Feds prepare corruption charges against Sen. Menendez 01:41  —  People briefed on the case say Attorney General Eric Holder has signed off on prosecutors' request to proceed with charges, CNN has learned exclusively.  An announcement could come within weeks.

The Hillary Camp's Rationale for Staying Quiet  —  Hillary Clinton won't be presiding over a soul-searching press conference or sitting down for a come-clean interview about her use of a private email address any time soon — at least if everything goes according to her team's plan.

Dems vow to protect Boehner from conservative coup  —  Tea Party Republicans contemplating a bid to oust Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) shouldn't count on Democrats to help them unseat the Speaker.  —  And without their support, there is no chance to topple Boehner in this Congress.

Under Obama, 4 in 10 say race relations worsened  —  Feds find racial bias in Ferguson 02:56  —  (CNN)Four in 10 Americans say race relations in the United States have gotten worse under the nation's first black president, according to a new CNN/ORC poll.  And 50 years after the Bloody …

I Don't Love Spock  —  “I loved Spock,” said President Obama, reacting to the death of actor Leonard Nimoy.  Why?  Because Spock reminds him of himself.  The galaxy's most famous Vulcan, the president wrote, was “Cool, logical, big-eared, and level headed, the center of Star Trek's optimistic, inclusive vision of humanity's future.”

In U.C.L.A. Debate Over Jewish Student, Echoes on Campus of Old Biases  —  LOS ANGELES — It seemed like routine business for the student council at the University of California, Los Angeles: confirming the nomination of Rachel Beyda, a second-year economics major who wants to be a lawyer someday, to the council's Judicial Board.

Here's What The Unemployment Rate Looks Like If You Add Back Labor Force Dropouts  —  The Department of Labor announced today that the official unemployment rate fell to 5.5 percent last month, the lowest it's been since Spring of 2008.  Good news, right?  Well, kind of.

More Than 300 Republicans Call on Supreme Court to Recognize Gay Marriage Nationally  —  Signers include former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Sens. Susan Collins and Mark Kirk and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker  —  More than 300 veteran Republican lawmakers, operatives and consultants …

As Supreme Court Weighs Health Law, G.O.P. Plans to Replace It  —  WASHINGTON — The legal campaign to destroy President Obama's health care law may be nearing its conclusion, but as the Supreme Court deliberates over the law's fate, the search for a replacement by Republican lawmakers is finally gaining momentum.

How America Was Misled on al Qaeda's Demise  —  The White House portrait of a crumbling terror group is contradicted by documents seized in the bin Laden raid.  —  By  —  In the early-morning hours of May 2, 2011, a small team of American military and intelligence professionals landed inside …

The Catholic Church Opposes the Death Penalty.  Why Don't White Catholics?  —  On Thursday, a slew of American Catholic publications, including America Magazine, National Catholic Register, National Catholic Reporter, Our Sunday Visitor, and Patheos Catholic announced their joint commitment …

Could viral fame keep the best cup holder you've ever seen from coming to your car?  —  KIRKLAND — Maksim Ghyvoronosky is trying to catch lightning in a bottle.  Again.  —  But this time, he promises, he'll be ready.  —  Ghyvoronsky is the owner and creator of Maksimatic, a Kirkland based start-up that specializes in cup holders.

Albert Maysles, Pioneering Documentarian, Dies at 88  —  Albert Maysles, the Emmy Award-winning documentarian who, with his brother, David, made intensely talked-about films including “Grey Gardens” and “Gimme Shelter” with their American version of cinéma vérité, died Thursday night at his home in Manhattan.

Some in Ferguson Who Are Part of Problem Are Asked to Help Solve It  —  FERGUSON, Mo. — When Mayor James Knowles III announced Wednesday that one official had been fired and two others were under investigation in connection with racist emails, he said that the behavior was “in no way representative” of the city or its employees.