And about blogs...
I have found that popular blogs are actually a much more reliable source for raw facts than many conventional news sources. Each statement is immediately subjected to the scrutiny of many others, who make a point of catching errors. Reputable bloggers correct mistakes or update situations rapidly. This takes time, of course, so a story that has not been online for a very long time needs to be checked out, but if something factual has been in the blogosphere without conflict for several weeks you can be pretty sure there aren't any holes in it.
As with any source, there is no substitute for your own judgment.