Jackson Free Press

IT'S RYAN VS. OBAMA IN IOWA — SORT OF--Paul Ryan, Romney's new No. 2, campaigns in Des Moines at 2 p.m. and the president does the same in Council Bluffs at 12:25 p.m. as the front lines in the battle for the White House briefly shift to the Midwest.

WHAT A "GAME-CHANGER" CAN MEAN TO A CAMPAIGN--After McCain's choice of Palin four years ago, the question being asked is if the No. 2 spot on a presidential ticket makes any real difference to voters in the long run. Political experts are dubious.

ANTI-JUNK FOOD MOVEMENT GAINS TRACTION--According to a new study cited by AP's Lindsey Tanner, laws strictly curbing school sales of junk food and sweetened drinks might play a role in slowing childhood obesity.

NEXT UP FOR THE SUMMER OLYMPICS: RIO--London brought down the curtain, and the house, with rock 'n' roll rickshaws and a show-stopping reunion of the Spice Girls. Now laid-back Brazil gears up in a mad scramble for 2016.

MORSI MAKES BRASH MOVES IN EGYPT--The Islamist president orders the retirement of two top officials and makes the boldest move so far to seize back powers that the military stripped from his office right before he took over.

HOW DELAYS IN DEALING WITH SOCIAL SECURITY WILL CUT BENEFITS--With the surplus expected to run out in 2033, AP's Stephen Olemacher explains, that would leave only enough tax revenue to pay about 75 percent of benefits.

WHY SOME STOCKS ARE SINKING DESPITE BIG PROFITS--U.S. companies' revenue is so weak investors are scared: Six in 10 big companies have missed revenue targets, the financial data provider FactSet says.

OBSTACLE COURSE RACING ALL THE RAGE--Thousands of people are trekking to northeast Pennsylvania to scale walls, leap fire and crawl commando-style through a mud pit topped with barbed wire — willingly. For kicks. And paying money to do it.

IT'LL BE WEDDING BELLS AGAIN, FINALLY, FOR ANISTON--After years of breathless anticipation — at least on the part of the tabloids — Jennifer Aniston is finally ready to wed again after she accepted "Wanderlust" co-star Justin Theroux's proposal.

DOLPHINS RELEASE CHAD JOHNSON--Miami cuts the six-time Pro Bowl receiver after his wife, Evelyn Lozada of "Basketball Wives," accuses him of head-butting her.