Today's edition of quick hits:
* ISIS moving backwards: "Iraqi security forces and allied Shiite militias seized large parts of Tikrit on Tuesday, amid reports that most of the Islamic State militants battling to hold the city had begun retreating, security officials said."
* Ferguson: "After Ferguson municipal judge Ronald J. Brockmeyer declared his resignation on Monday, the Missouri Supreme Court announced that starting next week and until further notice, all Ferguson municipal court cases will be reassigned to the circuit court "to help restore public trust and confidence in the Ferguson municipal court division," The St. Louis Post-Dispatch first reported."
* Oklahoma: "The University of Oklahoma expelled two students on Tuesday for 'playing a leadership role' in racially-charged chants on a school bus during a Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity event, according to a university release."
* New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) has offered his first detailed comments about the controversial settlement his administration recently struck with Exxon Mobil. The governor said it's "actually a really nice settlement."
* The Israeli elections are just one week away: "[A]s the March 17 elections approach, [Isaac Herzog], the leader of the Labor Party and co-founder, with Tzipi Livni, of a new center-left slate called the Zionist Union, is posing a credible challenge to Mr. Netanyahu of the conservative Likud Party."
* Education: "President Obama on Tuesday signed what he called a 'Student Aid Bill of Rights' that he said would help students deal with the growing burden of college loans."
* Saudi Arabia: "In his first major policy speech since assuming the throne in January, Saudi King Salman has vowed that the kingdom will defend Arab and Muslim causes. He also promised continuity and development despite low oil prices, but called on Saudi citizens, businessmen and officials to do their part to improve the country."
* A welcome pro-labor message from the White House: "President Obama took a direct swipe at Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, a Republican and likely presidential candidate in 2016, for signing a so-called right-to-work bill that will limit the power of private-sector unions."
* More guns in the hands of fewer people: "The number of Americans who live in a household with at least one gun is lower than it's ever been, according to a major American trend survey that finds the decline in gun ownership is paralleled by a reduction in the number of Americans who hunt."
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.