GOP presidential convention to be held earlier in 2016  —  Republicans will select their presidential candidate in 2016 more than a month earlier than they did in 2012.  —  The Republican National Committee announced late Wednesday that the party's national convention would take place in Cleveland, Ohio between July 18 and July 21.

Terrorism doesn't justify insulting Islam  —  Muslim activist: Cartoons no justification for attacks 06:08  —  Story highlights … (CNN)The latest Charlie Hebdo cartoon, produced after last week's horrific attacks on the Paris magazine's offices, literally adds insult to injury.

Muslim call to prayer to sound at Duke University  —  DURHAM, N.C. — A weekly call to prayer for Muslims will be heard at Duke University starting Friday, school officials said.  —  Members of the Duke Muslim Students Association will chant the call, known as adhan or azan …

One of new chairman's first act?:  Removing last chairman's portrait  —  It appears new House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) really doesn't want to sit in the shadow of his predecessor and fellow Republican, Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).  —  At least, that's what his critics are saying.

Shunning ObamaCare  —  Of my company's 5,453 eligible employees, only 420 actually enrolled.  The other 5,033 opted to pay a penalty.  —  Among the Affordable Care Act's many economic and political disruptions, the law has unintentionally encouraged employers to convert full-time jobs into part-time jobs.

Substitute teacher on trial over showing explicit film at East High School  —  A Franklin County jury must decide whether a former substitute teacher for the Columbus City Schools committed a crime when she showed a movie filled with graphic sex and violence to five Spanish classes at East High School.

Ebola's Hidden Costs  —  On September 3, 2014, Agnes Ngekia learned by phone that her son was dead and that there would be no burial.  He had died of Ebola.  Ngekia is a nurse in the Kono district of Sierra Leone, and when her son had fallen ill she had diligently followed disease-prevention protocol …

U.S. Easing Decades-Old Restrictions on Travel to Cuba  —  WASHINGTON — The United States government on Friday will begin making it easier for Americans to travel to Cuba than it has been for more than half a century, opening the door to a new era of contact between neighbors …

Not Everyone's Internal Clock Is Set for the 9-to-5  —  No matter how early she went to bed, Maggie couldn't fall asleep until the early hours of the morning.  Though constantly exhausted, Maggie (she asked that I not use her last name) got good grades in high school, but she'd frequently …

Detailed study confirms high suicide rate among recent veterans  —  Recent veterans have committed suicide at a much higher rate than people who never served in the military, according to a new analysis that provides the most thorough accounting so far of the problem.

Dates set for Republican National Convention in Cleveland; 4-day event will run July 18-21  —  Balloons drop at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., where presidential hopeful John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin accepted their nominations.

Police Slowdown Cost New York City an Estimated $5 Million in Lost Fines  —  Now that New York's police force has returned to enforcing the laws at a pace closer to normal, city officials are calculating the costs of its protracted slowdown.  Their best guess so far is that the tally will be no more than several million dollars.

Feds target fried food, juice at day cares  —  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing strict new dietary guidelines for day cares that would prohibit them from frying food that is served to children.  —  Child care providers would also be formally required to provide children …

Why a Generation of Adoptees Is Returning to South Korea  —  Credit: Mark Neville for The New York Times  —  Laura Klunder's newest tattoo runs down the inside of her left forearm and reads “K85-160,” a number that dates to her infancy.  Klunder was 9 months old when her South Korean mother left her at a police station in Seoul.

Caught on camera, Tom O'Mara apologizes for outburst  —  State Sen. Tom O'Mara apologized Tuesday for his outburst at a man who had been peppering him with questions about the lawmaker's support for the proposed liquified petroleum gas storage facility near Seneca Lake, a project that has drawn the ire of many environmental groups.

House OKs panic buttons in wake of open carry confrontation  —  AUSTIN - The Texas House approved rules Wednesday to be able to install panic buttons and eject hostile members of the public from their offices, after a confrontation between lawmakers and open carry advocates visiting the Capitol on the opening day of the 2015 session.

Woman Reports Deadhead Son Missing Since '95  —  Teen reportedly left S.C. home to follow Grateful Dead on tour  —  A South Carolina woman yesterday contacted police to file a missing person report on her son, who left home to follow the Grateful Dead nearly 20 years ago.

Montana police officer breaks down after fatally shooting unarmed man  —  A dashcam video showing a Montana police officer breaking into tears after fatally shooting an unarmed man who was high on methamphetamine was released this week after it was reviewed by a jury.

Not waiting: Rand Paul is already in campaign mode  —  Rand Paul is in full-blown campaign mode.  —  While most potential GOP contenders' early efforts are taking place behind closed doors with donors and top strategists, the Kentucky senator is engaged in the kind of retail politicking …

El Capitan's Dawn Wall Climbers Reach Top at Yosemite  —  YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — On the 19th day, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson, both now bearded, reached the summit of El Capitan's Dawn Wall on Wednesday, completing a quest that included years of planning and that many considered …

Ex-GOP Rep: My Call For Islamists To Behead U.S. Journalists Was ‘Satire’  —  Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) said during his radio show on Wednesday evening that his social media post earlier in the day calling for Islamic terrorists to “behead the cowards at CNN, MSNBC” and other news outlets was “satire.”