, Says She Opposes Speeding Child Deportations  —  WASHINGTON — Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the House Democratic leader, reversed course on Wednesday and said she would not back changes to a 2008 law that gave certain undocumented immigrant children broader legal rights to enter the United States.

O'Malley , Obama administration spar over immigration policies  —  Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) appears to be facing the consequences of sharply challenging the Obama administration's efforts to deal with an influx of immigrant children who have crossed the border into this country unaccompanied.

The Continuing Agonies of the Super-Rich  —  As we well know by now, being rich in America is tough.  Imagine driving your Porsche out the Goldman Sachs garage, intent on a relaxing weekend at your Hamptons retreat, only to find some wretched Occupy sympathizer giving you a dirty look through …

Federal judge rules California death penalty is unconstitutional  —  A federal judge in Orange County ruled Wednesday that California's death penalty violates the U.S. Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.  —  U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney, ruled on a petition …

The Coming Democratic Schism  —  There is a striking generational split in the Democratic electorate.  —  This deepening division is apparent in a June Pew Research Center survey of more than 10,000 people, “Beyond Red vs. Blue.”  The Pew survey points up the emergence of a cohort …

FEDS TO OPEN $50 MILLION RESORT FOR ILLEGAL CHILDREN - Complete With Tennis Courts, Sauna & Pools (Updated)  —  Welcome to America!  —  The Obama administration has awarded a $50 million contract to a charitable group to buy a Texas resort hotel and transform it in to a 600 bed facility for juvenile illegal aliens.

Decriminalization arrives, and D.C. police prepare for sea change in marijuana laws  —  On Wednesday, a D.C. cop who catches someone carrying a small amount of marijuana is required to launch his suspect on an onerous journey through the criminal justice system — one likely to involve handcuffs, fingerprinting and forensic analysis.

The 7 Ugliest Government Buildings In Washington, D.C.  —  There are many gorgeous buildings in D.C.  —  Unfortunately for us, in the '60s and '70s, the federal government only hired architects with early onset glaucoma.  —  7. Welcome to the U.S. Post Office building!

Iggy Azalea's post-racial mess: America's oldest race tale, remixed  —  As a white female rapper mistakes appropriation for artistry, here's how black women remain pushed to the sidelines  —  Recently, my nine year-old nephew came running into the room, eager to find a seat to watch a performance by Iggy Azalea on an awards show.

Surge of Central American Children Roils U.S. Immigration Debate  —  Obama Job Rating Steady, No Change in Economic Views  —  As the president and Congress struggle over how to deal with the influx of thousands of unaccompanied minors from Central America across the U.S.-Mexican border …

Justice IRS probe also includes Lois Lerner emails  —  The Justice Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the lost Lois Lerner emails, the department said Wednesday night.  —  Deputy Attorney General James Cole, in testimony slated for the House Oversight Committee Thursday morning …

FEC Filing: Pro-Cochran PAC Funded Black Outreach  —  Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's political machine paid to turn out the black vote for Republican Sen. Thad Cochran's re-election bid, according to campaign finance reports.  His vanquished rival insisted that was improper …

TALKING OPENLY ABOUT OBAMA AND RACE  —  In September, 2009, just eight months into Barack Obama's first term, when it was still possible for unsentimental observers to perceive the Tea Party's riotous fulminations as a passing blip, Jimmy Carter remarked that opposition to the President's agenda was driven, largely, by one thing: race.

University at Buffalo paid $275,000 for Hillary Clinton speech  —  When Hillary Rodham Clinton agreed to address the University at Buffalo, the largest campus of the State University of New York system, she negotiated a few requirements in addition to her pay of $275,000.