GOP gets bad news on ObamaCare repeal plan  —  The Senate's chief referee has dealt a significant setback to conservatives who want to send an ObamaCare repeal bill to the president's desk this year.  —  GOP sources say Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has raised red flags …

Trayvon Martin: DOJ Set to Announce No Charges Against George Zimmerman … While the public waits for a Justice Department announcement over two separate investigations spurred by the summer shooting of an unarmed teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, the department is going to first announce its findings in the killing of Trayvon Martin.

The disappeared: Chicago police detain Americans at abuse-laden ‘black site’  —  The Chicago police department operates an off-the-books interrogation compound, rendering Americans unable to be found by family or attorneys while locked inside what lawyers say is the domestic equivalent of a CIA black site.

Bill O'Reilly and Fox News Redouble Defense of His Falklands Reporting  —  The Fox News host Bill O'Reilly on Monday stepped up his defense against reports that he embellished stories about his war reporting earlier in his career, while some former colleagues continued to say he had exaggerated his experiences.

Eric Garner's daughter on Al Sharpton: 'He's all about the money'  —  Al Sharpton (left) and Erica Snipes.  —  Al Sharpton is all about the Benjamins, a daughter of police chokehold victim Eric Garner claims in a bombshell videotape.  —  Erica Snipes tees off on the reverend as interested primarily …

VA Secretary Robert McDonald Falsely Claimed He Served In ‘Special Forces’  —  WASHINGTON — Robert McDonald, the secretary of veterans affairs, wrongly claimed in a videotaped comment earlier this year that he served in the Army's elite special forces, when his military service of five years …

Hugh Hewitt to moderate first GOP presidential debate  —  Radio talk-show host Hugh Hewitt will moderate the first Republican presidential debate as part of a partnership between Salem Media Group and CNN.  The debate will take place Sept. 16 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

Democratic FCC commissioner balks at net neutrality rules  —  A Democrat on the Federal Communications Commission wants to narrow the scope of new net neutrality rules that are set for a vote on Thursday, The Hill has learned.  —  Mignon Clyburn, one of three Democrats on the FCC …

Wasilla enacts strict new marijuana rules as legalization dawns  —  WASILLA — On in the eve of marijuana legalization in Alaska, Wasilla's city council on Monday banned making pot brownies at home.  —  Fewer than three hours before recreational marijuana use became legal across the state …

Black conservatives seek to draft Condoleezza Rice for Senate race  —  The Black Conservatives Fund wants to draft former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for a Senate bid in 2016, as they argue she represents the GOP's best chance to win a Senate seat in deep-blue California.

Durbin: Selma Anniversary Should Give GOP Pause About Opposing Loretta Lynch  —  Race and a top nomination for the Obama cabinet.  —  The nomination of Loretta Lynch for attorney general has not moved through the Senate quite as quickly as Democrats had hoped.

IS militants abduct dozens of Christians in Syria  —  2 photos  —  BEIRUT (AP) — Islamic State militants have abducted at least 70 Christians, including women and children, after overrunning a string of villages in northeastern Syria, activists and relatives said Tuesday.

The humbling of Rahm  —  All signs point to a second term for the Chicago mayor.  But at what cost?  —  It ought to be a coronation, Rahm Emanuel must figure.  But as he nears what might or might not be the end of his exhausting race for a second term as Chicago's mayor …

UN climate panel head resigns amid sex claims  —  Tristan McConnell with Mariette Le Roux in Paris  —  Nairobi (AFP) - The head of the UN's climate science panel, Rajendra Pachauri, stepped down Tuesday in the wake of sexual harassment claims against him that have surfaced at a crucial time on the climate agenda.

Ron Paul: Black Caucus Only Against War Because They Want That Money For Food Stamps  —  “They are really against war because they want all of that money to go to food stamps for people here.”  —  w.soundcloud.com  —  Former Republican Rep. Ron Paul, the father of potential presidential candidate Rand Paul …

Walker breaks out in national GOP race  —  PPP's newest national Republican poll finds a clear leader in the race for the first time: Scott Walker is at 25% to 18% for Ben Carson, 17% for Jeb Bush, and 10% for Mike Huckabee.  Rounding out the field of contenders are Chris Christie and Ted Cruz at 5% …

As Cuba Shifts Toward Capitalism, Inequality Grows More Visible  —  HAVANA — The river where Jonas Echevarria fishes cuts through neighborhoods brimming with new fine restaurants, spas and boutiques, springing up in Cuba's accelerating push toward private enterprise.