National: An estimated 35,000 people attended a rally in Washington yesterday to draw attention to global warming and ask President Obama not to approve the Keystone Pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. About 1,000 demonstrators marched to City Hall in Los Angeles as well. Environmentalists are alarmed about the pipeline because it would carry oil from Canadian oil shale, considered some of the most polluting oil in the world.   

World: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has returned home and checked into a military hospital 10 weeks after cancer surgery in Cuba. Chavez is not speaking and there’s no definitive word on his condition.

Fast Girl: Race driver Danica Patrick is the first woman in NASCAR history to win the pole position for the start of the Daytona 500. That puts her a notch above three-time Daytona winner Jeff Gordon. The pole position is on the inside of the front row, the best starting spot.

Remotely Heroic: The Pentagon has created a medal for operators of remotely piloted drones and cyber geniuses who attack enemy computer systems. It’s called the Distinguished Warfare Medal. The DWM ranks just below the Distinguished Flying Cross and above the Bronze Star, which involves actually being in combat.

The Box Score: Bruce Willis died hard yet again with the release of the fifth installment of the Die Hard series earning $25 million in domestic sales. Critics liked it less than ticket buyers. “Identity Thief” was number two and the Nicholas Sparks sap-fest “Safe Haven” was third.

Passing: Country singer Mindy McCready, 37, who topped the charts in the 90s, has died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. She was found on the porch of her Arkansas home just weeks after the apparent suicide of her boyfriend who was the father of one of her two sons. McCready has had drug and alcohol problems and her children were recently removed from her home.

On The Rocks: Maker’s Mark bourbon abandoned a plan to water down its whiskey to ease a supply shortage. Maker’s was going to lower the alcohol content from 45% to 42% because they couldn’t keep up with rising demand.  A company statement said, “We’re humbled by your overwhelming response and passion for Maker’s Mark.” Translation, they they got a lot of raging drunk phone calls.

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