USE THE SCHWARTZ

'Family' leader: Star Wars now a ‘gay empire’

Tony Perkins (Family Research Council)

An evangelical leader is calling on his army of followers to take action against a software company for allowing same sex relationships in a new Star Wars video game.

REVERSE ROBIN HOOD?

Ron Paul: ‘The welfare system helps the wealthy’

Ron Paul at CNN's Florida debate

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul wants to abolish all income taxes — but he says he’ll have to completely destroy the “welfare system” to do it.

BAD NEWS, SCOTT

Walker insider said to be readying testimony

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R). Photo: Megan McCormick.

A former aide to Wisc. Governor Scott Walker (R) will testify after officials filed charges of illegal campaign activity while working on taxpayer time.

WE'VE GOT BIGGER PROBLEMS

Asteroid the size of a bus slides by Earth in ‘near-miss’

asteroid-lutetia-wikimedia

An asteroid about the size of a bus shaved by Earth on Friday in what spacewatchers described as a “near-miss,” though experts were not concerned about the possibility of an impact.

CHICO BLANCO MIEDO

Mayor besieged by thousands of tacos after racist remark

East haven, CT Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr., confronted by a CNN anchor over a racist comment about Latinos. Screengrab via CNN.

When the mayor of East Haven, Connecticut told a reporter that he “might have some tacos” for dinner, little did he know that a taco onslaught was waiting in the wings.

PROTECT AND SERVE

Cop probed over bullet-riddled Obama pic

Secret Service investigating Peoria, Arizona officer Sgt. Pat Shearer

The Secret Service is investigating an Arizona police officer over a picture he posted on Facebook that appeared to show President Barack Obama riddled with bullets.

Science

Gang deaths often involve youth and guns, not drugs

ATLANTA (Reuters) – Gang-related deaths typically aren’t the product of fights over drugs — as…

NASA’s Kepler confirms 26 new planets

WASHINGTON — The US space agency said Thursday its Kepler space telescope mission has confirmed…

Tech News

FBI seeking social media monitoring tool

WASHINGTON — The US Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking for a tool to mine…

Twitter able to now selectively block tweets

SAN FRANCISCO — Twitter said Thursday that it now has the ability to block tweets…

Media

Monty Python members to re-unite for new film

LOS ANGELES — Members of iconic British comedy group “Monty Python” will re-unite for a…

Rash of ‘Occupy’ arrests tank America’s annual press freedom score

In the wide world of reporting, the nation of Finland is the very best place…

World

Italian liner passengers to get 11,000 euros each

Passengers of a stricken Italian cruise liner will get at least 11,000 euros each from its Costa Crociere operator under…

Cocaine mistakenly sent to UN headquarters

UNITED NATIONS — A 16 kilo (35.5 pounds) consignment of cocaine that Mexican drug traffickers recently lost has turned up…

Haiti should brace for more devastating quakes: study

WASHINGTON — The 2010 earthquake that devastated southern Haiti may have opened a new era of seismic activity and residents…

Three dead, 16 missing in Rio high-rises collapse

Three people were confirmed dead and 16 were still missing early Thursday after three office buildings, one of them 20…

U.S. News

Park Service: ‘Occupy D.C.’ to be evicted on Monday

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The National Park Service will bar Occupy DC protesters from camping in…

Pair questioned over decapitated man

Police were Friday questioning two men over the murder of a man whose burned and…

Romney forgets attack ad that he approved

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says he doesn’t coordinate with the super PACs that support…

Minnesota laying groundwork for gray wolf hunt

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) – Minnesota officials on Thursday outlined plans to permit a hunting season for…

BP must pay part of rig owner’s eventual Gulf costs

CHICAGO — British oil giant BP must cover some of the eventual claims against rig…