1/3/2014::Daily Leftovers

Kim Jong Un's executed uncle was eaten alive by 120 hungry dogs: report

Jang Song Thaek, who had been considered Kim's second-in-command, was executed last month after being found guilty of "attempting to overthrow the state," North Korea’s state-run news agency reported.

The official North Korean account on Dec. 12 did not specify how Jang was put to death.

U.S. officials told NBC News on Friday that they could not confirm the reports. "This is not ringing any bells here," said one senior official.

White House: New gun rules for mentally ill

The Obama administration proposed two new federal rules Friday that it said would provide more information about the mentally ill to gun-background-check databases.

The rules, proposed by the Justice and Health and Human Services departments, would allow the federal database access to some mental health records by giving it an exemption from existing privacy law and “clarify” that people involuntarily committed to both inpatient and outpatient institutions could be prohibited from purchasing guns.

The proposed rules are the latest set of executive actions in the wake of the December 2012 school massacre at Newtown, Conn. Last January, President Barack Obama announced 23 executive actions and called for a host of legislation that included universal background checks for gun purchases and a new ban on assault weapon sales.

Openly Gay Music Star Clay Aiken Considering Run for Congress

American Idol" runner-up and openly gay singer Clay Aiken may attempt a bid for a seat representing North Carolina in the House of Representatives this year.

Aiken, 35, who finished second to Ruben Studdard on the show's second season in 2003, may attempt to take a seat away from Republicans and current Rep. Renee Ellmers.

According to two unnamed Democratic sources that talked with The Washington Blade, Aiken has been making preliminary fundraising phone calls to test his viability as a candidate. The singer must make his decision by Feb. 28, the deadline for filing for the May 6 primary.