Chairman Gowdy's Opening Statement  —  Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods served our country with courage and with honor.  They were killed under circumstances most of us could never imagine.  Under cover of darkness, terrorists poured through the front gate of our facility …

U.S. and Kurdish Commandos Said to Raid ISIS Prison in North Iraq  —  BAGHDAD — American and Kurdish commandos raided an Islamic State outpost near the northern Iraqi town of Hawija, freeing prisoners there and capturing some of the militants themselves, Iraqi officials said on Thursday.

‘Supermajority’ of House Freedom Caucus to back Paul Ryan's speaker bid  —  Hard-line conservatives cleared a path late Wednesday for Rep. Paul Ryan to become House speaker, heralding a possible end to weeks of Republican leadership turmoil.  —  The decision to support Ryan …

Carson surges past Trump in Iowa poll  —  <p>Ben Carson has surged past Donald Trump in Iowa, according to a Quinnipiac University poll of likely Republican caucus participants out Thursday. </p><p>The retired neurosurgeon leads the Republican field with 28 percent, while Trump has fallen behind with 20 percent.

What becomes of Joe Biden now?  —  Long before Vice President Joe Biden walked into the Rose Garden Wednesday and gave up his dream of one day being president, he knew he was at a crossroads.  Friends and associates of his say Biden had been grappling with the question of his future for more than a year.

Jeb Bush: Supergirl is ‘pretty hot’  —  North Las Vegas, Nevada (CNN)After nearly an hourlong discussion on serious policy, Jeb Bush was thrown a softball Wednesday night while speaking at an event in Las Vegas:  —  Who is your favorite Marvel superhero?  —  25 photos: Badass women of sci-fi

Subordinate seduced me — then got me fired: executive  —  A lawsuit claims that Tila Azeem (main) set Citi's Head of Global Prime Finance, David James Murphy (inset) by telling her bosses that he sexually harassed her.  —  A former Citigroup executive says a young female underling set …

Police say suspect confesses to road rage shooting that killed New Mexico 4-year-old  —  Albuquerque police said late Wednesday that a suspect had confessed to a road rage shooting that killed a four-year-old girl on Interstate 40.  —  Authorities said Tony Torrez, 32, had been charged with murder …

Religion and Science  —  Are science and religion at odds with each other?  A majority of the public says science and religion often conflict, with nearly six-in-ten adults (59%) expressing this view in newly released findings from a Pew Research Center survey.

Three dead, two hurt in Sweden school attack  —  UPDATED: The suspect behind a stabbing spree at a school in west Sweden has been confirmed dead.  A boy and a teacher also died and two others remain in hospital following the attack.  —  The attack took place on Thursday morning at the school …

Poll: More Americans oppose stricter gun control  —  The religious case for gun control in America  — About seven in 10 Americans believe it is important for most Americans to support proposed changes to gun laws before those changes are implemented  —  Washington (CNN) …