Scottish referendum: Scotland votes ‘No’ to independence  —  Scotland has voted to stay in the United Kingdom after voters decisively rejected independence.  —  With 31 out of the country's 32 council areas having declared after Thursday's vote, the ‘No’ side has an unassailable lead of 1,914,187 votes to 1,539,920.

Rift widens between Obama, U.S. military over strategy to fight Islamic State  —  Flashes of disagreement over how to fight the Islamic State are mounting between President Obama and U.S. military leaders, the latest sign of strain in what often has been an awkward and uneasy relationship.

Supreme Court Blocks Kobach's Power Move In Kansas Senate Race  —  The Kansas Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Democratic Senate nominee Chad Taylor's name should be removed from the ballot in November, overruling Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R).  —  The ruling shakes up one of the most-watched Senate races in 2014 once again.

Could Fighting Global Warming Be Cheap and Free?  —  This just in: Saving the planet would be cheap; it might even be free.  But will anyone believe the good news?  —  I've just been reading two new reports on the economics of fighting climate change: a big study by a blue-ribbon international group …

Wisconsin Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Blames Campaign Consultant For Large Portions Of Copied Jobs Plan  —  From three previous Democratic campaigns.  —  Facebook- Burke for Wisconsin / Via Facebook: burkeforwisconsin  —  Large portions of Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate …

Why I Hope to Die at 75  —  An argument that society and families—and you—will be better off if nature takes its course swiftly and promptly  —  Photos by Jake Chessum  —  Seventy-five.  —  That's how long I want to live: 75 years.  —  This preference drives my daughters crazy.

Can a Recycled Abortion Strategy Beat Cory Gardner in Colorado?  —  It's worked year after year, but Democrats will have a harder time painting this Republican as an extremist on reproductive rights.  —  Democratic operative Guy Cecil was living in Sen. Michael Bennet's basement four years ago …

How gender mattered in the rise and fall of Debbie Wasserman Schultz  —  Devastating.  —  That's really the only way to describe Politico's piece on DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.  —  Based on interviews with DNC staffers — both former and current — the piece described Wasserman Schultz …

GOP congressional candidate endorses going to war with Mexico over undocumented immigrants  —  Where do Republicans find these people, and why won't they stop?  —  The latest candidate to sign up for the hard-fought America's Dumbest Congressman competition is Republican Mark Walker …

Square Deal, New Deal, and Now, From Hillary Clinton, a “Fair Shot”  —  As Hillary Clinton spoke about women's economic issues at a liberal think tank, you could practically hear her campaign taking shape.  —  A hush fell over the room as some of the most powerful women in the Democratic Party took …

Politician accused of dropping pants, hurling racist slurs dropping out of race  —  SOUTH PLAINFIELD — A borough council candidate is bowing out of his race after revelations that he allegedly shouted racist slurs while mooning patrons of a local diner.  —  Joe Sorrentino …

Congress's Inaction Could Be Legal Basis for Stronger Executive War Powers  —  WASHINGTON — As lawmakers grapple with President Obama's claim that he already has congressional authorization for airstrikes against the Islamic State, legal specialists are saying that even legislative inaction …

Write-In Candidate For U.S. Senate Unveils ‘With Jews We Lose’ Signs  —  A man with a history in the white supremacist movement has reportedly posted a series of anti-Semitic campaign signs throughout northern Kentucky as part of his write-in bid to unseat Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R).