Democrat Chad Taylor drops out of U.S. Senate race against Pat Roberts, Greg Orman  —  ›  —  ‹  —  The Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate has decided to drop out of the race, opening room for an independent to draw a broader base of support.

U.S., allies to stage exercises in West Ukraine as battles rage in East  —  (Reuters) - As fighting between the army and Russian-backed rebels rages in eastern Ukraine, preparations are under way near its western border for a joint military exercise this month with more than 1,000 troops from the United States and its allies.

Justice Dept. to probe Ferguson police force  —  Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. this week will launch a broad civil rights investigation into the Ferguson, Mo., Police Department, according to two federal law enforcement officials.  —  The investigation, which could be announced as early …

Warren: Destroying ISIS should be ‘No. 1 priority’  —  Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Wednesday said that the Obama administration should make defeating the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) its top priority.  —  “ISIS is growing in strength.  It has money, it has organization, it has the capacity to inflict real damage.

DNC chair Wasserman Schultz rips Scott Walker on women's issues  —  Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a member of the U.S. House from Florida, is shown speaking at the University of Miami in Coral Gables in 2012.  On Wednesday in Milwaukee, she criticized Gov. Scott Walker for his record on women's issues.

FiveThirtyEight's Senate Model Is Back And It Gives Republicans The Edge  —  The FiveThirtyEight Senate model is launching Wednesday.  We'll be rolling it out in stages, with additional features, functionality and further methodological detail.  We'll also be unveiling our new set …

Michael Bloomberg to Return to Lead Company He Founded  —  Michael R. Bloomberg will reassume the leadership of his business empire only eight months after ending his final term as mayor of New York.  —  Late Wednesday, Mr. Bloomberg told close confidants and senior executives of Bloomberg L.P. …

We will not be cowed by barbaric killers  —  David Cameron and Barack Obama  —  As Russia holds a gun to Ukraine and Islamic extremists commit despicable murder, Nato must strengthen its alliance  —  When Nato last met in Britain in 1990 the Cold War was ending.

Al-Qaeda announces jihad in India  —  Al-Qaeda commander Ayman al-Zawahari released a videotape Thursday announcing plans for a new wing of the terrorist group dedicated to waging jihad in the Indian subcontinent.  —  “Our brothers in Burma, Kashmir, Islamabad, Bangladesh …

Tesla chooses Nevada for battery factory: Sources  —  Tesla has finally decided that it will build its $5 billion lithium-ion battery plant—dubbed the gigafactory—in Nevada, sources say.  —  “That's a go, but they are still negotiating the specifics of the contract,” …

Port Authority cops told not to reopen GWB access lanes during Fort Lee jam  —  On the second day of the George Washington Bridge lane closures last year, a Port Authority police officer stationed at a gridlocked intersection picked up the two-way radio in his patrol car.

Louisiana Marriage Ban Is Constitutional, Federal Judge Rules  —  “The State of Louisiana has a legitimate interest under a rational basis standard of review for addressing the meaning of marriage through the democratic process.”  The first federal court ruling upholding a ban in the past year.