Click on the Topics link at the top of the page. Find the topic you want on your sidebar. If you want Breaking News, make sure you are under News/Acivism then go to topics and click Breaking News. Then on the left bar, under the flag image, click subscribe. You will then have it on your right sidebar. Repeat with other topics you want.
I have Breaking News, Humor, and Sports.
AMEN!
And, on self-search, no big side banner takin' up space so that only a few posts show. It's better when you can scan as many replies as possible - otherwise you have to scroll down constantly.