News Ticker: April 16

Greg Abbott fears a blue planet, Alex Jones wades into manure, and Bob Deuell hides his motives. Opportunism is on the News Ticker.

• A few new details have emerged in the Boston Marathon bombing investigation. Although officials warn that they have no confirmed suspects, police have questioned (and cleared) a Saudi citizen and searched a Revere, Massachusetts home.

• Inevitably, some were quick to use the tragedy to promote dubious agendas. Almost immediately after the attack, professional wound-salter Alex Jones characterized the events as a "false flag" operation meant to give the TSA further powers.

• Over at the Washington Post, Jennifer Rubin saw the bombing as an opportunity to make a dig at a colleague's coverage of the Kermit Gosnell trial.

• The New York Times' Nicholas Kristof seized the day to rail against GOP obstructionism. Carpe dayum.

• And as usual, misguided Etsy shop owners proved that the road to hell is paved with macramé. Nothing is too grisly for marketing.

• After years of delays, Austin's bulk food dreams are about to become a reality.

• Now that the city has completed the first leg of the Lance Armstrong Bikeway extension, city workers can focus on finishing the Roger Clemens Baseball Complex.

• Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. The Dell Inc. saga could use some adrenaline. Maybe Michael Dell could slap Carl Icahn before engaging in a swimming pool cat fight. It seems unfair that Aaron Spelling never scripted the news.

• Texas Sen. Bob Deuell is worried that his anti-abortion bill will be regarded as an anti-abortion bill written by people who are, indeed, anti-abortion.

• When in Waco, Texas AG Greg Abbott does as Wacoans do.

• Classes are continuing after a Temple High School student shot himself this morning.

• Based on the evidence provided by face-eating zombies, gunslinging dogs, and now giant snails, it seems certain that the biblical apocalypse will only be happening in Florida.

• Sometimes being an activist judge backfires.