National: Rep. Paul Ryan unveiled a Republican budget plan that would slash taxes on the rich from 39% to 25% while eliminating President Obama’s health care reform, Wall Street regulations and plans for high-speed rail. Medicare would be mostly privatized. The plan cuts the federal budget by $4.6 trillion through 2023. The Ryan plan is much the same as what Republicans ran with when they lost the Presidential election last fall.

At a press conference Ryan said, “That means we surrender our principles? That means we stop believing in what we believe in?”

• New York’s so-called “Cannibal Cop” was convicted of conspiring to kidnap and eat women. Prosecutors said evidence from 28-year-old Gilberto Valle’s computer showed that he was planning to kidnap and eat six women, including his wife.  He never actually did it. The defense argued that he was guilty of no more than having bizarre Internet fantasies. “Obviously, the case involved thoughts that were unusual and bizarre and frankly very ugly,” his lawyer said. Valle faces a possible life sentence.
• The planet Mars could have supported primitive microbial life billions of years ago, NASA says. In samples of powered rock the Mars Rover found minerals and evidence of water, both necessary for life, but so far no signs of actual living organisms.
• Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is said to be reconsidering the new Distinguished Warfare Medal that would be awarded to drone operators and electronic warfare specialists. Dismissive critics quickly dubbed it the “Nintendo” medal and complained that it ranks higher than the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, which require exposure to actual gunfire.

World: About 80 people are dead in Libya, and more than 700 sickened, after drinking a home made batch of alcohol. Liquor is illegal in Libya, but available on the black market.

Black Smoke: A crowd stood in driving rain at the Vatican today, but the cardinals have not picked a pope in their first three ballots. Starting today, they vote four times a day until they have a two-thirds majority.

Not Same: In a “separate but equal” decision, the Colorado legislature approved a bill legalizing same-sex civil unions. Couples would have many of the benefits and responsibilities of marriage, but it wouldn’t be marriage.

Search Me: Google admitted violating the public’s privacy when its computer-equipped cars scooped up email, passwords and personal information during its vast street mapping project. The company settled a complaint by 38 states for $7 million. But Google still has that picture of you picking up the morning newspaper wrapped in a towel.

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