BUT ALSO CRITICAL

Trayvon attorney: Zimmerman had ‘cozy’ relationship with police

George Zimmerman (R) enters into the courtroom in April 2012 in Sanford, Florida. A new legal defense fund for George Zimmerman, the crime watch volunteer accused of murdering unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, has raised about $1,000 a day so far this month, his lawyer said Thursday. (AFP Photo/Gary W. Green)

Surveillance video released by the Florida State Attorney’s Office shows that George Zimmerman had a “cozy” relationship with the Sanford Police Department, an attorney for Trayvon Martin’s family told the Huffington Post.

I'M RUBBER AND YOU'RE GLUE

Rubio blames Obama for gridlock in Washington

Marco Rubio screenshot

Echoing comments he made over the weekend, potential Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (FL) blamed President Barack Obama for gridlock in Washington, D.C.

BUSTED!

Chris Christie ally busted for hacking recall website

Gov. Chris Christie swears in Mayor Joseph Roque (State of New Jersey)

A Democratic mayor in New Jersey that is closely aligned with Gov. Chris Christie (R) has been taken into custody for allegedly hacking into a website of groups leading an effort to force him out of office.

OUT-OF-STATE SPYING

N.J. attorney general: NYPD surveillance of Muslims was legal

NYPD police van via AFP

New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa concluded on Thursday that the New York City police did not violate New Jersey laws when they controversially conducted surveillance of Muslim communities.

DOMESTIC PSY OPS

Propaganda firm owner admits smear campaign against U.S. journalists

Keyboard of computer via AFP

The co-owner of a U.S. defense contractor that specializes in Information Operations admitted on Thursday to trying to discredit two USA Today journalists.

LETTERMAN V. O'REILLY

Letterman grills O’Reilly on anti-Obama bias

Letterman grills O'Reilly

David Letterman welcomed Fox News personality Bill O’Reilly, who he took to task for his bias against President Barack Obama.

Science

Dinosaur with tiny arms unearthed in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES — Argentine experts have discovered the near-complete remains of a new species of…

SpaceX completes fly-under at International Space Station

A first of its kind demonstration flight by SpaceX’s Dragon capsule on Thursday successfully completed…

Climate researchers warn global warming could exceed 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit

Scientists say worst radiation exposures in life happen at doctor’s office

Tech News

Facebook makes mobile move after IPO flop

SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook released a “camera” application Thursday that lets people take Instagram-style pictures…

French group asks Google to stop suggesting ‘Jew’ in name searches

A French judge on Wednesday asked a mediator to resolve a dispute pitting Internet giant…

Media

New Orleans Times-Picayune ends daily print editions

The Times-Picayune, the largest newspaper in New Orleans, said Thursday it would end daily print…

Johnny Depp adopted into New Mexico’s Comanche nation for Native American portrayal in ‘The Lone Ranger’

Johnny Depp has been adopted into the Comanche nation following a ceremony in New Mexico,…

World

Chen says he suffered ‘beyond imagination’ in China

WASHINGTON — Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng, who is now in the United States after a diplomatic standoff between Washington…

Canada student protests erupt into political crisis with mass arrests

More than 500 people were arrested in Montreal on Wednesday night as protestors defy controversial new law Bill 78 Protests…

China hits back at claims it is blocking climate talks

BONN — China hit back Thursday at claims it was holding up global climate talks in Germany, saying the United…

‘Yearning for change’ in Arab states inspirational: U.S.

WASHINGTON — A US report released Thursday hailed the “yearning for change” in Arab nations and moves toward openness in…

U.S. News

Obama calls for Congress to enact ‘green’ tax credits

NEWTON, Iowa — President Barack Obama urged Congress on Thursday to extend tax credits for…

Texas man gets 20 years in jail for al Qaeda links

CHICAGO — A Texas man was sentenced to 20 years in jail Thursday for seeking…

U.S. soldier convicted in base attack plot

CHICAGO — A US soldier who fled his post as a Muslim conscientious objector was…

Obama picks new U.S. nuclear chief

WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated a new chairman of the Nuclear…

U.S. hits India pipe firm with steep dumping duties

WASHINGTON — The US government hit a major Indian steel pipe exporter with anti-dumping duties…