Colorado theater shooting — Lawyers for Colorado theater shooting suspect James Holmes said Wednesday he would plead guilty and serve the rest of his life in prison to avoid the death penalty. The offer comes just days before the prosecution was set to announce whether they would seek to have Holmes put to death for the attack that killed 12 people and injured 70.

Syria conflict — Mideast powers opposed to President Bashar Assad have dramatically stepped up weapons supplies to Syrian rebels in coordination with the U.S. in preparation for a push on the capital of Damascus, officials and Western military experts said Wednesday. A carefully prepared covert operation is arming rebels, involving Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, with the United States and other Western governments consulting, and all parties hold veto power over where the shipments are directed, according to a senior Arab official whose government is participating. His account was corroborated by a diplomat and two military experts.

Immigration policy — A group of influential U.S. senators shaping and negotiating details of an immigration reform package vowed Wednesday to make the legislation public when Congress reconvenes next month as negotiations reopened between union workers and business groups over visas for low-skilled workers. The visa talks were left in limbo Friday as Congress went into recess, but the senators said both sides had signaled they were open to compromise and were finalizing details Wednesday.

Golden Gate Bridge — Drivers approaching the majestic Golden Gate Bridge experienced something new on Wednesday— no human toll collectors. The workers were removed in favor of cheaper and faster electronic transponders, and a camera system that photographs every license plate that comes through, mailing an invoice to each motorist who doesn’t prepay.

Britain preacher case — A militant Islamic preacher wanted in Jordan on terrorism charges won the latest of many legal battles to remain in Britain on Wednesday when senior appeal judges upheld an earlier ruling that his human rights would be violated if he was sent to Jordan for trial.

China hacking — The U.S. has taken its first real swipe at China following accusations that the Beijing government is behind a widespread and systemic hacking campaign targeting U.S. businesses. Buried in a spending bill signed by President Barack Obama on Tuesday is a provision that effectively bars much of the federal government from buying information technology made by companies linked to the Chinese government.

Tennessee Medicaid — Gov. Bill Haslam of Tennessee said Wednesday that he would not expand Medicaid in his state as called for in the federal health care overhaul, joining 18 other Republican governors who have rejected expansion for now. Haslam said he wanted instead to use federal Medicaid money to buy private insurance for as many as 175,000 low-income residents of his state. But he said that plan was being held up because the Obama administration had put too many conditions on the money.

Siberian tunnel — A Russian man spent three years digging a 65-yard tunnel to steal oil from a pipeline in the Novosibirsk region of Siberia, the local branch of the Interior Ministry said. The man, 52, stole about 30 metric tons of crude (220 barrels) over the past three months via the tunnel, which he dug after work and on weekends, according to a video interview police posted on the ministry’s website.

Arctic drilling — The Coast Guard has asked the Justice Department to investigate possible pollution violations by both the drilling rigs Shell used in its botched efforts to explore for oil last year in the Arctic Ocean waters off the northern coast of Alaska. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo said Wednesday that he’d turned over to the Justice Department for review and possible prosecution an investigation into the troubled Shell drilling rig Kulluk.

Wal-Mart bribery — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it is ‘probable’ that the world’s largest retailer will incur a loss due to ongoing bribery investigations by itself and government agencies, but it says it is too early to speculate on the size of the damage. The company said it does not currently expect the loss to be material. The statements came in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission filing late Tuesday.

Judd politics — Actress Ashley Judd announced Wednesday she won’t run for U.S. Senate in Kentucky against Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, saying she had given serious thought to a campaign but decided her responsibilities and energy need to be focused on her family. The former Kentucky resident tweeted her decision.

Guantanamo hunger strike — The White House said Wednesday that it was keeping an eye on the hunger strike at the Pentagon’s war on terror prison at Guantanamo and once again blamed Congress for its inability to close the detention center containing 166 captives.

— From wire reports