Doctor in New York City Is Sick With Ebola  —  A doctor in New York City who recently returned from treating Ebola patients in Guinea became the first person in the city to test positive for the virus Thursday, setting off a search for anyone who might have come into contact with him.

How Independents Could Seize Control of the Senate  —  As the bulk of close election observers have pointed out, the odds favor the Republicans capturing enough Senate seats to make a majority next year.  Of course, it is not a certainty (to any except the election modelers at The Monkey Cage).

CNN's Carol Costello apologizes for Palin remarks  —  CNN's Carol Costello apologized on Thursday for joking about a police recording of Bristol Palin.  —  “Over the past few days I have been roundly criticized for joking about a brawl involving the Palin family.

Barack Obama, bewildered bystander  —  The president is upset.  Very upset.  Frustrated and angry.  Seething about the government's handling of Ebola, said the front-page headline in the New York Times last Saturday.  —  There's only one problem with this pose, so obligingly transcribed for him by the Times.

Joni Ernst: My Gun Will Defend Me If Government Decides ‘My Rights Are No Longer Important’  —  WASHINGTON — Joni Ernst, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa, said during an NRA event in 2012 that she would use a gun to defend herself from the government.

Gov. Christie feels his minimum wage views were misunderstood, while NJ diner waitresses say he lacks empathy  —  The New Jersey governor, speaking at a Garden State diner, explained that most people missed his point — and he's come to accept that.  Waitress Stacey Ellis said his remarks showed zero empathy for workers like her.

Sarah Palin endorses ... a Democrat?  —  Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R) is endorsing independent Bill Walker and Democrat Byron Mallott for governor and lieutenant governor of Alaska.  —  Palin and husband Todd are shown donning Walker-Mallott campaign pins in photos uploaded to the campaign's Facebook page Thursday.

Baker opens up lead over Coakley in new poll  —  Republican Charlie Baker has opened up a 9-point lead over Democrat Martha Coakley, 45 percent to 36 percent, according to a new Globe poll that depicts a far more comfortable advantage than either candidate for governor has enjoyed in months.

Kids from poorer neighborhoods keep coming to trick-or-treat in mine.  Do I have to give them candy?  —  Get Dear Prudence delivered to your inbox each week; click here to sign up.  Please send your questions for publication to prudence@slate.com.  (Questions may be edited.)

Glenn Beck: Not ‘All That Bad’ If McConnell Loses To Grimes (AUDIO)  —  Glenn Beck doesn't think it would be “all that bad for the country” if Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) loses reelection to Alison Lundergan Grimes (D).  —  Less than two weeks before Election Day …

GOP changes tune on cutting Social Security with elections on the line  —  Cutting federal health and retirement spending has long been at the top of the GOP agenda.  But with Republicans in striking distance of winning the Senate, they are suddenly blasting the idea of trimming Social Security benefits.

Lewinsky mistreated by authorities in investigation of Clinton, report says  —  When onetime White House intern Monica Lewinsky broke her silence with a major speech earlier this week, one subject brought her nearly to tears.  —  Lewinsky's voice cracked as she recalled the moment in January 1998 …

Things Fall Apart  —  SHARES  —  When this writer was 3 years old, the Empire of Japan devastated Battleship Row of the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor.  —  Before I was 7, Gen. MacArthur was in an office in Tokyo overlooking the Imperial Palace, dictating to a shattered Japan.