Jill Abramson and the Times: What Went Wrong?  —  In the gossipy world of New York journalism, the firing of Jill Abramson from her position as the executive editor of the Times provoked a veritable explosion of talk, posts, and Instagram pictures of the objects of interest.

Editors' note  —  (CNN) — CNN has discovered multiple instances of plagiarism by Marie-Louise Gumuchian, a former CNN news editor.  She wrote frequently about international news, writing and reporting about Africa, Europe, and the Middle East from our London bureau.

Wolfeboro residents demand commissioner resign over racial slur  —  A police commissioner in a predominantly white New Hampshire town said he won't apologize for calling President Barack Obama the N-word, and he sat with his arms crossed while angry residents at a meeting called for his resignation on Thursday.

The case for skepticism about climate scientists.  —  Florida's Sen. Marco Rubio came under attack this week for refusing to submit to scientific authority.  “I do not believe that human activity is causing these dramatic changes to our climate the way these scientists are portraying it,” he said in an interview with Jonathan Karl.

Ore. Senate hopeful accused of stalking boyfriend  —  Oregon GOP Senate candidate Monica Wehby was accused by her ex-boyfriend last year of “stalking” him, entering his home without his permission and “harassing” his employees, according to a Portland, Oregon police report.

Sources: Donald Sterling refuses NBA sanctions, threatens to sue  —  Through his attorney, Donald Sterling has directly refused to adhere to serious NBA sanctions.  —  SI.com has learned that Clippers owner Donald Sterling has hired prominent antitrust litigator Maxwell Blecher …

Democratic Party Still Seen More Favorably Than GOP  —  Both parties face “upside down” net favorable ratings  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans view the Democratic Party more favorably than the Republican Party, even though both parties have a net unfavorable rating.

Head Of ‘Benghazi Truth Squad’ Comes Up Short On Answers To Basic Questions  —  Former Clinton Administration official Lanny Davis is all about damage control.  In fact, his latest book is called Crisis Tales and it's all about his career helping important people out of very tough jams.

‘White Privilege’ victim drives his Corvette to the conference and other hypocrisies abound (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)  —  MADISON, Wis. - When one looks through the rhetorical veneer of the White Privilege Conference, hypocrisies abound.  —  The White Privilege folks say Christianity is oppressive …

Congress Party Concedes Defeat as India Backs Modi  —  NEW DELHI — The Indian National Congress, which has headed India's government for nearly all the country's post-Independence history, conceded defeat to the opposition leader Narendra Modi on Friday, as voters rendered a crushing verdict …

King says he will endorse Collins in Senate race  —  PORTLAND (AP) — Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats and once considered Susan Collins a political foe, is endorsing his Republican colleague's bid for a fourth term in the Senate, her campaign says.

Statement from IOP Publishing on story in The Times  —  Dr. Nicola Gulley, Editorial Director at IOP Publishing, says, “The draft journal paper by Lennart Bengtsson that Environmental Research Letters declined to publish, which was the subject of this morning's front page story of The Times …

Conservatives seek to regain control of Republican agenda  —  Although many Republicans are optimistic about their chances in this year's elections, some of Washington's leading conservatives gathered Thursday to privately vent frustrations about what kind of party they will be left with after November.

The Consensus Candidate  —  Cory Gardner unifies Colorado Republicans.  —  “I love to smoke,” says Colorado congressman Cory Gardner, his voice trailing off.  His aide's eyes widen.  “Finish that thought!” she says.  —  The 39-year-old Republican lets out a distinctive belly laugh at his unfortunate pause.

Former Alabama KKK Leader Gets Prison Time For Cross Burning  —  A former “Exalted Cyclops” of the Ku Klux Klan, who was arrested along with his mother last year in connection to a 2009 cross burning in Ozark, Ala., was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in the incident.

Thank You to Everyone for Making Me the Children's Choice Book Awards “Author of the Year”  —  RUSH: The awards were handed out last night by the Children's Book Council, and I want to take a moment here to thank everyone in the audience, particularly the young people who voted.