New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is fighting to defend a law he signed in January that permits betting on professional sporting events. Though Christie has bipartisan support for the law in the state government and support amongst New Jersey residents, several major sporting leagues are suing the state, asserting that the law undermines federal law and threatens to undermine the nature of sports and the relationship between teams and their fans.

Suzanne Barr, chief of staff for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has “voluntarily placed herself on leave,” amid allegations that she created a “frat-house"-style work environment. Barr is currently under internal review by the Department of Homeland Security, which is investigating allegations of lewd conduct inside ICE.

Several ICE employees have come forward to complain about behavior within the agency. Employees have provided sworn affidavits regarding graphic remarks made by two top officials at ICE. The affidavits were submitted as part of a discrimination and retaliation suit filed by James T. Hayes, Jr., head of the New York office for ICE.

A petition about the screening procedures used by the Transportation Security Administration at airports was removed from the White House “We the People” website just before it reached the necessary 25,000 signatures to compel the Obama administration to issue a public response. The site holding the petition also went down for “maintenance” after an article on Wired.com called attention to the petition.

According to Jesus Vicente Zambada-Neibla, known as the “logistics coordinator” for the Sinaloa cartel and a close associate of Sinaloa cartel kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the U.S. government used Operation Fast and Furious to “divide and conquer” rival drug cartels in Mexico.

The U.S. Justice Department has announced that it will not be prosecuting Wall Street firm Goldman Sachs or its employees following an investigation into financial fraud. A Senate panel had been investigating allegations that the firm marketed four sets of risky mortgage securities without informing their clients that the securities were risky.

The Justice Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) has announced the creation of a new position entitled "Whistleblower Ombudsman" to protect federal employees who come forward to report misconduct within their department. Analysts contend the position was prompted by allegations from whistleblowers at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (still known as ATF) who claim they have faced retaliation for exposing the bureau's scandalous "Fast and Furious" gunwalking operation that armed Mexico's largest drug cartel with thousands of assault rifles. The new ombudsman position is one of the first of its kind in the federal government.

According to the owners of Papa John's, as well as a number of other businesses, the costs of ObamaCare will force up the costs of services for their consumers. Other businesses are so concerned at the increased costs that they are considering laying off workers, or cutting workers from full-time to part-time so that they may avoid the insurance coverage requirement.

The presence of armed military vehicles in American neighborhoods have some concerned that the government is attempting to acclimate the American people with the notion of martial law.

Phoenix pastor Michael Salman is currently serving a 60 day sentence in a Maricopa County, Arizona jail for violating his probation by holding religious services on his property, which is said to be in violation of zoning and building codes.

Salman, a husband and father of six children, is an ordained pastor at the Church of God in Christ and a founder of Harvest Christian Fellowship. In 2010, Salman was found guilty of nearly 70 Class 1 misdemeanors involving code violations in his home where he held church services, including not having lighted emergency exits, and not having fire doors or sprinklers. He appealed his convictions but the court upheld them.

The latest installment of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Dog Days, proves to be an entertaining film, particularly for avid readers of the graphic novels (fictional stories that are presented in comic-strip format and published as books). Much of the humor and plot devices will likely appeal more to younger audiences, but certain elements in the movie may redeem it for adult moviegoers.