Looks like somebody found a binder. On Friday, Speaker John Boehner announced that Rep. Candice Miller of Michigan will now head the House Administration Committee, after criticism of his all-male lineup of chairmen heading the major committees in the GOP. “In her new post, Candice will provide the leadership needed to keep operating costs down, save taxpayer dollars, and help lawmakers use new technology to better engage with their constituents,” Boehner said in a statement. Barring more last-minute changes, Miller will be the only Republican woman to head a House committee when the 113th Congress convenes Jan. 3.

It’s time for a change, Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki said Friday. Responding to increasingly violent protests over economic hardships in the country, Marzouki asked Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali to appoint a new cabinet. More than 220 people were injured this past week during clashes between protesters and police, and at least 17 were blinded by birdshot. According to U.N. human-rights officials, local security forces are using excessive force in their attempts to control the protests. “The government must be changed,” Marzouki said. “If the clashes continue and the government’s response is not adequate, there will be chaos and a dead end.”

It’s not good news or bad news for gay marriage advocates: it’s no news. The Supreme Court didn’t take any action Friday as to whether it will hear two high-profile gay marriage cases. The court’s silence doesn’t mean the justices are refusing to ever take the cases on—it just means that they still haven’t made a decision, though it was widely expected they would today. The court has been asked to consider the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, which states that same-sex marriages conducted in states where gay marriage is legal aren’t recognized by the federal government. The court also must decide whether to review California’s Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in the state less than six months after it was legalized.

Wyoming police continue to search for clues regarding Friday's murder-suicide on the Casper College campus. A man, not believed to be a Casper student, allegedly killed a teacher and himself in a classroom full of students. The suspect also reportedly murdered another victim, a woman, in the street about two miles away. The killer's motive is still unclear, as is whether he used the same "edged weapon" in both murders. None of the victims' names have been released, but the attacker is believed to have known his victims.

At least the two sides can agree on not mincing words. "Let's not kid ourselves, we've reached a stalemate," Speaker of the House John Boehner said Friday, filling us all in on just how poorly budget-deal negotiations seem to be progressing. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania Friday, President Obama told a crowd at a Tinkertoy factory that the Republicans' tax plan "is sort of like the lump of coal you get for Christmas.” Republicans rejected an offer Obama made Thursday, which reportedly asked for a $1.6 trillion tax increase, a $50 billion stimulus program, and new executive power to raise the federal debt limit without congressional approval. Republicans have called for more spending cuts.

Drone crashes at overseas civilian airports have increased significantly over the past two years, according to a new report by The Washington Post. The report is based on a review of thousands of pages of unclassified Air Force investigation reports, obtained by public-records requests. The papers cite several reasons for the spike in drone crashes, from pilot error due to inexperience to poor coordination with air-traffic controllers. The news comes on the heels of Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s announcement that the U.S. plans to increase its use of drones in Africa and the Middle East in order to pursue al Qaeda supporters. 

The Boy Scouts of America can keep their so-called “perversion files” secret for now, a Texas appeal judge has ruled. Back in August, a Texas judge had ordered the organization to release 27 years' worth of sexual-abuse complaints to attorneys of a former Scout who claimed he’d been sexually abused by a former Scoutmaster who was already behind bars. Thursday, however, a Texas appeals court sided with the Scouts’ request to keep their so-called perversion files private. The teenager’s attorneys are expected to respond to the court’s decision next week.

Catch a ride upon a moonbeam and try this one on for size. Scientists in North Korea are claiming that unicorns actually existed. The report, released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), “reconfirmed” the burial site of a royal unicorn allegedly ridden by King Dongmyeong of the ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo. Scientists say the proof lies not in something silly like, say, evidence of a horn on a horse, but in the rectangular rock engraved at the entrance of the grave, which reads “‘Unicorn Lair.” Full disclosure: KCNA isn’t exactly known for accuracy. The news agency once reported that deceased leader Kim Jong-il had not only “invented the hamburger” but written “1,500 books.” Next up, Santa Claus?

Give them the pot ‘o gold already. A husband and wife from Missouri who won half of the record $587.5 million Powerball jackpot have just about died and gone to heaven. “I called my husband and told him, ‘I think I am having a heart attack,’” Cindy Hill, 51, said, according to a Missouri press release published on Friday. After hearing that one of the winning tickets was sold in Missouri and the other was in Arizona, Cindy checked all five tickets she bought and found one had the winning numbers. With the odds of winning being 1 in 175 million, Cindy, who was laid off from her job in 2010, and her husband Mark, a mechanic, thought they didn’t stand a chance. But now they’re dreaming of using their $293.7 million to travel with their 6-year-old daughter and possibly adopt another child.

Halle Berry and baby daddy Gabriel Aubry seem to have finally declared a truce in their bloody battle. First, on Thursday, the exes settled their drawn-out custody battle over daughter Nahla. Then Friday, Aubry announced he's dropping his restraining order against Halle's current fiancé, Olivier Martinez, after their Thanksgiving fight left Aubry with a broken rib.

The makers of Bazooka Joe fired a shot to the heart of fans of the gum. As part of its first advertising campaign in five years, the gum is receiving a makeover, which includes getting rid of its beloved Bazooka Joe comic strip. Instead, brainteasers and other activities will wrap the chew. The iconic red, white, and blue packaging will also be spruced up with graffiti-inspired yellows and pinks, and the actual stick of gum is getting bigger, from 4.5 grams to 6. For the first time in years, 7-Eleven, Target, and other major retailers will begin stocking the gum again.

Lawyers for former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn denied reports that he will settle a civil lawsuit with the hotel housekeeper who accused him rape last year. French media reported Friday that Strauss-Kahn and Nafissatou Diallo settled out of court for $6 million, although Strauss-Kahn's lawyers said they had only "discussed a resolution." Criminal charges against the French powerhouse were dropped last year, with both sides seeking damages in subsequent civil suits, and a court date had been set for sometime next week. Strauss-Kahn is also being investigated for his alleged participation in an organized prostitution ring, an allegation he denies.

Twenty months into the revolution against President Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian opposition is finally receiving international recognition. Since forming a new unity coalition last month—officially called the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Force—the notoriously fractured rebels have made significant strides on the ground in Syria, overrunning military bases and pushing deep into Damascus. But they say rebel unification hinges on a steady supply of weapons to counter the Syrian Army’s airplane assaults—and they’re looking to the West for arms. “If there are no weapons, there’s no point to this,” Abdul Qader Saleh, one of the rebellion’s most famous fighters, told The Daily Beast. Western governments have long cited rebel infighting when arguing it’s too difficult and dangerous to arm them. But rebels say the U.S. shoulders much of the blame for disunity.

Lindsay Lohan should probably stop going to clubs. TMZ reports that Lindsay Lohan’s alleged victim was Tiffany Mitchell, a psychic who says she had a premonition and offered to give the actress a free reading. According to Mitchell, Lohan told her to “give me my space.”As Mitchell walked away, her friend heard Lohan call her a “f---ing gypsy,” which initiated a hurl of insults. Mitchell’s friend called Lohan a “whore” and told her that “Liz & Dick sucked.” Eventually Lohan reportedly lost it and punched the psychic in the eye. Mitchell’s husband later offered some wise words of advice, telling TMZ, “Just because your career went down the drain and your new movie sucks, you can’t go around beating people up.”

Joe Jackson, the Jackson Family patriarch, has been taken to the hospital after suffering a mild stroke. The 84-year-old went to a Las Vegas hospital after having trouble standing and walking, though he was lucid enough to call a friend to take him to the hospital. He has had at least two strokes before, but he is expected to be released on Friday. Jackson’s wife, Katherine, is reportedly heading to Las Vegas to be with him. Despite managing many of his children’s careers, he had a strained relationship with them, and Michael Jackson famously claimed that his father had mentally and physically abused him.

The White House is considering providing more aid to the Syrian rebels as casualties amass in their ongoing civil war. “I’m sure we will do more in the weeks ahead,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a conference Thursday. “If this were a straightforward challenge I think we would all have reached a conclusion and have unified behind exactly what we are going to do, and how to do it.” The U.S. has not yet joined Britain, France, and others in recognizing the newly formed Syrian National Coalition, but privately officials say a decision is imminent.

Mexico’s attorney general has compiled a list of more than 25,000 people who are missing in Mexico over the past six years of the country’s violent war against drug mafias and crime gangs. There have also been at least 100,000 homicides during Felipe Calderon’s presidency, which ends on Saturday. The list was released by officials frustrated by the failure of the government to investigate the cases and a lack of transparency, although it has not been published by the government. Calderon’s spokesperson did not say why the numbers had not been released earlier in his presidency. One man whose brother criticized the government’s decision not to publish the list said, “to release these figures would show that their strategies had failed, and they had failed us.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron has decided to draft legislation for new laws establishing a press watchdog to convince critics it would be a mistake. Cameron faced criticism after rejecting the new press laws—one of the Leveson Inquiry’s principal recommendations. But Culture Secretary Maria Miller said such legislation would put a “subtle muzzle” on the press, adding that it “provides a legislative framework” to “impinge on press freedom.”  She explained, “We want to draw that up and share that with the opposition parties and with our coalition partners to be able to demonstrate that to them and I think when they see that as we draft it over the next fortnight that they will too understand where our concerns come from."

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi said on Friday that his controversial decree that greatly extended his power would end “as soon as the people vote on a Constitution,” adding that the decree was “for an exceptional stage.” Morsi’s comments came as the Islamist-led assembly approved a new Constitution. But opposition protesters said that the assembly “does not represent all sections of society,” since many liberals and other moderate voices had withdrawn from the assembly. Protesters vowed to push for a “no” vote in a referendum. The new Constitution draft limits presidents to two terms and allows for some civilian oversight of the military—but it maintains “the principles of sharia” as the main source of legislation, and critics are worried about the rights of women and freedom of speech.

As the United States inches closer to the fiscal cliff, Republican House Speaker John Boehner appears to be standing his ground. The Wall Street Journal reports Boehner rejected the first fiscal cliff deal offer from President Obama in a meeting with Democratic Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Thursday. The proposal reportedly called for a $1.6 trillion tax increase, a $50 billion stimulus program, and new executive power to raise the federal debt limit without congressional approval. Boehner rejected the deal, adding he was "disappointed." While he's reluctant to budge on tax rates, Boehner blames the standoff on the opposition party. “Democrats have yet to get serious about spending cuts,” he said.

Sources said on Thursday that Microsoft will cut its order of Surface tablets from four million units to two million units this year, due to weak demand. Other, PC companies have seen a very weak demand for Windows 8 tablets. Windows radically redesigned its operating software to compete with Apple’s iPad and Amazon’s Kindle Fire. This holiday season large numbers of people are expected to choose tablets over PCs. But the new Surface may not be working out as well as Microsoft hoped. Asus CFO David Chang summed it up neatly, saying, “Demand for Windows 8 is not that great right now.”

Now you know just where to spend your money this holiday season. Representatives for George Zimmerman announced on Thursday that anyone who donates to the newly established George Zimmerman Defense Fund will receive a personally signed thank-you note. In the announcement, Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara, said that the old fund had raised $140,000 since it was created in May, but that “currently, the balance of the George Zimmerman Defense Fund is at its lowest, and new funds must be raised to support George’s living expenses and legal costs.” Zimmerman is currently free on a $1 million bond while he awaits trial for the shooting and killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, which Zimmerman claims was in self-defense.

Jobless lines in the euro zone reached a record high in October, with youths bearing the brunt of the debt crisis, according to data released Friday. The highest unemployment rates fell to Spain and Greece—both over 25 percent, with youth unemployment climbing toward an alarming 60 percent. Figures released Friday showed that the recession had pushed unemployment levels to the highest they’ve been since the introduction of the euro in 1999. A wee bit of good news: the annual inflation rate dropped more than analysts anticipated, though it is still above the European Central Bank’s target. Also, Germany approved the latest Greek debt deal to give the country €44 billion in rescue loans, without which the country would face bankruptcy and possibly be pushed out of the euro zone.  

They may be socially awkward, but chains and whips excite them. Harvard University is expected to officially approve a student BDSM club, Harvard College Munch, on Friday. Approval by the Committee on Student Life will allow Munch to host and promote gatherings on campus and apply for grants from the Drug and Alcohol Peer Advisors organization. The group’s founder, known only as Michael, says that the group will now have “institutional support” to provide reassurance to its members. Perhaps a little too much reassurance—one member of the group said she had been hit with a riding crop, a belt, and canes at a private Munch function. A spokesman for Harvard said that the school does not endorse the views of student organizations.

Talk about a bad way to start your morning commute. A train bridge collapsed in New Jersey around 7:00 a.m., overturning three box cars and sending four chemical-leaking railroad tank cars into Mantua Creek. Ambulances rushed to the Paulsboro Marine Terminal where some 18 people were reportedly experiencing breathing difficulties after the collapse, though no deaths or injuries have been reported. The biggest current concern is the tank cars’ leaking vinyl chloride, a highly flammable gas that can also have harmful effects on the central nervous system.

Who knew a hug could spark so much anger? Rihanna posted a photo on her Instagram account of her embracing and kissing her ex, Chris Brown, eliciting a resounding “ugh” from fans who are flabbergasted that the pop star appears to be reuniting with the man who sent her to the hospital in 2009. “I don’t wanna leave!!! Killed it tonight baby!!!” Rihanna captioned the photo. The PDA comes days after Brown briefly deleted his own Twitter account, following a vulgar tweet-fight with comedian Jenny Johnson.

The U.S. is ramping up its sanctions on Iran, with the Senate approving Friday new sanctions on trade with the country’s port, shipping, and ship-building sectors. The new package marks the latest move in the Senate’s efforts to put economic pressure on Iran to stop developing its nuclear program. “We must be clear to the Iranians that toughing it out and waiting it out is not an option, that it will only get worse,” Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez said.

Israel is moving forward with plans to start building in an area of Jerusalem once considered off-limits since it will cut off Palestinian access to key cities, sources told The New York Times on Friday. A senior Israeli official said Thursday night that the government decided late Thursday night to prep the necessary zoning permits and other “planning preparations” for an area of Jerusalem known as E1, which would cut off the Palestinians Ramallah and Bethlehem to the Palestinian portion of East Jerusalem. The move comes on the same day that the United Nations overwhelmingly approved non-member status for Palestine—although building in the region could stand to alienate Israel from its allies, as even the U.S. has strongly opposed any building in E1 for decades.

Three people were found dead Friday morning at Casper College in Wyoming, victims of an apparent murder-suicide, according to reports from local police. Police Chief Chris Walsh said two people were found dead at the school’s science center and another at an undisclosed location. The identities of the two victims and the deceased suspected attacker remain a mystery, but rumors are flying—chief among that the weapon used in the murders was a bow and arrow, after police confirmed that the suspect used a “sharp-edged weapon.” While the school is no longer on lockdown, a note on the college’s website announces that all classes and activities are canceled.