Supreme Court: Judges cannot get involved in church dispute

In a groundbreaking case, the Supreme Court on Wednesday held for the first time that religious employees of a church cannot sue for employment discrimination. But the court's unanimous decision in a case from Michigan did not specify the distinction between a secular employ …

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South Carolina considers drug tests, community service for unemployment

A Senate panel advanced bills Tuesday that would require people laid off in South Carolina to pass a drug test to receive unemployment benefits, then volunteer 16 hours weekly with a charity or public agency to keep receiving a check. Though the panel heard testimony that bo …

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Leonard Pitts, Jr: South Carolina, Republicans continue war against blacks, poor

So here’s how it is: You have no driver’s license because you have nothing to drive. You have no passport because you’ve never been out of the country. You have no other photo I.D. because you have no bank account.

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Amid tensions, US Navy rescues Iranians from Somali pirates

Just days after Iranian and American military officials traded warnings over a U.S. Navy vessel's departure from the Persian Gulf, the United States Navy has rescued 13 Iranian fishermen and their fishing dhow from Somali pirates in the north Arabian sea, the Pentagon said Friday.

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Leonard Pitts Jr on Ron Paul: Foolish consistency, or just foolishness?

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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'Homohater fosser fram': Norway-ing In on Iowa

Norway’s third-largest newspaper, Dagbladet, put Santorum’s ascension at the Iowa Caucus into their own words with the headline, "Gay Hate Surging Forward."

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In West, late North Korean leader [largely] a cartoon villain

Late North Korean strongman Kim Jong-Il enjoyed an elaborate personality cult at home but he was also a favorite of Western popular media, which found him to be a time-tested source of laughs. From Hollywood to websites, satirists relished skewering a leader whose shrill miss …

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Michigan governor's office a step closer to taking over Detroit

Heading down a path that could lead to the state of Michigan taking over the running of Detroit, Gov.

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Festivus, the holiday for the rest of us, turns 14; still love it?

Today is Festivus, the holiday that was popularized on "Seinfeld" and spurred the comic tell-all tome "The Real Festivus." Festivus, according to the Dec.

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In ad for newsletter, Ron Paul claims 'coming race-war,' 'federal-homosexual cover-up'

A direct-mail solicitation for Ron Paul's political and investment newsletters two decades ago warned of a "coming race war in our big cities" and of a "federal-homosexual cover-up" to play down the impact of AIDS. The eight-page letter, which appears to carry Paul's signatu …

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Chinese Hack Into US Chamber of Commerce, Authorities Say

For more than a year, hackers with ties to the Chinese military have been eavesdropping on U.S. Chamber of Commerce officials involved in Asia affairs, authorities say. The hackers had access to everything in Chamber computers, including, potentially, the entire U.S.

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Two women chosen to share traditional first-kiss at US Navy ship's return

A Navy tradition caught up with the repeal of the U.S.

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Gay Couple Receives President's Congratulations on Wedding

A gay couple in Brooklyn, N.Y., were surprised to find a letter in their mailbox six months after their wedding congratulating them, but they were more surprised to find it was from the commander in chief. Matt Katz, 32, and Aaron Lafrenz, 36, were married at the Katz family&rsq …

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Just 366 Days Left Until the Alleged Maya-Predicted End of the World!

The countdown to the apocalypse is on. We're one year away from Dec.

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Gingrich is a Walking Encyclopedia of Shallowness

Can we please bury the notion that Newt Gingrich is some kind of deep thinker? His intellect may be as broad as the sea, but it’s about as deep as a birdbath.

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Subsurface of Mars 'could be habitable'

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Sharks play key role in studying effects of BP oil spill

As the 115-foot Research Vessel Weatherbird II rolled in 4-foot seas 120 miles west of Tampa Bay, the call went out: “Fish on.” Excitement was tangible; scientists hauled the 300-pound monofilament line, working the fish to the surface of the startlingly blue Gulf …

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Anonymous hacks group in Muslim TV show uproar

A conservative Florida organization's opposition to the reality show "All-American Muslim" has stirred up a storm of controversy that's got Lowe's, a Muslim rights group, travel website Kayak, actor Kal Penn, and the hacktivist group Anonymous all choosing sides. Tuesday, the  …

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Woman Leaves $13M Fortune to Cat

A 4-year-old stray cat that was rescued from the streets of Rome has inherited a $13 million fortune from [his] owner, the wealthy widow of an Italian property tycoon. Maria Assunta left the fortune to her beloved kitty, Tommaso, when she died two weeks ago at the age of 94.

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Arab World's Total Transformation in 2011

In just one year, the Arab and Muslim world has undergone a total transformation.

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Supreme Court Takes Up Arizona's Strict Immigration Law

The Supreme Court has added another hot-button issue to its docket this term, agreeing today to hear a challenge to Arizona’s strict immigration law. The case will be argued sometime this spring, and Justice Elena Kagan will take no part in the decision, presumably becaus …

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