Cruz apologizes for Biden joke at Livingston Co. dinner  —  Howell — GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz used a speech before Livingston County Republicans on Wednesday night to tell jokes about liberals and Democrats, including Joe Biden on the week the vice president lost his eldest son to brain cancer.

Carly Fiorina reveals personal net worth of $59 million  —  GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina revealed on Wednesday evening that she and her husband have a net worth of $59 million — as she took a barely veiled shot at Hillary Clinton over transparency.

Lincoln Chafee doubles down on metric conversion  —  Democratic presidential candidate Lincoln Chafee did not give a centimeter on his defense of the metric system Thursday, touting the economic benefits and the symbolic importance of the United States joining the rest of the world in implementing the measurement scale.

White House Brief: Things to Know About Rick Perry  —  Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry is entering the 2016 race for the Republican presidential nomination Thursday.  Key things to know about him:  —  THE BRIEF  —  The longest-serving governor in Texas history, Perry was a Democrat who became …

Fifa made payment to FAI after Thierry Henry handball, claims John Delaney  —  The Football Association of Ireland chief executive, John Delaney, has confirmed that the body accepted a payment from Fifa after Thierry Henry's handball in the 2010 World Cup qualifying play-offs ended their hopes …

9 Completely Bonkers Things The Newest GOP Presidential Candidate Believes About The Constitution  —  Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry is expected to announce his bid to seek the GOP presidential nomination on Thursday.  It will be Perry's second attempt to secure a home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue …

Limbaugh to GOP: Don't accept Caitlyn Jenner  —  Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh thinks Republicans should reject Caitlyn Jenner, even if she agrees with them politically.  —  Limbaugh said on his radio show Tuesday that liberals are trying to “redefine normalcy” …

John Cusack Talks ‘Love & Mercy,’ Drug Trips, and How Obama Is ‘Worse Than Bush’  —  In a wide-ranging chat, the celebrated film star discusses his excellent biopic on Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson, psychedelics, and why President Obama has let him down.  —  “I just say what I think, and if people don't like it, that's OK.”

Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources (External Review Draft)  —  Notice  —  This assessment provides a review and synthesis of available information concerning the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas …

The campaign to put Julian Castro on Hillary Clinton's VP shortlist  —  It's way too early, Clinton insiders say.  But the Castro buzz is useful as Democrats court Hispanics.  —  Getty  —  The Democratic National Convention isn't for 13 months, and Hillary Clinton isn't the party's nominee …

Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar: Sisters 'weren't even aware' of Josh's ‘wrongdoing’  —  Michelle Duggar told Megyn Kelly Wednesday that she and her husband were “devastated” when they learned their then-teenage son Josh had molested several of his sisters.  —  During an hour-long exclusive interview on …

Dish Network in Merger Talks With T-Mobile US  —  Dish and T-Mobile have agreed Charlie Ergen would be chairman and John Legere CEO, sources say  —  Dish Network Corp. is in talks to merge with T-Mobile US Inc., people familiar with the matter said, a deal that would accelerate a wave …

Hunting for Hackers, N.S.A. Secretly Expands Internet Spying at U.S. Border  —  WASHINGTON — Without public notice or debate, the Obama administration has expanded the National Security Agency's warrantless surveillance of Americans' international Internet traffic to search for evidence …

Lindsey Graham Compares Hillary Clinton To North Korea's Kim Jong Un  —  Presidential candidate Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) took a swipe at Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton during a Thursday appearance on Fox News, comparing her to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

Parents of teen who survived tragedy at Bear Lake speak; community rallies to mourn those who died  —  NORTH OGDEN, Utah — Monday afternoon, 7 best friends and 6 mothers headed to Bear Lake for a trip they had all spent months planning.  They ate lunch, swam, and then took turns touring the lake on a ski boat.

The Complex Power Coupledom of Chris Hughes and Sean Eldridge  —  Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes and political activist Sean Eldridge were once the ultimate team, but Hughes's controversial purchase of The New Republic and Eldridge's failed run for Congress made the once-heroes villains.

Huckabee Befuddled By Topless Women  —  “Are topless photos of women an offensive display of sexism, or an empowering display against sexism?  I have a feeling most men don't care much either way.”  —  Matt Sullivan / Getty Images  —  The Huckabee Report

Selfie With Parents' Sex Toys?  Alameda Teacher Accused Of Assigning Bizarre Extra Credit For Sophomores  —  ALAMEDA (CBS SF) — Parents of students at Encinal High School in Alameda want a teacher fired after they say he sent them home with an extra credit assignment of finding sex toys …

Obama's trust-me approach falls flat with Democrats  —  President Obama's argument that Democrats should trust his vision on trade is falling flat on Capitol Hill.  —  Democrats — even some of Obama's closest allies — say it's not enough for the president to pronounce his trade agenda the most progressive in history.

Barnard College to Accept Transgender Women  —  Barnard College announced on Thursday that it will begin accepting transgender women, joining a slate of women's colleges that have created formal policies on whether to admit students who do not identify with their birth sex.

One Person, One Vote?:  Voting Case Has Potential to Put House Further Out of Reach for Democrats  —  Voting Case Has Potential to Put House Further Out of Reach for Democrats  —  In 2012, Republicans won a majority of seats in the House even though more people voted for Democratic candidates over all.

The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is the Other Party  —  How negative partisanship is dividing Americans and shaping the outlook for the 2016 election  —  Which candidate will emerge from the crowded Republican presidential field next year?  Can anyone stop or at least slow …

Why College Professors Are Afraid to Teach Millennials  —  The Fiscal Times  —  Hungry for love and it's feeding time, Alice Cooper wrote in his 1991 classic song, “Feed My Frankenstein.”  Academia has created its own Frankenstein with its speech codes, groupthink enforcement, and discouraging of dissent.

Broad Public Support for Legal Status for Undocumented Immigrants  —  Other Attitudes About Immigration More Mixed  —  With immigration shaping up to be a major issue in both the final years of the Obama administration and the 2016 presidential campaign, most Americans (72%) continue to say undocumented

3,700 illegal immigrant ‘Threat Level 1’ criminals released into U.S. by DHS  —  Most of the illegal immigrant criminals Homeland Security officials released from custody last year were discretionary, meaning the department could have kept them in detention but chose instead to let them onto …