Today's News Tips. Your Independent News Tip Sheet.

IVN – Prison Population Grows by 700%, How Much Does it Cost?

With a startling increase in the national prison population it should be no surprise that the Bureau of Prisons is one of only a few agencies not to have its budget cut. The FY 2013 budget will likely be over $6.8B to house close to 2 million inmates.

TIME – Waldo Canyon Fire Rages on in Colorado

In Colorado Springs a wildfire that has been burning for 4 days has forced over 32,000 people from their homes and has charred 6,200 acres of land. Firefighters fear that the fire is growing and will continue to do so.

SCOTUS Blog – Expect Healthcare Mandate to be Upheld

An expert on the blog expects the Court to issue multiple opinions with a majority upholding the constitutionality of the mandate. The opinion should be handed down tomorrow.

POLITICO – Emancipation Proclamation Copy Sells for $2.1M

A rare, signed, original copy of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation sold at auction in New York for $2.1M. It’s the second highest price for such a copy. The other was owned by Sen. Robert Kennedy and sold for $3.8M.

Bloomberg – Shark Oil May Fight HIV

Novartis and Sanofi are coming together to conduct human tests for a new HIV vaccine that includes shark oil. Observers have high hopes and expect the vaccine to be successful. AIDS is currently killing approximately 1 million people per year.

The Daily Beast – Rangel and Hatch Survive Primaries

Partisan groups lost as they tried to unseat Charlie Rangel in New York and Senator Orrin Hatch in Utah. Both were targets because they work across the aisle. Both incumbents had a significant financial advantage in the race.

ElectionsAreForUs.org Launches Constitutional Amendment Against Corporate Spending

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Montana are launching a campaign for a constitutional amendment after the Supreme Court refused to hear their arguments against limitations on corporate spending.

POLITICO – Holder Contempt Vote Tomorrow, One Dem Says Yes

AG Eric Holder’s contempt charges will be voted on tomorrow with Republicans expected to vote to hold him in contempt of Congress. Jim Matheson (D-UT) is the lone Democrat also expected to vote yes in this partisan battle.

TIME – Rio+20 Failed

The global environmental summit produced 253 paragraphs of pleas and affirmations for a better tomorrow and not much else.

Reuters – Iran Acknowledges Oil Export Drop 20-30%

The Iranian government has finally acknowledged that international sanctions in relation to its nuclear program has had an impact on its economy.