Stories: Washington Post, LA Times  WARNING- VERY VIOLENT IMAGES/VIDEOS Pictures: Foreign Policy, MSNBC Videos: Foreign Policy, NY Times

If special interests and their "ownership" of politicians are such a universal problem, shouldn't we be worried that pro-life PAC payouts split like this?: Democratic candidates: $275,633. Republican candidates: $6,574,480. Read on at OpenSecrets.org.

Is America in the midst of decline or on the brink of disaster?  David Brooks of the NY Times rejects these trendy notions and argues that "despite all the problems, America’s future is exceedingly bright."

Watch the latest news video at video.foxnews.com

LA Times: "Twenty-five miners were killed Monday after a coal mine explosion deep in the rugged hills of West Virginia, marking the worst U.S. mine disaster since 1984 and raising questions about safety precautions at one of the nation's largest coal producers."

NY Times: "President Obama said Monday that he was revamping American nuclear strategy to substantially narrow the conditions under which the United States would use nuclear weapons."

Gary Locke, US Commerce Secretary: "President Obama began his campaign to reform the American health-care system focused on three goals: protecting Americans' choice of doctors and health plans, assuring quality and affordable health care for all Americans, and reducing costs for families and businesses.  The new comprehensive health-care legislation meets these goals, and will significantly benefit … Continue reading Locke: Health Reform is Undeniably Pro-business and Pro-jobs

In the big news of the day, President Obama "said he is lifting bans on offshore drilling and oil and gas exploration off the Virginia coast, and is expanding lease sales for oil and gas exploration on the Atlantic seaboard."

"Serbia on Wednesday took an important first step towards addressing its troubling recent history by passing a resolution condemning the massacre in Srebrenica, Bosnia."

Media Matters: "Right-wing media sources have falsely claimed that funding for community health centers (CHCs) included in the recently-passed health care reform legislation will fund abortions."