You can read the entire Politico story by clicking here.

It’s a touchy subject in light of the president’s remarks about the Ground Zero mosque. You might remember President Obama emphatically stated that Muslims had a right to build a mosque in lower Manhattan. However, he declined to comment about the wisdom of such a plan.

Those comments, along with national polling that shows an overwhelming number of Americans disagree with the White House, could be factored into any decisions about where the president will mark the 9-11 anniversary.

President Obama gives the Oval Office an extreme, muted makeover. Click here to read the story and see before & after photos. Notice the new rug?

Police in Decatur, Ala. say the 18-year-old was shot during a botched burglary at the home of 69-year-old Ethel Jones.

“I hope this will make people have second thoughts before they break into a home in our neighborhood and stop some of the crime we’ve had around here,” the pistol-packing granny told the Decatur Daily.

Jones said she was in the bathroom when she heard someone breaking into her house. Investigators determined Bynum gained entrance by removing a window air conditioning unit.

Jones said she came out of the bedroom and found the 18-year-old in the hallway. He had a pen light – she had a gun. Grandma Jones aimed her .38 directly at the suspect and started firing.

“I shot three times,” she told the newspaper. “And he ran away hollering.”

She said she sleeps with the gun under a pillow – but this was the first time she actually had to use the weapon.

“I’m glad I had it,” she told the newspaper. “I don’t know what he would have done when he didn’t find what he was looking for.”

Bynum is at a local hospital being treated for a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He will be charged with second-degree burglary. It turns out he was on probation for a previous burglary conviction.

There you have it, folks — your Second Amendment rights at work.

Click here to buy a copy of Todd’s latest book.

The poll, conducted by Quinnipiac University, finds 71 percent of New Yorkers wanted the mosque relocated. And the same number want the state’s attorney general to investigate funding behind the project.

The findings, published by the Associated Press, also reveal 53 percent of registered voters believe the Muslim developers do not have a Constitutional right to build the mosque at Ground Zero.

Click here for the raw polling data.

President Obama amplified the national debate over the issue when he declared during a Ramadan dinner that Muslims indeed had a right to build the mosque in lower Manhattan. The project is just two blocks from where terrorists slaughtered thousands in the name of Islam.

However, the president declined to comment on the wisdom of building the mosque at its proposed location.

Have you purchased a copy of Todd’s latest book? Click here for details.

“Singing is not permitted due to the sensitivity of all student beliefs,” wrote Principal Jodi Davidson in a letter to parents dated August 13.

On August 23 Davidson sent another letter reversing the policy noting that students “are permitted and encouraged to sing the happy birthday song in the classroom.”

However, students will not be permitted to sing the traditional song in the cafeteria and all birthday treats must be individually inspected by the school nurse.

“We have lots of students who celebrate birthdays on the same day and we just didn’t want to have the loud chaos that happens in the cafeteria,” Davidson told KSDK television. “That should be a calming environment so that it’s safe for all students and they can celebrate their birthdays with their classmates and friends.”

Kim Cranston, a spokesperson for the Rockwood School District, told FOX News Radio, the initial ban on the birthday song was meant to protect the students.

“One of the things that she (Davidson) had explained to me is they always want to be sensitive to all children,” Cranston said. “And there are some children in their school – as there are in many schools – who don’t participate in holiday or birthday celebrations.”

Cranston said to her knowledge there had been no prior complaints about the singing of the “Happy Birthday” song.

As for the inspections of the birthday goodies?

“We have to be especially careful with children with allergies,” she said.

While cupcakes and other pre-packaged treats are allowed, the school also encourages non-food related items to be distributed for birthday celebrations.

Among the “non-food” related items suggested by the principal are pencils, erasers, book marks, and book donations to the class library.

The school district acknowledged the situation could have been handled a bit more delicately.

“Mrs. Davidson has freely admitted that she didn’t communicate that very well,” Cranston said. “She has apologized.”

Todd Starnes is a FOX News Radio reporter and best-selling author. Purchase his book by clicking here.

Andy McDonel, of Laveen, said the flag is attached to a pole in his front yard and has been flying since January. The yellow banner with a coiled snake has become a symbol of the Tea Party movement.

“There’s no way that I’m going to take the flag down,” McDonel said. “This flag is a flag of conviction. The Founding Fathers fought to establish this great country.”

But the homeowner’s association disagreed and levied a fine against McDonel. That decision outraged some of his neighbors.

“If you want to fly a flag that represents something you believe in, then you should be able to do it without anyone telling you that you don’t have a First Amendment right,” said neighbor Ed Turner.

And while the homeowner’s association may have taken issue with the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag, they don’t have a problem with professional football flags. Video from the local FOX television affiliate shows a homeowner flying a Dallas Cowboys flag.

Arizona allows citizens to fly the American flag, the state flag and military flags in outdoor displays.