The Merry Go Round: The Senate appears to be reaching a deal under which background checks on gun buyers would be extended to gun shows and online sales. A bill is moving toward a vote over the dead bodies of 13 Republican Senators who signed a letter saying they will filibuster any new gun control legislation. Among the signers are Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz from Texas. But several important Republicans said the issue should be debated. Majority leader Harry Reid says he plans to move forward with a vote Thursday.

• President Obama is introducing a budget that would raise taxes on the rich, spend $50 billion on public works and cut Social Security with anew limits on cost of living adjustments. Republicans say it’s “DOA”.
• An audiotape released by Mother Jones magazine reveals the above-mentioned Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell and his aides discussing how to attack Ashley Judd while the actress was considering a run against the incumbent. The group talks about Judd’s religious views and her history of depression. “This sounds extreme, but she is emotionally unbalanced,” a male voice says. McConnell described the taping as “Nixonian”, apparently forgetting that President Nixon taped himself. McConnell called the FBI to investigate.

National: Fourteen students were wounded, two seriously, when a male student went on a stabbing spree at Lone Star College outside Houston. The attacker was described as an eccentric who carries a child’s stuffed monkey. In January another student shot three people at the same school.

World: At least 37 people died and hundreds were injured yesterday in an earthquake that struck near Iran’s only nuclear power plant.

Bedbugs Bite: A study to be published today re-discovers a folk-remedy for bedbug infestation … bean leaves. Spread kidney bean leaves on the floor and the bedbugs get caught in the microscopic hooks on the surface of the leaves. It’s like nature’s own Velcro.

Shot Down:  The Navy Blue Angels precision flight team has been grounded for the rest of the 2013 show season because of the sequester cuts. The pilots will be allowed to fly only enough to maintain their skill.

Gotta Have Art: Cosmetics tycoon Leonard Lauder promised his billion dollar collection of 78 works of cubist art to the Met in New York. He has 33 Picassos, 17 Braques, 14 Légers and 14 pieces by Juan Gris. The 80-year-old Lauder has been building his cubist collection for 40 years. The Met will put in on display in 2014.  

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