Hummus drives chickpea growth; farmers benefit

Flansburg, who farms 1,900 acres amid the rolling hills of southeastern Washington, has been increasing the amount of the chickpeas used to make hummus by about one-third each year to take advantage of good prices and demand.

http://ift.tt/1bVDlOw

U.S. and allies try to decide on response to Ukraine crisis

The Obama administration, its top European partners and the U.N. Security Council spent much of Saturday trying to fashion a response to the rapid escalation of the Ukraine crisis as Russian troops took up positions throughout the autonomous republic of Crimea.

http://ift.tt/1eMvr4N

Costly hepatitis drug rattles industry

When the Food and Drug Administration approved a medication called Sovaldi in December, it was hailed as a breakthrough in the fight against hepatitis C, a blood-borne disease that affects 3.2 million Americans and kills more people in the U.S. annually than AIDS.

http://ift.tt/1bVDfXd

Putin trumps another U.S. President

As President Obama went to the White House Briefing Room on Friday to make comments on the Russian military moves in Ukraine, it was hard not to have a sense of dA jA vu about how the United States was handling an aggressive Vladimir Putin.

http://ift.tt/1bVDi5h

President Obama Endorses Progressive Champion Marc Veasey in the Democratic Primary

The Health Insurance Marketplace is Open! If you need insurance or want to explore options, visit healthcare.gov .

http://ift.tt/1eMvKMQ

NH Senate ready to take up Medicaid expansion

The state Senate is set to take up a bipartisan agreement to use federal Medicaid money to buy private health insurance for an estimated 50,000 poor New Hampshire adults.

http://ift.tt/1bVDhyb

Russian Military Mobilizes in Ukraine

Reuters is now reporting that "after a day of escalating rhetoric and activity, a Kremlin spokesman says that Russia hopes there will be no further escalation and that Putin has not yet decided if he will send troops into Ukraine."

http://ift.tt/1fyMZBE

New York's First Members-Only Bathroom

Alissa Walker, Gizmodo: A new startup is betting that you can't find a suitable public restroom to relieve yourself -- and that you'll pay top dollar for a cushy seat when the urge strikes.

http://ift.tt/NgZCv1

'No excuse' for military action: PM

David Cameron has told Moscow there is "no excuse" for military intervention in Ukraine as he reiterated warnings that the "world is watching".

http://ift.tt/1huBIXQ

The Hillary Documents' RevelationsBy Ben Jacobs

Hillary could have guest-starred on Home Improvement ? Bill used a Walgreens to woo St. Louis? Uncover new details about the 2016 contender's time as First Lady.

http://ift.tt/NgZE66

Ex-Harrisburg mayor plans run for Congress in Pa.

Former Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson says she's planning a challenge to Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry in his south-central Pennsylvania district.

http://ift.tt/NgZDz5

Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows

ABC's "This Week" - Ben Affleck; Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.; Michael McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia; former Sen. Russell Feingold, special envoy for the African Great Lakes region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

http://ift.tt/1huBFvp

(Exempt RAT) Senator Kay Hagan confronts the burning question that could make or break her campaign

Senator Hagan released the following statement to ABC11: "When this law was written, we established a three-year transition period so that insurance companies had time to begin offering plans that met the requirements of the law for the 5 percent of people on the individual market.

http://ift.tt/1kDyilA

Three Positive Signs from the New Chair of the Federal Reserve

I also think the Fed hasn't done a good job, even by its own metrics. There's very little doubt, for instance, that easy-money policies last decade played a major role in creating the housing bubble and causing the financial crisis.

http://ift.tt/NgZzPT

Obama has given up seeking a solution to America's financial woes

American Way: After nearly six years of back-and-forth with Republicans over America's finances, Barack Obama has signaled that a deal is now beyond his grasp Without a bang or a whimper, all hopes of striking a so-called "Grand Bargain" to put America's public finances on a sustainable track died a quiet death this week.

http://ift.tt/NgZziO

Ex-Rep. switches parties to run again

Former Democratic Rep. Gene Taylor is switching to the Republican Party and launching a bid against the man who beat him in 2010, Rep. Steve Palazzo .

http://ift.tt/1kDyd1r

American Flag Banned in California School

In a blow against reason and common sense, a federal court has ruled that the Live Oak High School in California did not violate the constitutional rights of students when they banned the wearing of the American flag on shirts.

http://ift.tt/NgZyvi

NRSC ad asks: Are all of these liars, Senator Reid?

Guy Benson got a nice scoop at our sister site on a new ad from the National Republican Senatorial Committee highlighting Harry Reid's attack on people who 'dare to complain about ObamaCare.'

http://ift.tt/NgZyeQ

Reading FC: Adkins criticises side after defeat to eight-man Yeovil Town

Howard Thomas, a metalworker, from Cardiff Road, Central Reading, started the CommonSense party in 2003 and stood in the General Election in Reading West in 2010, gaining 852 votes He was originally expected to return to the side in early February, but strained a quad muscle during his recovery and has remained sidelined ever since Adam Le Fondre ... (more)

http://ift.tt/1kDyf9s

Obama Revs Up Dems As Election Year Encroaches

If President Barack Obama and Democrats have their way, voters will see this year's midterm elections as a stark choice: Republicans pushing failed policies from a bygone era versus Democrats advocating for freedom and opportunity for all Americans.

http://ift.tt/NgZw6s

New Egypt Cabinet sworn in ahead presidential vote

Egypt's new interim government was sworn in Saturday, a lightly reshuffled Cabinet with familiar faces that keeps powerful ministers in charge of the country's security and military services in place ahead of an anticipated presidential election.

http://ift.tt/1kDybGM

Lindsey Graham's reelection chances are looking slim

On radio this morning, Glenn spoke to South Carolina Republican State Senator Lee Bright, who is challenging incumbent Senator Lindsey Graham in the upcoming U.S. Senate race.

http://ift.tt/1kDyaTl

Russia executes de facto takeover of Crimea region

Russia executed a de facto military takeover of a strategic region in Ukraine as the parliament in Moscow gave President Vladimir Putin a green light Saturday to proceed to protect Russian interests.

http://ift.tt/NgZuM5

Republicans must rethink royalist economic policies: Editorial

Representative David "Dave" Camp, a Republican from Michigan and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, speaks in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 26. The Republican chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee presented a reform plan this week that would reduce the income of a single mother in a minimum-wage job by $2,000 a year.

http://ift.tt/1huAvQg

Capitol Hill: Be Evil: Driving While Using Google Glass Should Be Legal, Says Google

A San Diego woman had her distracted driving ticket overturned last month because a judge ruled police couldn't prove her Google Glass device was on while she was driving.

http://ift.tt/1hqTzPF

Primaries offer 1st major test of voter ID laws

In elections that begin next week, voters in 10 states will be required to present photo identification before casting ballots - the first major test of voter ID laws after years of legal challenges arguing that the measures are designed to suppress voting.

http://ift.tt/NDy3vH

The debate over post-war Afghanistan

If President Barack Obama were to decide to leave no military advisory force in Afghanistan next year, would Afghan security unravel to the point of enabling a civil war, a Taliban takeover and a return of al-Qaida in such numbers as to pose a 9/11-type threat? That is the question at the core of the debate over Obama's next move in a long-running ... (more)

http://ift.tt/OKIfDL

Court: Bias case against Rent-A-Center can proceed

Iowa's civil rights agency can bring discrimination cases against employers even after the affected workers agreed to handle disputes in arbitration, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled today in allowing a sex bias case against Rent-A-Center, Inc., to proceed.

http://ift.tt/1pFgcDF

Nuclear dump leak raises questions about cleanup

Homes were evacuated as a swift storm with expected heavy rain moved toward drought plagued Southern California, bringing worries of mudslides where recent wildfires left mountainsides exposed.

http://ift.tt/1pFgcn6

Jindal Gearing Up for Potential 2016 Campaign

The fight for Mitt Romney's donors is on - Mitt Romney knows how to raise money. He collected more than $1.1 billion in the 2012 campaign, relying on contacts he built during his time as Massachusetts governor, head of the Salt Lake City Olympics, years working in private equity

http://ift.tt/1pFgbQe