[U.S.] Chavez in surprise return from Cuba

Chavez in surprise return from Cuba
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/president-chavez-returns-venezuela-cuba-18527647
By Andrew Cawthorne and Deisy Buitrago. CARACAS | Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:29am EST. CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made a surprise return from Cuba on Monday more than two months after surgery for cancer that has ...

Holding Obama's Feet to the Climate-Change Fire
http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/18/holding-obamas-feet-to-the-climate-change-fire/
Demonstrators at a march against the Keystone XL pipeline in Washington, Feb. 17. Richard Clement/Reuters Demonstrators at a march against the Keystone XL pipeline in Washington, Feb. 17.

No excuse to lift the filibuster
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/mccain-says-he-wont-delay-further-on-hagel-20130218-2enet.html
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) revealed on “Fox News Sunday” that defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel responded to his letter jointly signed by Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.

Exec loses job after allegedly slapping toddler on plane
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57569846/exec-loses-job-after-allegedly-slapping-toddler-on-plane/
(CBS News) An Idaho man faces a federal assault charge and allegedly hitting a crying child and using a racial slur on board a recent flight.

Brothers blow up house while celebrating lottery win with drugs
http://natmonitor.com/2013/02/18/brothers-celebrate-lottery-win-by-blowing-up-house-smoking-meth/
WICHITA, Kan. - Authorities say two brothers accidentally blew up their house after celebrating a $75,000 winning lottery ticket by purchasing marijuana and meth.

Sequestration: DC's Weird Idea of Cuts
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/sequester-/story?id=18516614
It's the dirtiest word in Washington right now: "sequester." Formerly wrapped up in the "fiscal cliff" that was poised to wreck America's economy at the end of the year, the dreaded "sequester" is the spending half of that taxes-and-spending equation: It amounts ...

Robin Kelly wins rival Toi Hutchinson's support in Illinois race
http://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2013/02/18/race-to-succeed-jackson-jr-puts-bloomberg-pac-to-test-amid-gun-debate/
Illinois congressional candidate Toi Hutchinson dropped out of the special election race for disgraced former Rep. Jesse Jackson's seat on Sunday and endorsed rival Democrat Robin Kelly.

Man robs Subway near Cultural Center at gunpoint, police say
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2013/02/police_string_of_3_mount_pleas.html
A man wielding a handgun robbed a Subway sandwich shop next to the Chicago Cultural Center early Monday, police said. The man walked into the Subway at 66 E. Washington St. about 12:50 a.m.

Congressional staffers often travel on tabs of foreign governments
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congressional-staffers-often-travel-on-tabs-of-foreign-governments/2013/02/17/25e39938-7625-11e2-8f84-3e4b513b1a13_story.html
About a dozen congressional staffers flew business class on a trip to China last summer and stayed at luxury hotels while touring the Great Wall and the Forbidden City and receiving a “briefing on ancient artifacts and dynasties” at the Shanghai Museum.

Florida Today weather: Warm-up expected to begin soon
http://www.grandhaventribune.com/article/322756
Hang in there, Brevard County: Forecasters say an arctic air mass that dragged in cold temperatures this weekend is on its way out.

The Walking Dead Blog: Dixon brothers come to the rescue ... and 'stuff'
http://www.mlive.com/tv/index.ssf/2013/02/the_walking_dead_blog_dixon_br.html
TWD_GP_310_0827_0336.jpg View full size Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) stars in "The Walking Dead's" latest episode, "Home.