First on CNN: Biden expected to skip first Democratic debate  —  Washington (CNN)Vice President Joe Biden has extended his window for deciding whether to jump into the 2016 presidential campaign, several Democrats say, allowing the contest to play out even longer before he answers …

Alabama to stop issuing driver's licenses in counties with 75% black registered voters  —  DON'T MISS STORIES.  FOLLOW RAW STORY!  —  The state of Alabama, which requires a photo ID to vote, announced this week that it would stop issuing driver's licenses in counties where 75 percent of registered voters are black.

Russian Airstrike in Syria Targeted CIA-Backed Rebels, U.S. Officials Say  —  One area hit was location primarily held by rebels receiving funding, arms, training from CIA and allies  —  Russia launched airstrikes in Syria on Wednesday, catching U.S. and Western officials off guard and drawing …

House Republicans repudiate McCarthy comments on Benghazi probe  — McCarthy said Tuesday night that the GOP-led Congress had succeeded by bringing down Clinton's poll numbers because of the Benghazi probe  —  Washington (CNN)House Republicans on Wednesday sharply repudiated …

Clinton's email woes deepen as classified messages pile up  —  <p>The controversy over Hillary Clinton's use of personal email while she was secretary of state is showing no signs of easing, as the number of messages now deemed classified doubled with the State Department's latest release …

Trump Would Now Give Syrian Refugees the Boot  —  On the first campaign stop since announcing his tax plan, GOP front-runner Donald Trump came out swinging Wednesday night to a crowd of over 3,500 in Keene, N.H.  —  Changing his tune on Syrian refugees, after once saying he would grant …

Kentucky gov. candidate snubs Rand Paul  —  Rand Paul's return to Kentucky this weekend to aid the stumbling campaign of his home-state's Republican gubernatorial nominee just got really awkward.  —  During a radio debate Wednesday morning, Matt Bevin, the GOP candidate for governor …

Sweet Cakes owners who refused to make same-sex wedding cake now refuse to pay $135,000 damages  —  “They are entitled to ... review of the case, but do not have the right to disregard a legally binding order.”  —  The Oregon couple who made national headlines when they refused to bake …

Cougar sightings rattle residents  —  Big cats seen in Lucerne Valley, Hesperia

Secret Service official wanted to embarrass congressman  —  An assistant director of the Secret Service urged that unflattering information the agency had in its files about a congressman ­critical of the service should be made public, according to a government watchdog report released Wednesday.

Why Pope Francis' Meeting With Kim Davis Is Such a Disaster  —  I woke up this morning to reports that during his recent U.S. visit, Pope Francis met with Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk best known for refusing to issue lawful marriage licenses, interfering with the ability of her deputies …

A Chief Justice Without a Friend  —  Lest anyone suppose that the beating Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. is taking from Republican candidates might cause liberals to enfold him in a comforting embrace, the current issue of The Nation puts that thought to rest.

Kissinger Biography Is Great, Says Pal of Author and Kissinger in New York Times  —  This Sunday, the New York Times Book Review will publish a review of the first volume of Niall Ferguson's authorized biography of Henry Kissinger, Kissinger: The Idealist.  The reviewer is Andrew Roberts.

Exclusive: Obama brushed off Reid's plea on Palestinian state  —  <p>Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid on two different occasions this year went to White House chief of staff Denis McDonough seeking a public commitment from President Barack Obama that he would veto any U.N. resolution calling …

Improving Mobile Profiles  —  People visit Facebook profiles more than four billion times per day, and we're continually looking for ways to make profiles the best place for people to curate their online identities and connect with others.  —  Today, we're unveiling some new, mobile-friendly features for Facebook profiles.

Judge in Wyoming blocks fracking rule  —  A federal judge has issued an injunction against new Department of Interior regulations for hydraulic fracturing on federal land.  —  Judge Scott Skavdahl of the U.S. District Court of Wyoming ruled Wednesday that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) …