Houston Equal Rights Ordinance fails by wide margin  —  Houston's controversial equal rights ordinance failed by a wide margin Tuesday, with voters opting to repeal the law that offered broad non-discrimination protections, according to incomplete and unofficial returns.

The meaning of Ben Carson's stunning rise  —  It's very meaningful that the surgeon Ben Carson appears to be taking the lead in the polling for the GOP nomination — but not in the ways you might expect.  —  First, it means Donald Trump has stalled out.  Given Trump's standing atop the polls …

Matt Bevin, Republican, Wins Governor's Race in Kentucky  —  LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Matt Bevin, a Republican political novice, wealthy Louisville businessman and Tea Party favorite, was elected Kentucky's next governor on Tuesday, a victory that could herald a new era in a state where Democrats …

Marco Rubio spent lavishly on a GOP credit card, but some transactions are still secret  —  It has become legend in Florida political circles, a missing chapter in Marco Rubio's convoluted financial story: two years of credit card transactions from his time in the state House …

How Democrats Could Win the House.  Really.  —  Whatever happens in the White House a year from now, it's an article of faith that not much will change in the House, where Republicans have a seeming lock on the majority.  —  But wait: the ascendancy of Donald Trump and Ben Carson just might have cracked the window open.

San Francisco sheriff known for ‘sanctuary city’ defense loses re-election bid  —  The San Francisco sheriff who over the summer became embroiled in a national debate over “sanctuary city” policies on Tuesday lost his bid for re-election amid a host of local controversies.

Kelly Grills Cruz On Proposal That Only Republicans Moderate GOP Debates  —  Fox News Megyn Kelly, who has expressed skepticism of Republican candidates' demands following the CNBC debate, on Tuesday night quizzed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on his pitch that only Republican journalists moderate the Republican primary debates.

The Chilling Regularity of Mass Extinctions  —  One thing we know for sure is that conditions on Earth were, shall we say, unpleasant for the dinosaurs at the moment of their demise.  Alternate and overlapping theories suggest the great beasts were pelted with monster comets, drowned by mega-tsunamis …

Ohioans reject legalizing marijuana  —  Ohioans pushed a monopoly marijuana-legalization proposal out the door Tuesday by a nearly 2-to-1 vote.  —  But the question is, will pot make a comeback?  —  Although Issue 3 was handily defeated, the debate and conversations about the issue …

Jefferson County Public Schools see new five-member board take over after election  —  LAKEWOOD — Voters overwhelmingly chose to recall three members of the Jefferson County school board Tuesday night and elected two others to form an entirely new board in Colorado's second-largest school district.

Israeli academic shouted down in lecture at University of Minnesota  —  On Tuesday afternoon an Israeli academic was shouted down by two dozen protesters as he tried to begin a lecture before about 100 students and faculty at the University of Minnesota.  The speaker was Moshe Halbertal …

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them  —  Exclusive: Inside J.K. Rowling's newest magical world  —  The magic is back!  The wizarding world of Harry Potter is returning to theaters next year with the ultra-mysterious prequel film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and EW has the scoop.