'Spare the lives of the remaining hostages.  Like Jim they are innocents': Brave mother of beheaded American journalist calls on ISIS to cease killing as she pays tribute to her ‘extraordinary son’  — A masked and robed member of ISIS speaking English in what is thought to be a British accent addresses the camera as well

McConnell's plan to shut down Obama  —  HENDERSON, Ky. — Mitch McConnell has a game plan to confront President Barack Obama with a stark choice next year: Accept bills reining in the administration's policies or veto them and risk a government shutdown.  —  In an extensive interview here …

‘SNL’ Political Secrets Revealed: Hillary's “Entitlement,” the Sketch Obama Killed and the Show's “Karl Rove”  —  In an exclusive book excerpt, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and even Sarah Palin recount the inner battle between the left and right … Lorne Michaels, executive producer …

Shooting Accounts Differ as Holder Schedules Visit to Ferguson  —  FERGUSON, Mo. — As a county grand jury prepared to hear evidence on Wednesday in the shooting death of a black teenager by a white police officer that touched off 10 days of unrest here, witnesses have given investigators sharply conflicting accounts of the killing.

Why Obama can't go there  —  It's a paradox of Barack Obama's presidency: The first African-American to run the country finds himself in the tensest racial confrontation of his tenure, but is constrained from addressing the nation's original sin in anything but the loftiest, most dispassionate terms.

Missouri's Capt. Johnson Flashes Fraternity Sign, Gets Called A ‘Gang Member’  —  Missouri Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson, the highway patrol captain placed in charge of security in Ferguson Missouri, was photographed making hand signs that some quickly thought were gang signs.

Rick Perry's flimsy indictment: Our view  —  Let voters, not jurors, judge Texas governor's politics.  —  Politics as usual should not be a violation of criminal law.  This ought to be obvious to anyone in a democratic society.  But it does not seem to be well understood in Texas …

GOP establishment favorite wins Alaska Senate primary  —  Former Alaska Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Dan Sullivan has won his GOP Senate primary, setting up a key battle with vulnerable Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska).  —  The Associated Press has called the race for Sullivan …

Mitt Romney: Obama worse than even I expected … BECKLEY, W.Va. — When Mitt Romney stumped here Tuesday for a trio of Republican candidates for Congress, the event had all the trappings of a “Romney for President” rally.  —  The crowd chanted, “Mitt!  Mitt!  Mitt!”

Perry Grand Juror Was An Active Democratic Party Delegate During Jury Proceedings  —  Rho Chalmers, who disclosed to the Houston Chronicle yesterday that she was a member of the grand jury that indicted Texas Gov. Rick Perry, was an active delegate to the Texas Democratic Party convention during grand jury proceedings.

Alone Again, Naturally  —  WASHINGTON — Affectations can be dangerous, as Gertrude Stein said.  —  When Barack Obama first ran for president, he theatrically cast himself as the man alone on the stage.  From his address in Berlin to his acceptance speech in Chicago, he eschewed ornaments …

Why the Media Is Siding With the Protesters  —  It isn't simply because of tear gas and rubber bullets.  —  Anyone tuning in to the nightly coverage of the protests in Ferguson has seen the reporters on the ground becoming part of the story.  On Monday night, they could watch …