FINED FOR SINGING – Indiana State Senator Vaneta Becker, a Republican, has written a legislative proposal that would make singing the national anthem incorrectly an offense.

Becker wants all versions of the national anthem that are being sung at any public school or state university event to be sung as intended by the writer of the words and music or receive a $25 fine.

“JEWS CARE MORE ABOUT THE POOR” – Formed in a question, 60 Minute’s Lesley Stahl asks House Majority Leader Eric Cantor why most Jews are Democrats. 

You won’t believe the dialog between the two…

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ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS – Gun buying broke records… According to the FBI, over 1.5 million background checks on customers were requested by gun dealers to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in December. Nearly 500,000 of those were in the six days before Christmas.

It was the highest number ever in a single month, surpassing the previous record set in November.

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OCCUPY 101 – An example of higher education in America… Columbia University has announced it will be offering a new course on “Occupy Wall Street” next semester

Dr. Hannah Appel, who claims to have spent several nights camped out in Zuccotti Park, will be teaching the course… On her blog, Appel defends OWS, arguing that “it is important to push back against the rhetoric of ‘disorganization’ or ‘a movement without a message’ coming from left, right and center.”

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“OBAMA’S AN IDIOT” – UFC Champ Jacob Volkmann Takes Swipe at Obama: “He Needs a Glassectomy.”

Volkmann says that he got death threats and a visit from the Secret Service the last time he cracked a joke about Obama.

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HORRIFIC -- A 15-year-old Afghan girl severely tortured for months by her in-laws in an attempt to force her into prostitution will be sent to India for medical treatment. The girl’s abusive mother-in-law and sister-in-law have been arrested.

Have you seen this heartbreaking video?

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CHANGING THE WORDS -- R&B singer Cee Lo Green prompted a rush of anger for his New Year‘s Eve performance of John Lennon’s “Imagine” in which he swapped the lyrics “no religion too” to “all religions true.”

The change to “Nothing to kill or die for, And all religions true” has prompted a flurry of angry reactions from atheists and Lennon fans alike on Twitter.

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TRACKED DOWN ON VACATION -- About 20 people gathered this morning outside the security entrance to President Barack Obama’s vacation compound in Kailua to condemn U.S. wars, occupations, and torture.

The gathering was organized by a local faction of World Can’t Wait, a national activist group against alleged crimes by the U.S. government.

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“PERRY IS STILL IN IT” – Despite sinking poll numbers, Perry supporters in Iowa say that Rick Perry isn’t done yet.  Robert Haus, the Iowa State chair of Rick Perry's presidential campaign, talks from Des Moines, Iowa, about Texas Governor Rick Perry's campaign strategy in Iowa and expectations for the Iowa caucuses.

Haus would commit to a win by Perry or that he would be in the top 3.  Watch the interview here…

RINGING IN 2012 --  Watch midnight celebrations from around the globe as millions welcome 2012. 

NEW YORK

CHINA

MOSCOW

* * * *

TASTE THE RAINBOW -- Surging in the polls, GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum was greeted with a fistful of glitter in Johnston, Iowa Friday, the latest so-called “glitter bombing” of a Republican candidate.

The male protester partly missed, with purple glitter ending up both on Santorum and the ground as the former Pennsylvania senator went in to watch a football game with supporters.

“Stop the hate! Taste the rainbow!”

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YET MORE OCCUPY PROTESTS -- Eighteen protesters connected to the nationwide Occupy movement were arrested Saturday outside the presidential campaign headquarters of Republicans Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.

What as the protesters scream at the cameras in the tussle…

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ARRESTED AT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL -- Minnesota Vikings cornerback Benny Sapp was cited for fifth-degree assault and careless driving, both misdemeanors, after an alleged altercation with security at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. 

Police were called Friday morning after the football player and his 11-year-old son tried to enter the hospital through a closed entrance, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

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NEWT TEARS UP – The former speaker of the house showed a softer side recently while taking questions before an Iowa audience. 

Newt Gingrich choked up in front of a group of moms when he recalled his mother, Kit, who died in 2003.

Have you seen the emotional video?

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“DON’T COUNT ME OUT” -- Rick Perry wasn't supposed to be the underdog.

When he announced his presidential campaign back in August, the Texas governor looked like the strongest challenger to Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination.

The governor says he can turn it around!

BUSTED:  PHOTOSHOP  -- North Korea has been caught doctoring a photo of Wednesday’s funeral procession for former leader Kim Jong Il. Can You Spot the Difference?

In the picture released by North Korea, six men are standing near a camera behind the assembled crowds. In the North Korean photo, the men — as well as the camera and their tracks in the snow — are gone.

So why the manipulation? Is it because the men aren’t facing the processional? No one really knows.

* * * *

THAT’S A NEW ONE – Security cam catches woman trying to steal a case of beer by shoving it up her dress.

The surveillance video shows a family of three casually shopping at an unknown store, nothing out of the ordinary, until suddenly the apparent mother lifts her dress and sticks a case of beer between her legs and walks off in the blink of an eye.

Can you say AMERICA ‘S GOT TALENT?

* * * *

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW… BOOM!  --  The Taliban is now forcing Afghans to have ringtones approved before they can be used on an individual’s cell phone.

Ringtones on cellphones can be an outlet for self-expression, but in Afghanistan such expression outside of one carrying a Taliban message could result in death, according to the Wall Street Journal.

We know what you are thinking… What is an example of a Taliban approved ringtone?  Give a listen…

* * * *

COME ON, DICK. TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY THINK -- If you ever get the chance to ask regular Fox commentator (and former Democratic strategist) Dick Morris what he thinks about Ron Paul, make sure you have a camera or a microphone close. That’s because after what he said this week about Paul on “The O’Reilly Factor,” he’s likely to give you quite a quote.

CHECK IT OUT!

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BACHMANN IS PACKING HEAT -- Have you ever wondered what presidential candidate Michele Bachmann considers her favorite gun? Well wonder no more: it’s an AR-15.

* * * *

LAWMAKER ‘RETIRES’ FOR ONE DAY, COLLECTS $478K and RETURNS ON MONDAY --  Philadelphia is known as the city of brotherly love and, apparently, paying out massive pensions to public employees who will continue working for the city.

Marion B. Tasco, who has been described as being “politically savvy,” will retire from her sixth term as councilwoman, collect $478,057, and then be sworn in on Monday to serve her seventh term.

Click on Tasco’s picture to find out how this is possible…

* * * *

DOWN MEMORY LANE – How can we celebrate New Year’s Eve without listening to a classic song from the ‘80’s.   Dan Fogelberg’s ,"Same Old Lang Syne,"  Give it one last listen in 2011.

“We drank a toast to innocence… We drank a toast to now…”

CROC HATES LAWN CARE  -- A giant crocodile lunged at a reptile park worker in Australia Wednesday, snatching his lawnmower and pulling it into the water with him.

The 1,600-foot, 1,100-pound croc, known as “Elvis,” lost two teeth as he proceeded to gnaw at his new toy. “Before we knew it, the croc had the mower above his head,” according to Tim Faulkner with the Australian Reptile Park.

* * * *

FOUL MOUTH DOLLY -- Pauline Davis bought some last minute presents for her grandchildren Christmas Eve, but when she brought three talking dolls back to her Oaklyn, N.J. home, she got a rude surprise.  A DOLL WITH A DIRTY MOUTH!

The store says that the baby dolls in question are just talking "baby babble," but one New Jersey grandmother and others hear something quite distinct

Judge for yourself… Does this doll need a time out?

* * * *

CREEPY FUNERAL PROCESSION--  Tens of thousands of Pyongyang residents bid an emotional farewell to their late leader Kim Jong Il as a black hearse drove through snow-covered streets. North Korean state media showed citizens lined up in freezing weather shouting and wailing. Some pounded their chests.

BEWARE – Very creepy!

* * * *

KTRH is telling you the story… A nationwide "Nurse-In" happened Wednesday after a Texas mother says she was discriminated against for breastfeeding at a Target store.

Have seen the video from some of these protestors?  Check this mom out in a check-out line breastfeeding a toddler as shoppers watch.

* * * *

BOOB WAR CONTINUES -- NASCAR Driver Kasey Kahne has found his way into a heap of controversy for Tweeting about his loss of appetite following a glimpse of a woman breastfeeding openly in a grocery store. To make matters worse, after Tweeting his thoughts on the act, he spat back at least one disparaging comment to a follower who replied to his tweets in disagreement.

Read the Tweets here:

* * * *

BEING SNAKED -- A Miami family had a surprise, and unwelcomed, Christmas visitor: a 13-foot Burmese python in their swimming pool, according to news reports from South Florida.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s venom response team responded. It took three tries to nab the slithering intruder, which slipped away and went for a swim before being captured.

* * * *

HATIN’ BILL MAHER -- When Bill Maher tweeted a graphic message about Jesus and Tim Tebow on Saturday following a Broncos loss, many people were instantly disgusted. In case you missed it, the HBO host sent this comment:

“Wow, Jesus just (BEEPed) #TimTebow bad! And on Xmas Eve! Somewhere in hell Satan is tebowing, saying to Hitler “Hey, Buffalo’s killing them.”