Trump dominates GOP field heading into 2016  —  Washington (CNN)Donald Trump seems set to end 2015 as the dominant force in the race for next year's Republican nomination for president, with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz now a clear — yet distant — second after a strong debate performance, a new CNN/ORC poll released on Wednesday has found.

What Ted Cruz said behind closed doors  —  In June, Ted Cruz promised on NPR that opposition to gay marriage would be “front and center” in his 2016 campaign.  —  In July, he said the Supreme Court's decision allowing same-sex marriage was the “very definition of tyranny” and urged states to ignore the ruling.

Washington Post removes cartoon depicting Ted Cruz's daughters as monkeys  —  The Washington Post on Tuesday night removed a cartoon that portrayed Ted Cruz's daughters as monkeys.  —  “It's generally been the policy of our editorial section to leave children out of it.

US stops British Muslim family from boarding flight to visit Disneyland  —  A British Muslim family heading for Disneyland was barred from boarding a flight to Los Angeles by US authorities at London's Gatwick airport amid concerns of an American overreaction to the perceived terrorist threat.

Rand Paul Says He Won't Participate In Undercard Debate  —  “I'm not gonna let any network or anybody tell me we're not a first-tier campaign.”  —  w.soundcloud.com  —  Rand Paul said on Wednesday that he will refuse to participate in a “second-tier” debate if he is relegated to the undercard stage by the Fox Business Network.

Being a woman costs more than being a man: Study  —  Women based products face higher prices than men's  —  A new study finds female based products cost more than those for men  —  Women are paying thousands of dollars more over the course of their lives than men to purchase similar products …

N.B.A. Lends Its Name and Its Stars to Campaign Against Gun Violence  —  The National Basketball Association, alarmed by the death toll from shootings across the country, is stepping directly into the polarizing debate over guns, regulation and the Second Amendment with an unusual advertising campaign …

Police sgt. says governor was ‘inebriated’  —  SANTA FE - A Santa Fe police officer's recording shows the officer and a Santa Fe hotel security guard discussing whether Gov. Susana Martinez was intoxicated in the moments after she talked to them about a report of loud noise and bottles …

Bevin orders marriage license changes; reverses Beshear on felon voting rights, minimum wage  —  Order removes the names of counties and county clerks from marriage licenses  —  Critics question whether Bevin has authority to change law requiring clerks' signature

Cafeteria worker fired over free lunch  —  Lunch lady offered to pay district the $1.70 cost of the meal she gave to a student without money  —  She plans to seek legal counsel.  “This is just breaking my heart” … For the Idaho State Journal  —  POCATELLO

Stephen Colbert on the “one saving grace” of Donald Trump's 2016 bid  —  Stephen Colbert, as the host of CBS' “The Late Show,” makes a living, in part, by cracking jokes at the expense of political figures.  And the 2016 election, dominated on the Republican side by a figure as colorful as Donald Trump …

The Typical American Lives Only 18 Miles From Mom  —  Families traveling from far-flung places and returning home for the holidays.  That image of an American Christmas, retold in song and movies, fits the perception of Americans as rootless, constantly on the move to seek opportunity even if it means leaving family behind.

Bristol woman dies while being kicked out of area hospital  —  BLOUNTSTOWN - A Bristol woman died Monday morning after being arrested and forcibly removed by police from the Calhoun Liberty Hospital where she had gone seeking treatment.  —  Relatives said 57-year-old Barbara Dawson …

Why America Is Moving Left  —  Over roughly the past 18 months, the following events have transfixed the nation.  —  In July 2014, Eric Garner, an African American man reportedly selling loose cigarettes illegally, was choked to death by a New York City policeman.

In New Hampshire, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie Add Guilt Trips to Campaign Stops  —  PETERBOROUGH, N.H. — The two leading Republican candidates not named Donald J. Trump who most need a victory in the New Hampshire primary have wooed voters here by promoting their experience, their tough-mindedness and their seriousness.