Iraq: President Obama is considering direct military action against Islamic militants threatening the control of the Iraqi government. Fighters for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have moved as close as 30 miles from Baghdad. President Obama said, “My team is working around the clock to identify how we can provide the most effective assistance to them,” he added. “I don’t rule out anything.”

The US claimed Iraq was ready to defend itself when US troops pulled out in 2011, but so far Iraqi forces have been unable to turn back the ISIS onslaught as the Islamic militants capture territory and weapons in their path.

Ukraine: Ukrainian leaders say a column of armored vehicles crossed the Russian border and fought against Ukrainian troops in eastern Ukraine. Russian officials have not answered accusations by Ukraine that the tanks are theirs, but if they are it’s a big step up in the conflict. Russia effectively invaded and took Crimea, but so far has only offered support to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine without joining the fight. The Ukrainian foreign minister said the armored column included three tanks, armored cars, and armored personnel carriers.

Nation: Former POW Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl left Germany for a hospital in Texas as part of his reintegration into the world. It’s possible he will be reunited with his parents there, but so far he’s reported to have declined to speak to the them on the phone.

Crime Beat: A career criminal in Fresno, Ca. was mistakenly freed when the jury in his burglary trial accidentally checked the “Not Guilty” box. Bobby Lee Pearson, 37, got the break of his life because the judge ruled the error was not reversible. Less than one hour later Pearson was dead, stabbed to death, police say, by his sister’s boyfriend at her home.

Sports Page: The World Cup soccer competition opened in Brazil yesterday with a colorful ceremony that included 660 dancers and a finale performance by Jennifer Lopez and rapper “Pitbull.” Host country Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 in the opening match. The World Cup consists of 32 countries playing 64 games stretched over a month. The Sao Paulo stadium holds 65,000 fans and they never, ever shut up.

>The San Antonio Spurs crushed the Miami Heat 107-86 to take a 3-1 lead in the NBA finals. Game five is Sunday in San Antonio.

Big Screen: Actor Harrison Ford, 71, broke his ankle filming the new Star Wars sequel in England. He was airlifted to a hospital.

Small Screen: NBC News has signed a deal to keep “Today Show” host Matt Lauer for at least two more years. “Today” has suffered some on-air soap operas in recent years and lost the ratings lead to ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Having started in 1997, Lauer is the longest serving anchor in the history of “Today.”

The Obit Page: Actress and civil rights activist Ruby Dee, who paved the way for black actors, died in New Rochelle, NY at age 91. Dee made her Broadway debut in the original production of “South Pacific” and in 1959 starred in the Broadway premiere of “A Raisin in the Sun” with Sidney Poitier in a landmark show about black frustration amid racial discrimination. She met and married fellow actor Ossie Davis in 1945 and they were together until his death in 2005.

Trumped: Orange-haired real estate magnate Donald Trump has assaulted the sensibilities of Chicagoans with a new sign on his 92-story hotel and condo tower. The building was considered a tasteful addition to downtown Chicago until the installation of a 20-foot stainless steel backlit sign that says TRUMP. It’s considered to be brashly New York, and in Chicago there are few sins bigger than that.

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