1. SUPPORTERS FLOCK TO CHICK-FIL-A
Supporters converged on Chick-fil-A locations Wednesday to show support for the fast food restaurant, which has been under fire since its chief executive declared that he and his company opposed gay marriage. His comments have caused outrage and led many to boycott the chain. Calling for people to eat at the restaurant Wednesday to show their support, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee deemed it "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day." Sarah and Todd Palin also showed their support. [Washington Post]
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2. SOURCES: OBAMA OK'D SUPPORT FOR SYRIAN REBELS
U.S. officials tell CNN that President Obama has signed a secret order that authorizes "covert support" for the Syrian rebels. The president has hesitated to help arm the Syrian opposition in their fight again Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, but the administration said it would provide increased assistance to rebels after the U.N. Security Council failed to issue tougher sanctions against Assad last month. The details of the supposed directive are unclear. [CNN]
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3. PSYCHIATRIST WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HOLMES
Sources tell a CNN affiliate in Denver that a University of Colorado psychiatrist treating alleged movie theater shooter James Holmes was so concerned about her patient's behavior that she told colleagues he could be a danger to others. Dr. Lynne Fenton reportedly contacted multiple members of the "behavioral evaluation and threat assessment" team about Holmes in early June. University officials didn't contact authorities because Holmes dropped out of school shortly after that and was no longer in their jurisdiction. [CNN]
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4. HOUSE VOTES TO EXTEND TAX CUTS FOR ALL
The Republican-controlled House voted along party lines Wednesday to extend Bush-era tax cuts for all income levels. The largely symbolic move followed the House's rejection of a Democratic plan, which passed in the Senate last week, to limit the extension to individuals making less than $200,000, or couples making less than $250,000. [Washington Post]
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5. THREE JETS NEARLY CRASH AT D.C. AIRPORT
The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed that three U.S. commuter jets nearly crashed at Reagan National Airport Tuesday after air traffic controllers got mixed up responding to weather conditions. According to the reports, the aircraft were 12 seconds from impact when the mistake was corrected, and one of the planes involved was a U.S. Airways jet with 192 people aboard. [AFP]
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6. PHELPS, LOCHTE SET FOR FINAL SHOWDOWN
U.S. swimmers Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte will have their final Olympic showdown Thursday night when they compete in the 200-meter individual medley final. On the first night of swimming events, Lochte beat Phelps in the 400-meter IM to win Olympic gold, but he's since faltered while Phelps has gone on to reassert his greatness, winning two more medals to become the winningest Olympian ever. [USA Today]
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7. FORMER ISRAELI SPY CAUTIONS IRAN
Ephraim Halevy, a former Israeli spymaster, told Iranians that they should be "very worried" about the likelihood of an Israeli attack. Israel says attempts at diplomacy with Iran to get the country to curb its nuclear program have proven ineffective, while U.S. officials have urged Israel to give sanctions the opportunity to work before resorting to a military strike. "Right now the Iranian regime believes that the international community does not have the will to stop its nuclear program," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this week. "This must change, and it must change quickly because time to resolve this issue peacefully is running out." [ABC News]
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8. POSTAL SERVICE DEFAULTS
The U.S. Postal Service on Wednesday defaulted on a $5.5 billion payment owed to the federal government for future retirees' health benefits. Senators railed against the House for failing to act on a bipartisan bill to overhaul the agency that the Senate passed in April. The House plans to wait until after Labor Day to vote on the bill. The Postal Service says the default will not affect mail delivery and that employees and suppliers will be paid. [Reuters]
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9. ILLINOIS: EMPLOYERS CAN'T DEMAND SOCIAL INFO
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) signed a law Wednesday that makes it illegal for employers to ask potential employees for their social networking passwords. Maryland recently passed a similar law, and a number of other states are considering doing the same. [Associated Press]
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10. DOUGLAS, RAISMAN GO FOR INDIVIDUAL GOLD
After the U.S. women's gymnastic team won gold earlier this week, the focus is now on Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman, who will compete in the individual all-around Thursday. Douglas is considered the favorite after having the highest score in Tuesday's team competition, but her teammate Raisman has been doing quite well in London, and Russians Victoria Komova and Aliya Mustafina also pose a threat. [USA Today]
