When it comes to key warriors in America’s battle over the causes of climate change, few rival Pennsylvania State University professor Michael E. Mann . Mann, who directs the Penn State Earth System Science Center, led a 1998 reconstruction of temperature records going back thousands of years and showing that global averages had shot up in recent decades. Read full article > >

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Book review: Michael Mann’s ‘The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars’

Since 1990, the not-for-profit James Beard Foundation named after “the father of American cuisine,” has been honoring the outstanding names in the food and beverage industry. There is no cash reward, but a win – or even a nomination – can substantially increase the buzz for business, according to foundation President Susan Ungaro. The nominations for the 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards were announced Monday night at the Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception by James Beard Award–winning author and television personality Alton Brown . See all the winners below, or explore our Twitter feed for pictures and color from the star-studded night. AMERICA'S CLASSICS AWARDS (pictured above) Locally owned restaurants “beloved in their regions for quality food that reflects the character of their community,” according to the Foundation. The Fry Bread House (Phoenix, Arizona) Nora's Fish Creek Inn (Wilson, Wyoming) St Elmo Steak House (Indianapolis, Indiana) Jones Bar-B-Q Diner (Marianna, Arkansas) Shady Glen (Manchester, Connecticut) RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR Dave Beran, Next (Chicago, Illinois) Danny Bowien, Mission Chinese Food (San Francisco, California) Thomas McNaughton, flour + water (San Francisco, California) WINNER: Christina Tosi, Momofuku Milk Bar (New York City) Sue Zemanick, Gautreau’s (New Orleans, Louisiana) OUTSTANDING BAR PROGRAM The Aviary (Chicago, Illinois) Bar Agricole (San Francisco, California) WINNER: PDT (New York City) Pegu Club (New York City) The Violet Hour (Chicago, Illinois) OUTSTANDING WINE PROGRAM A16 (San Francisco, California) The Barn at Blackberry Farm (Walland, Tennessee) Emeril's (New Orleans, Louisiana) Frasca Food and Wine (Boulder, Colorado) WINNER: No. 9 Park (Boston, Massachusetts) OUTSTANDING WINE & SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware) Merry Edwards, Merry Edwards Winery (Sebastopol, California) WINNER: Paul Grieco, Terroir (New York City) Garrett Oliver, Brooklyn Brewery (New York City) Neal Rosenthal, Mad Rose Group (Pine Plains, New York) BEST CHEF: GREAT LAKES Michael Carlson, Schwa (Chicago, Illinois) Stephanie Izard, Girl & the Goat (Chicago, Illinois) Anne Kearney, Rue Dumaine (Dayton, Ohio) WINNER: Bruce Sherman, North Pond (Chicago, Illinois) Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia (Chicago, Illinois) BEST CHEF: MID-ATLANTIC Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve (Alexandria, Virginia) Johnny Monis, Komi (Washington, D.C.) Peter Pastan, Obelisk (Washington, D.C.) WINNER: Maricel Presilla, Cucharamama (Hoboken, New Jersey) Vikram Sunderam, Rasika (Washington, D.C.) BEST CHEF: MIDWEST Justin Aprahamian, Sanford (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) Gerard Craft, Niche (St. Louis, Missouri) Colby Garrelts, Bluestem (Kansas City, Missouri) WINNER: Tory Miller, L’Etoile (Madison, Wisconsin) Lenny Russo, Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market (St. Paul, Minnesota) BEST CHEF: NYC WINNER: Michael Anthony, Gramercy Tavern April Bloomfield, The Spotted Pig Wylie Dufresne, wd~50 Mark Ladner, Del Posto Michael White, Marea BEST CHEF: NORTHWEST WINNER: Matt Dillon, Sitka & Spruce (Seattle, Washington) Jason Franey, Canlis (Seattle, Washington) Christopher Israel, Grüner (Portland, Oregon) Naomi Pomeroy, Beast (Portland, Oregon) Cathy Whims, Nostrana (Portland, Oregon) BEST CHEF: PACIFIC Michael Chiarello, Bottega (Yountville, California) Chris Cosentino, Incanto (San Francisco, California) Christopher Kostow, The Restaurant at Meadowood (St. Helena, California) WINNER: Matt Molina, Osteria Mozza (Los Angeles, California) Daniel Patterson, Coi (San Francisco, California) BEST CHEF: NORTHEAST Jamie Bissonnette, Coppa (Boston, Massachusetts) WINNER: Tim Cushman, O Ya (Boston, Massachusetts) Gerry Hayden, The North Fork Table & Inn (Southold, New York) Matt and Kate Jennings, La Laiterie (Providence, Rhode Island) Eric Warnstedt, Hen of the Wood (Waterbury, Vermont) BEST CHEF: SOUTH Justin Devillier, La Petite Grocery (New Orleans, Louisiana) John Harris, Lilette (New Orleans, Louisiana) WINNER: Chris Hastings, Hot and Hot Fish Club (Birmingham, Alabama) Tory McPhail, Commander’s Palace (New Orleans, Louisiana) Alon Shaya, Domenica (New Orleans, Louisiana) BEST CHEF: SOUTHEAST WINNER TIE: Hugh Acheson, Five and Ten (Athens, Georgia) Craig Deihl, Cypress (Charleston, South Carolina) WINNER TIE: Linton Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene (Atlanta, Georgia) Edward Lee, 610 Magnolia (Louisville, Kentucky) Joseph Lenn, The Barn at Blackberry Farm (Walland, Tennessee) BEST CHEF: SOUTHWEST Bruce Auden, Biga on the Banks (San Antonio, Texas) Kevin Binkley, Binkley’s Restaurant (Cave Creek, Arizona) Bruno Davaillon, Mansion Restaurant at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek (Dallas, Texas) Jennifer Jasinski, Rioja (Denver, Colorado) Hugo Ortega, Hugo’s (Houston, Texas) WINNER: Paul Qui, Uchiko (Austin, Texas) OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF Joanne Chang, Flour Bakery + Cafe (Boston, Massachusetts) Melissa Chou, Aziza (San Francisco, California) Hedy Goldsmith, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink (Miami, Florida) Dahlia Narvaez, Osteria Mozza (Los Angeles, California) Ghaya Oliveira, Boulud Sud (New York City) WINNER: Mindy Segal, Mindy’s Hot Chocolate (Chicago, Illinois) BEST NEW RESTAURANT AQ (San Francisco, California) Fiola (Washington, D.C.) Isa (New York City) WINNER: Next (Chicago, Illinois) Tertulia (New York City) OUTSTANDING SERVICE Cyrus (Healdsburg, California) WINNER: La Grenouille (New York City) Michael Mina (San Francisco, California) Spiaggia (Chicago, Illinois) Topolobampo (Chicago, Illinois) OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR Bruce Bromberg and Eric Bromberg, Blue Ribbon Restaurants (New York City) WINNER: Tom Douglas, Tom Douglas Restaurants (Seattle, Washington) Piero Selvaggio, Valentino Restaurant Group (Santa Monica, California) Caroline Styne, Lucques/A.O.C./Tavern (Los Angeles, California) Phil Suarez, Suarez Restaurant Group (New York City) OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT Balthazar (New York City) Blue Hill (New York City) WINNER: Boulevard (San Francisco, California) Highlands Bar and Grill (Birmingham, Alabama) Vetri (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) OUTSTANDING CHEF David Chang, Momofuku Ssäm Bar (New York City) Gary Danko, Restaurant Gary Danko (San Francisco, California) WINNER: Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park (New York City) Paul Kahan, Blackbird (Chicago, Illinois) Donald Link, Herbsaint (New Orleans, Louisiana) Nancy Silverton, Pizzeria Mozza (Los Angeles, California) WHO'S WHO OF FOOD & BEVERAGE IN AMERICA INDUCTEES Grant Achatz , chef and author (Chicago, Illinois) Mark Bittman , journalist and author (New York City) Dana Cowin, editor and journalist (New York City) Emily Luchetti , pastry chef and author (San Francisco, California) Marvin Shanken , publisher (New York City) LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Wolfgang Puck HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR Charlie Trotter Editor's note: Eatocracy Editor Kat Kinsman is the vice chair of the James Beard Journalism Committee, the group that oversees the journalism category's awards. An independent accounting firm oversees the process.

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2012 James Beard Awards: Chefs and restaurants winners

All nine states — Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin — voted for President Obama in 2008 but have since seen big Republican gains.

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9 Swing States, Critical to Presidential Race, Are Mixed Lot

Obama has solid lead in Pennsylvania.

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Poll: Tie in Florida, Ohio

While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday. Are these pretzels makin' you thirsty? April 26 is National Pretzel Day ! Whether you're a serial hard pretzel snacker or a Pretzelphyte that noshes on soft pretzels for dinner, this knot-shaped dough with salt on top more than deserves its own day. Which is why it's lucky that in addition to today, April is also National Soft Pretzel Month. Pretzels came to the U.S. with German immigrants during the 19th century. These folks became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, and handmade pretzel bakeries began popping up all over the state. During the 20th century, big cities like New York, Philadelphia and Chicago embraced the soft pretzel. Mass production allowed them to produce and distribute tons of the snack to schools and grocery stores, as well as theaters, stadiums, arenas and of course, street vendors. Today, Pennsylvania still produces over 80 percent of the nation's pretzels. In 2003, Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell decreed April 26 to be National Pretzel Day, and in accordance, Philly Pretzel Factory offers a free pretzel to each customer on this day every year. Be sure to check your local pretzel vendor today for a possible treat, or you can make your own!

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National pretzel day

The defeat of two conservative Pennsylvania representatives by more liberal opponents foreshadows an even more polarized Congress next year.

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2 House Democrats Defeated After Opposing Health Law

CNN projects that Mitt Romney will win the New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Delaware primaries. Romney's campaign casts his speech as a turning point.

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Romney: The race is on with Obama

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum ended his presidential bid today , bringing to a close a campaign that succeeded beyond the expectations of almost anyone — perhaps up to and including the candidate — had set for him. Read full article > >

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What Rick Santorum meant — and why he was right to drop out

Rick Santorum adjusted his campaign schedule Tuesday following his young daughter's release from hospital the night before, canceling morning events in his home state of Pennsylvania while adding a later appearance in Gettysburg.

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Santorum to resume campaign events

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum cursed at New York Times reporter Jeff Zeleny on Sunday while campaigning in Wisconsin, saying, “Quit distorting my words. It’s bulls—.” Monday morning, the presidential candidate explained that he was just acting the way a Republican should. Read full article > >

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Rick Santorum: Real Republicans curse out reporters

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum’s presidential campaign got a jolt of momentum with his win in Saturday’s Kansas GOP caucuses. Now the question is, will he be able to translate that momentum into wins in Alabama and Mississippi? Read full article > >

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Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich vie for southern delegates (Monday’s Trail Mix)

It didn’t smell like skunked beer or cigarette ash. The chandeliers weren’t replaced with neon. But had the White House ever felt more like a roadhouse? B.B. King, Mick Jagger, Buddy Guy and Jeff Beck were among the blues-rock royals assembled at 1600 Pennsylvania on Tuesday afternoon, rehearsing a set of lowdown songs they’d perform for the first couple that night. Read full article > >

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At White House, B.B. King and Mick Jagger, among others, to play the blues

Rick Santorum says he is unfamiliar with writings in a book that he wrote.

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The Caucus: Santorum on the Defensive Over Gender Remarks

They are two of Washington’s architectural and historical gems: The Old Post Office Pavilion on Pennsylvania Avenue and the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building on the Mall. The good news is that both are slated for renovation and what the bureaucrats like to call “re-purposing.” The bad news is that, in both cases, the process is headed in the wrong direction. Read full article > >

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What D.C. doesn’t need: a Trump Tower

They are two of Washington’s architectural and historical gems: The Old Post Office Pavilion on Pennsylvania Avenue and the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building on the Mall. The good news is that both are slated for renovation and what the bureaucrats like to call “re-purposing.” The bad news is that, in both cases, the process is headed in the wrong direction. Read full article > >

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What D.C. doesn’t need: a Trump Tower