the big 5 stories:

#2 - The WellPoint Biz Model: Rescind Breast Cancer Coverage

Tens of thousands of women were dropped from their WellPoint health insurance plans as soon as they were diagnosed with breast cancer. Virtually all of the patients had paid their premiums and have never had any problems with payments. The disclosures come to light after a recent investigation by Reuters showed that another health insurance company, Assurant Health, similarly targeted HIV-positive policyholders for rescission. Full Story

#3 - No Taxes for General Electric

So-called "free" trade laws are coming into pay as General Electric (parent company of NBC-Universal) utilizes financial tricks that allow the mega company to claim a $408 million loss while actually earning a profit of almost $11 billion dollars. It has been noted that MSNBC has been rather favorable to the Obama administration as increasing pressure mounts to repeal "free" trade agreements. Full Story

#4 - GOP Chair: Blacks "Have No Reason" to Vote Republican

"You really don't have a reason to, to be honest -- we haven't done a very good job of really giving you one. True? True," Republican National Chairman Michael Steele told 200 DePaul University students, "For the last 40-plus years we had a 'Southern Strategy' that alienated many minority voters by focusing on the white male vote in the South. Well, guess what happened in 1992, folks, 'Bubba' went back home to the Democratic Party and voted for Bill Clinton." Full Story

#5 - Earth Day Has Sold Out

Today is the 40th Earth Day. The observance started out in an environmental movement that was viewed as anti-business. But today, not only is a "green" label trendy but global corporations and organizations are co-opting the environment message for profit. Full Story

also:

*New pro-war propaganda has Iran allying with Venezuela

*Pilot Program coming to you? TSA Joins NYPD in Subway Baggage Screening

*Thousand in Illinois march for more taxes

*The tea party's exaggerated importance

*Vanity Fair humor: New $100 bill is very Europie