America appears to be fed up with the status quo. Inexperienced and first-time political candidates are winning convincingly in this year’s primaries. The latest winners are appointed Sen. Michael Bennett of Colorado and WWE millionaire Linda McMahon of Connecticut. Bennett won a bitter Democratic primary against his rival, and McMahon dispatched of her opponent in…

Recent statements challenging the impartiality of U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker — the author of last week’s decision striking down California’s anti-gay marriage law — are sadly reminiscent of arguments challenging the impartiality of black judges presiding over civil rights cases 30 years ago. The leader of the conservative Family Research Council gave robust voice…

The House of Representatives passed a $26 billion measure Tuesday afternoon to help avoid teacher layoffs. Democrats said the move was necessary because of state and local government cutbacks. Specifically, it includes $10 billion for teacher positions and $16 billion to help cover state Medicaid payments. Republican leaders have blasted the bill as an irresponsible…

It has been a tough day for North Carolina. Former Olympic star Antonio Pettigrew was found dead in Chatham County. Pettigrew’s body was found in the back seat of his car, which was parked close to a bridge. Chatham County sheriff Maj. Gary Blankenship says the car was locked, and there was evidence that the 42-year-old…

Former American Idol star Fantasia Barrino was hospitalized last night in Charlotte, N.C., for what authorities are calling a medication overdose. Barrino has been at the center of a cheating scandal for the past year. The wife of Antwaun Cook, the man with whom Barrino is alleged to have had an affair, named Barrino in…

Google and Verizon coming together may not be such a good thing for black and brown communities. Under the agreement, Google’s content will have priority on some parts of Verizon’s networks, which means that those on the Verizon network will have to get in line behind Google users. While people are talking about the digital divide,…

A plane carrying nine people crashed amid southwest Alaska’s remote mountains and lakes, killing five people on board, authorities said Tuesday. Former Sen. Ted Stevens and ex-NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe were believed to be aboard, but it was unclear if they were among the dead. This story is developing. Read more at AOL News.

A pregnant widow was executed by the Taliban in western Afghanistan after being accused of adultery. The 47-year-old woman, Sanam Gul, also known as Sanam Bibi, was killed in Badghis province Saturday morning, said Ashrafuddin Majidi, the provincial governor’s spokesman. The execution was confirmed by the district governor of Qades, Hashim Habibi. The woman was accused of…

Although his birthday is on December 6, jazz great Dave Brubeck celebrated his 90th birthday at the closing of the CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival. With Wynton Marsalis’ quintet playing “Happy Birthday” to a New Orleans beat, festival producer and founder George Wein led the audience in serenading the pianist. Brubeck was a late addition to a…

A major brawl broke out between 70 teenagers on the D.C. Metro this past weekend. Teenagers fought from one train stop to another on the Green and Yellow lines. They happened to fight on two of the busiest stops on the Metro — L’Enfant Plaza and Gallery Place, both in Chinatown. An eyewitness stated that…