Friday, May 31, 2013   Published Weekday Mornings   To see the full version of today's cartoon, click on the preview graphic of the cartoon (below the Commentary) to be taken to the full version in your favorite web browser. Shut Up And Drive In a Plus for Electrics, Tesla Repays a Big Federal Loan Early Tesla Is First Green Tech Company to Pay Back Its Department of Energy Loan Brad Plumer: Should the government have made more money off Tesla? No. 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Tesla Model S Elon Musk of Tesla announces expansion of charger network to allow cross-country road trips Jason Del Rey: Supercharger Expansion Will Allow for Tesla Cross-Country Trips Maps Of Tesla's Supercharger Network Tesla CEO Elon Musk Reveals Targets For Affordable 'Gen 3' Models Daniel Gross: Ford's New Hybrid Surge Scandalmania 2013 Eric Holder to media at 'off the record' meeting: I get it Dylan Byers: On leaks - The case against the media House panels to interview Cincinnati IRS employees Poll: Americans want special prosecutor for IRS scandal White House: No special prosecutor for IRS scandal, despite public support New controversy: McCain Posing With Rebel Kidnapper? Taxes & Deficits CBO Report: Washington 'Spends' More on Tax Breaks Than on Medicare, Defense, or Social Security Dylan Matthews: Only a third of charitable contributions go to the poor Dylan Matthews: Here's who gets the biggest tax breaks, in one chart (okay, six) Jonathan Bernstein: Tax reform - A big test for House Republicans Ed Kilgore: The Politics of Tax Expenditures and Tax Reform David Cay Johnston: The undercovered dark cloud in the shrinking-deficit story American Terrorism Ricin-letter investigation identifies Texas man as person of interest FBI: Ricin letter to Obama also sent from Washington State Immigration: Reform Coming Despite Early Success, Immigration Bill Faces Uncertain Path Forward Tea Party Conference Call Features Threat To Assassinate U.S. Senator Because She Supports Immigration Reform Energy, Climate & Environment President Obama admits: He has no 'patience' for climate skeptics New Mexico county first in nation to ban fracking to safeguard water Japan cancels U.S. wheat order on GMO fear South Korea suspends U.S. wheat imports as GMO concerns fester Nations In Turmoil Syrian conflict: Rebel reinforcements arrive in Qusayr Reports: Michigan woman killed in Syria fighting after joining rebels Lebanese TV insists: Assad says Syria has received Russian missiles Russia Says Missiles 'Months Away' From Delivery To Syria UN blacklists Syria's al-Nusra Front as terrorist group Sen. John McCain insists U.S. weapons would 'help the right people' in Syria war  International News Turkish police break up Istanbul park protest US Sec. of Defense Hagel calls for honest talks with China on cyber threats National Politics Queens Boy, 13, Wins Scripps National Spelling Bee With 'Knaidel' TSA eliminates all invasive X-ray machines Midwest Roundup Committee created to take comprehensive look at Nebraska state tax system Omaha's Mayor-elect Stothert asks City Council to approve a cut in her salary Husker Softball Loses Eight-Inning Heartbreaker in WCWS Opener; Will Play Again Saturday Storms keep flood danger high across much of Iowa Iowa officially has wettest spring in 141 years of records Shut Up And Drive Forward Change is not always something our staff members enjoy. The Chicago Sun-Times committed one of those stupid acts of senseless change on Thursday, as they made one of the most idiotic moves we've seen in years, in either business or journalism, when they fired their entire photography staff. That's saying a lot, considering some of the less-than-brilliant choices made by former employers and clients our staff members have had. So with that frustrating thought about change percolating in our heads, we thought it more important than ever today to focus on a story about change that might actually give our readers a bit more hope for the weekend, and beyond. We found that story, thanks in part to our resident tech geek, who pointed us towards a fantastic announcement by Tesla Motors on Thursday. With another roadtrip looming on the horizon this weekend for one of our staffers, we weren't exactly looking forward to playing the blame game with the gas pump again. The most recent chapter of this story, in case you missed it, began last week when Tesla Motors - the all-electric, all-American car company helmed by SpaceX founder and PayPal co-founder Elon Musk - paid back it's half-billion dollar U.S. government loan nine years early...   To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for May 31, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Jobs & The Economy Study says Americans have rebuilt less than half of wealth lost to the recession Paul Krugman: From the Mouths of Babes - The GOP Attack On The Poor Greg Sargent: Improving economy could help Dems hold Senate in 2014 Ben White: Rising economy shifts 2014 election landscape Wall Street Watch Mortgage rates jump to highest mark in a year Fears of Accelerating U.S. Economic Growth Stirring Fear In U.S. Stock Market Costco's Profit Soars To $459 Million As Low-Wage Competitors Struggle Obama administration extends life of anti-foreclosure program War on Workers Judge: Coal company can drop retirement benefits for 13,000 workers Judge approves Peabody/Patriot move to shirk pension responsibilities The Euro Zone Record unemployment, low inflation continue to underline Europe's economic pain Thousands blockade European Central Bank in Frankfurt Guns & America Ricin attacks puts spotlight on Bloomberg's gun control push Radical pro-gun protestor cancels July 4 armed march on D.C. Gun Goes Off In Backpack At Minneapolis Elementary School David Sirota: Polls show - Conservatives support background checks, too! Health Care Checkup Will Obamacare force insurers to compete? The White House thinks so. White House memo: 120 Health Insurance Plans Have Applied - So Far - To Participate In Exchanges States say ObamaCare exchanges will be ready on time New Rules Give Employers Leeway on Use of Health Incentives Education In America Obama, GOP Lock Horns As Student Loan Battle Heats Up Here are the five best moments from the National Spelling Bee Communications Breakdown Chicago Sun-Times lays off its entire photo staff New York Times Is Said to Consider More Sponsored Stories Did You Miss It On Wednesday? Here It Is Again! Your HuskerNutz Preview for May 31, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) White House Update Obama to push Congress on student loans today | U.S. Secret Service says threatening ricin letter also sent to Obama Filibuster Battle Greg Sargent: A simple way for Repubs to avoid the "nuclear option" Ethics & The Media Sital Patel: J.P. Morgan spending on lobbying dwarfs rivals On The Left Ana Marie Cox: Five reasons Democrats will miss Bachmann Amy Walter: What Does an Improving Economy Mean for 2014? Good News. Andy Kroll: Meet the New George Soros On The Right Greg Sargent: Ted Cruz is turning out to be a very skillful demagogue Jamelle Bouie: Just what the GOP needs - More outreach to white voters Eugene Robinson: The GOP is too juvenile to govern States Of Confusion Wisconsin appeals court rules voter ID law constitutional Seattle Entrepreneur Plans $100 Million National Chain of Pot Stores | California Assembly approves hike in state's minimum wage California Senate votes to revoke Boy Scouts' nonprofit status We hope you enjoy "The Daily Felltoon" every business day. Thanks for continuing to be a member! Paul Fell Shawn "Smith" Peirce Paul Fell Cartoons, Inc.