• 1

  50 minutes ago

  GOP Candidates Debate in Arizona Tonight

  

  AP
  The four remaining GOP presidential candidates—Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich—are slated to face off in the twentieth debate of the nomination season in Mesa, Arizona Wednesday evening, just six days before primaries there and in Michigan. Political pundits anticipate that Romney and Santorum, who are currently polling at a statistical dead heat in Michigan, will use tonight's debate as an opportunity to ramp up attacks on each other and highlight their retooled campaign messages. The First Read team wonders if Newt Gingrich, after several weeks of relative silence on the campaign trail, will reassert his candidacy. Finally, tonight's debate, which begins at 8:00 p.m. ET, will offer candidates a chance to discuss their views on illegal immigration—one of the state's most divisive issues. Get More at MSNBC
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  5 minutes ago

  Former Virginia Lacrosse Player Found Guilty of Slaying Ex

  
  After nine hours of deliberation, a Virginia jury found George Hugely, an ex-University of Virginia lacrosse player, guilty of second degree murder in the killing of his ex-girlfriend days before her graduation in 2010. The 24-year-old could face up to 40 years in prison for killing Yeardley Love, whom he was dating in 2010 when, prosecutors say, he beat her to death in an alcohol-fueled rage. Get More at MSNBC
• 3

  Feb 22, 12:12PM

  Romney, Santorum Tied in Michigan: NBC Poll

  
  A new NBC News/Marist poll shows Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum in a statistical dead heat in Michigan, home of next Tuesday's crucial GOP presidential primary. In the Great Lakes State, where Romney spent his childhood, the former Massachusetts governor is backed by 37 percent of likely GOP voters. That is just two percentage points ahead of Santorum, who has been surging in the polls since his dramatic wins in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri earlier this month. A loss to Santorum in Michigan could put Romney's campaign into a tailspin, according to many political pundits. Meanwhile, according to a separate NBC News/Marist poll, Romney has a wide lead over Santorum in Arizona, which holds its primary the same day. MSNBC's First Read team reports that Romney is also leading Santorum in Arizona's early voting. Get More at MSNBC
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  3 hours ago

  US, French Journalists Killed in Syria

  

  AP
  U.S. journalist Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik were killed Wednesday in Homs, Syria, currently under siege by President Bashar al-Assad's regime. According to one witness, shells hit the house where the pair was staying, and a rocket struck and killed them when they tried to escape. Activists said that British photographer Paul Conroy was wounded in the attack. There were unconfirmed reports another American woman journalist wounded as well. NBC News' Richard Engel tweeted that Colvin, a veteran correspondent for the Sunday Times, was "one of the greats." She was recognized by the eye patch she wore after after being hit by shrapnel in Sri Lanka in 2001. The restive city of Homs has in recent days faced a full-on attack by Assad's regime. Get More at MSNBC
• 5

  41 minutes ago

  Senators, Media Personalities Receive Threatening Letters

  

  Getty Images
  The FBI and NYPD launched an investigation after U.S. lawmakers and media companies recieved letters that claim to contain hazardous pathogens. The letters, which are believed to have been sent from Oregon, claim they were sent to every U.S. senator and various media companies. Law enforcement officials told NBC New York that Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, The New York Times, Fox News and NPR received letters expressing anger about the economy and corporate greed. Some letters contained a powdery substance, which was found to be harmless. The Sergeant-of-Arms, the top law enforcement agent for the Senate, sent a letter to Hill staffers instructing them to use caution and report any suspicious mail. Get More at MSNBC
• 6

  4 hours ago

  Romney Proposes 20% Tax Cut For All Ahead of Debate

  

  AP
  Mitt Romney announced a plan that would reduce the income tax rate for all Americans by 20 percent, hours ahead of a Wednesday CNN debate and six days ahead of primary contests in two states. The plan would cut the individual tax rate for top earners to 28 percent from 35 percent and would be funded through spending cuts and the elimination of deductions and exemptions for the highest earning Americans. He insisted the cuts would not add to the deficit, though was not able to provide specifics on spending cuts. The Obama administration, which proposed its own tax overhaul Wednesday, preemptively responded to Romney's plan, casting doubt on his deficit assurances. President Obama's plan would slash the top corporate tax rate to 28 percent from 35 percent by eliminating a series of loopholes and subsidies. Get More at MSNBC
• 7

  22 minutes ago

  9-Year-Old in Custody After Elementary School Shooting in Washington

  

  Getty Images / Scott Olson
  An 8-year-old girl was shot on Wednesday at an elementary school in East Bremerton, Washington, in what school officials described as an accident. Another third-grader, believed to be the shooter, is in police custody. The shooting occurred at about 1:30 p.m. just as students were being dismissed. The victim, whose name was not released, was airlifted to a trauma center in Seattle in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the stomach. The gun was detained in another classroom and the suspected shooter, a 9-year-old boy, was held for questioning. This is the second time a gun was brought to a Kitsap County School this year. In October police arrested two 10-year-old boys for bringing a loaded gun to another elementary school in October, according to The News Tribune. Get More at MSNBC
• 8

  3 hours ago

  49 Dead, More Than 600 Injured in Argentina Train Wreck

  

  AP
  Forty-nine morning commuters were killed and more than 600 were injured Wednesday when a packed train slammed into a barrier at the end of a station platform in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s transportation secretary said. The incident is Argentina's worst train accident in decades, Reuters reports. The death toll—which includes one child—is Argentina's highest from a train accident since the 1970 Benavidez rail disaster, which killed 200. "There are people still trapped,” J.P. Schiavi told reporters. Witnesses told local media that the train did not appear to break as it approached Once station, CNN reported. Get More at MSNBC
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  Feb 22, 01:10PM

    I'm tired of Rick Santorum pretending he's some kind of DC outsider   — Donald Trump Speaking on behalf of Mitt Romney for a Michigan "robo-call"
• 10

  58 minutes ago

  Va. House Passes Amended Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Bill

  

  Getty Images
  Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has reversed his decision on a controversial bill that would require women to have a vaginal ultrasound before an abortion. Following a strong backlash from protesters, who objected to the invasive nature of the procedure, McDonnell said he would ask for only a transabdominal, or external ultrasound before abortion. The Virginia House passed the revised bill Wednesday though the Senate is expected to strike it down. The ultrasound, which shows an image of a developing fetus, is intended to give women a chance to rethink their decision to terminate their pregnancy. Abortion, birth control and religion have become central topics along the campaign trail over the last few weeks, sparking passionate debate that's extended through all levels of government. President Obama recently faced off with Catholic advocacy groups over birth control legislation, which his administration ultimately watered down. Get More at MSNBC
• 11

  Feb 22, 10:03AM

  Rising Poll Numbers Are Sweet Music to Obama

  

  Getty Images
  President Barack Obama’s rising poll numbers and a surging stock market has given him something to sing about. The commander-in-chief tops 50 percent support against each of his GOP presidential rivals in head-to-head matchups, according to a new Associated Press-Gfk poll. On Wednesday, the Dow hit the psychologically significant 13,000 mark for the first time since May 2008. Hours later a beaming president was persuaded to join in on a blues jam with B.B. King and Mick Jagger at the White House. It was a reprise of his singing performance of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” last month at New York’s Apollo Theater. Check out the president showing off his pipes on “Sweet Home Chicago” by clicking below. "Singer in chief, for sure," noted the Obama campaign's Tumblr account, Politico reported. Get More at MSNBC
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  2 hours ago

  Judge: Washington State Can't Force Pharmacies to Sell Plan B

  

  NBC Chicago
  A federal judge ruled Wednesday that licensed pharmacists do not have to stock or sell Plan B if the use of emergency contraceptives conflicts with their religious beliefs. U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton said that if a state allows exemptions for non-religious reasons—because a drug would increase the risk of robbery, require too much paperwork—the state would have to allow exemptions for religious reasons. The case goes back to 2007 when pharmacists filed a lawsuit objecting to a law that obligated them to provide the pills, which are prescribed to women who want to block pregnancy after unprotected sex. The judge ruled in their favor, but a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel overruled and the case wound up in Leighton's hands. Get More at MSNBC