OBAMA TO NOMINATE FIRST OPENLY GAY SERVICE SECRETARY: “The president will nominate Eric Fanning to take over as the next secretary of the Army, making him the first openly gay service secretary if he is confirmed by the Senate, the White House announced on Friday,” the Washington Examiner reports. “If approved, he would lead the service at a time where the Army is looking at cutting an additional 40,000 soldiers from its ranks under a tight budget environment as the country faces numerous threats from theaters all around the world.”