Aides knew of possible White House link to Cartagena, Colombia, prostitution scandal  —  As nearly two dozen Secret Service agents and members of the military were punished or fired following a 2012 prostitution scandal in Colombia, Obama administration officials repeatedly denied that anyone from the White House was involved.

Police officer fatally shoots teenager in south St. Louis  —  • By Margaret Gillerman mgillerman@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8126 and Valerie Schremp Hahn vhahn@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8246  —  Update, from 1 a.m. media briefing:  —  St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson said the officer …

Joe Biden Devours Ice Cream In Most Joe Biden Photos Ever  —  Double-fold vanilla.  —  During an appearance in Portland on Wednesday to campaign with Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley in his race against Republican opponent Monica Wehby, the vice president made an appearance at Salt and Straw ice cream shop to devour an ice cream cone.

The Diversity of Islam  —  A few days ago, I was on a panel on Bill Maher's television show on HBO that became a religious war.  —  Whether or not Islam itself inspires conflict, debates about it certainly do.  Our conversation degenerated into something close to a shouting match and went viral on the web.

Senate math seems impossible to some Democrats  —  Washington (CNN) — Four weeks away from the 2014 midterm elections and even some Democratic operatives struggle to imagine a scenario where they retain control of the U.S. Senate.  The terrain and current momentum seem all but overwhelming and against them.

Foxhall police encounter caught on video and the interaction is fascinating  —  If the police were on your front lawn, questioning someone you know about a call they received, what would you do?  If you're Jody Westby, you defend your people.  And you do it sternly, with an air of authority …

Harry Reid's Bodyguard Physically Attacks “Crapitalism” Author Jason Mattera  —  One of Harry Reid's bodyguards accosted a conservative journalist for asking a few basic questions about the Senate Majority Leader's wealth.  —  Jason Mattera, author of the explosive new book CRAPITALISM …

GAO report: Voter ID laws stunted turnout  —  Voter ID laws helped contribute to lower voter turnout in Kansas and Tennessee in 2012, according a new study by the Government Accountability Office.  —  Congress's research arm blamed the two states' laws requiring that voters show identification …

Anchorage police: No charges in Palin birthday brawl  —  Prosecutors won't proceed with charges in a brawl that involved several members of the Palin family, Anchorage police said Thursday.  —  The news comes as Anchorage police released a report Thursday morning outlining witness statements in the fight.

U.S. frustration rises as Turkey withholds military help from besieged Kobane  —  Islamic State fighters were battling outgunned Kurdish fighters in the heart of Kobane on Thursday, a day after the Pentagon warned that U.S. airstrikes alone will not save the Syrian border town from being overrun by the militants.

Americans Want Flights Banned From Ebola Countries  —  The survey found that 51 percent of respondents said they were worried there would be an Ebola outbreak in the United States, and 30 percent worried they or someone in their family would be exposed to the virus.

Sayreville football parent reveals sexual nature of alleged locker room hazing ritual (Exclusive)  —  It came without warning.  —  It would start with a howling noise from a senior football player at Sayreville War Memorial High School, and then the locker room lights were abruptly shut off.

Obama's Dismal Performance Is His Personal Failure  —  The Fiscal Times  —  Presidents in political trouble tend to resist change, mainly because they convince themselves of their wisdom.  Ronald Reagan once declared that he would “stay the course” on his economic policies when short-term pain caused …

JW Confirms: 4 ISIS Terrorists Arrested in Texas in Last 36 Hours  —  Islamic terrorists have entered the United States through the Mexican border and Homeland Security sources tell Judicial Watch that four have been apprehended in the last 36 hours by federal authorities and the Texas Department of Public Safety in McAllen and Pharr.

Barbara Comstock pushed client's issues, didn't disclose  —  It was a remarkable run of success: From 2011 to 2013, Republican Virginia state legislator Barbara Comstock shepherded a trio of bills that were opposed by labor interests through the Legislature and into law.

Poll: Americans Want Congress to Vote on Military Force Before Midterms, Say an Ebola Outbreak Is Likely and Kids Should Be Required to Get Vaccinations  —  Nearly four out of five Americans, 78 percent, say Congress should return to Capitol Hill before the November elections to hold a vote …

Behind-the-scenes moments from the College Democrats' trip to Kentucky  —  Three days of traveling with the College Democrats on their canvassing trip to Kentucky couldn't all fit in one story.  Here are some behind-the-scenes moments from the weekend.  —  1. Sleeping on the ground wasn't what kept them up at night

More than a dozen states plan to cancel health care policies not in compliance with ObamaCare in the coming weeks, affecting thousands of people just before the midterm elections.  —  “It looks like several hundred thousand people across the country will receive notices in the coming days and weeks …