NATIONAL

“More than a year ago, huddled in secret, the Republican National Committee began negotiations with conservative news organizations to wrest at least one presidential primary debate from the grip of the mainstream media. It was to be an event by and for the GOP’s base, free of the constraints of a big network, to ensure candidates a forum to speak about conservative issues in a conservative frame for conservative voters.” – Politico

“Satellite photos obtained by The Associated Press confirm what church leaders and Middle East preservationists had feared: The oldest Christian monastery in Iraq has been reduced to a field of rubble, yet another victim of the Islamic State group’s relentless destruction of heritage sites it considers heretical.” – Fox News

“Macedonian policemen clash with migrants at the Greek-Macedonian border, near the northern Greek village of Idomeni, on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. Scores of migrants stranded at Greece’s northern border have clashed with police while trying to force their way into Macedonia. Macedonia toughened rules for migrant crossings earlier this month, restricting access to citizens from countries typically granted asylum in Europe, including Syria and Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)” – Red State

“This month, Lena Dunham, wearing a red, white and blue sweater dress with the word ‘Hillary’ emblazoned across the chest, told voters how Hillary Clinton had overcome sexism in her political career.” – NY Times

“He may still be down in the polls, but the latest reminder of GOP presidential contender Jeb Bush’s financial prowess arrived on Monday.” – The Washington Post

“I took my first trip to the Statue of Liberty in May of 2011, a year after I moved to New York City. I’ve never been big on tourist traps — and New York City is full of them — but I felt an obligation to pay a visit to the lady in the harbor at least once.” – National Review

“Michael Brown doesn’t care how much you love Pluto. He loves it too, but that didn’t stop him from leading the charge in 2006 to strip it of its ‘planet’ designation and bust it down to a mere dwarf planet. But now, the Caltech astronomer is making amends in a big way: along with Caltech planetary scientist Konstantin Batygin, he has just released a paper announcing the highly likely discovery of a new planet to replace Pluto—and no one’s ever going to be able to demote this one.” – Time.com

“Democrats backing Hillary Clinton, nervously eyeing Senator Bernie Sanders’s growing strength in the early nominating states, are turning to a new strategy to raise doubts about his candidacy, highlighting his socialist beliefs to warn that he would be an electoral disaster who would frighten swing voters and send Democrats in tight congressional and governor’s races to defeat.” – NY Times

“‘We were just saying the facts.’” – The Blaze

“For anyone looking for more proof that ‘sexual assault activist’ Lena Dunham is a total fraud, the New York Times reports Wednesday that when the rape-hoaxer is not out championing for Bill Clinton to become America’s first First Gentleman, privately she is “disturbed” by the wake of women in Bill’s past who have accused him of various forms of sexual assault, up to and including rape:” – Breitbart

LOUISIANA

“The Investigators looked into the bond orders and conditions set by several district court judges and revealed what some have referred to as a ‘disturbing’ and perhaps ‘shady’ pattern.” – WAFB.com

“Guest Editorial: Higher taxes will only hurt Louisiana’s economy right now”  – BaptistMessage.com

“Slidell Police say a man is dead after a train hit him this morning.” – WWL.com

“A cynic might conclude after conducting a little research into the state of the state’s finances that all of the ballyhoo about raising taxes in Louisiana by as much as $2 billion represents nothing but a money grab to expand the social welfare state.” – Hannapub.com

“The fire at LSU’s Patrick F. Taylor Hall Tuesday night was caused by hot tar and asphalt materials used to install the roof of the building, Baton Rouge Fire Department spokesman Curt Monte said in a news release.” – The Baton Rouge Advocate

“A former St. Augustine High School student is claiming in Orleans Parish Civil District Court that a fellow student sexually assaulted him on a school trip to St. Petersburg, Fla. last year. St. Augustine said in a statement Tuesday (Jan. 19) that ‘our hearts are broken by this tragedy,’ while omitting any reference to a sexual assault or any description of what happened.” – NOLA.com

“Tom Benson’s former personal assistant, Rodney Henry, says Benson’s wife repeatedly harassed him on the job and made racially derogatory remarks before having him kicked out of the Saints organization, according to a court filing Tuesday (Jan. 19).” – NOLA.com

“LSU has offered a scholarship to Zachary quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr.” – WAFB.com