War in Paris: The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the six coordinated attacks in Paris last night that left at least 128 people dead. An ISIS statement called the attacks “the first of a storm.”

France closed its borders and declared a state of emergency after the attacks outside the national stadium where French President Francois Hollande was watching a soccer match, a crowded concert hall, and several bars and restaurants.

In addition to the dead, at least 180 people were wounded, 80 of them critically. Hollande said today, “It is an act of war that was committed by a terrorist army, a jihadist army, Daesh, against France.”

French authorities are stunned at the planning and execution of the attacks that slipped by their intelligence services.

As the attacks opened, a gunman opened fire in a bar and then walked across the street to kill people dining in a restaurant. Three suicide bombers blew themselves up at fast food restaurants and a brasserie outside the Stade de France. Seven of the attackers killed themselves with suicide bombs.

But by far the worst scene was at the Bataclan concert hall, a venue that holds 1,500 people where the California band Eagles of Death Metal were playing. Gunmen stood in the rear of the theater firing at scrambling patrons, killing at least 80 of them. A witness said that one of the gunmen shouted, “What you are doing in Syria, you are going to pay for it now!”

A radio reporter who was inside the hall said, “It lasted between 10 and 15 minutes. It was extremely violent and there was panic. The attackers had enough time to reload at least three times. They were very young. There were bodies everywhere.”

Permawar: In related war news, American authorities say they are fairly certain, but have yet to confirm, that a drone strike killed the British man known as “Jihadi John” who was the public executioner for the Islamic State. The target was hit with a Hellfire missile.

>Kurdish fighters were celebrating after successfully taking the strategic city of Sinjar from ISIS in northern Iraq. They now control a portion of a major road used by ISIS for resupply.

The Supremes: The Court has agreed to hear a challenge by abortion providers to the Texas law that requires clinics to have hospital-grade facilities, claiming the law is aimed at ending the procedure rather than making it safe as legislators say. It’s the first major abortion case for the Supreme Court since 2007. The Court ruled abortion is legal more than 40 years ago but it’s been under near constant challenge ever since.

The Church Lady: A Utah judge has reversed his order to take a foster child away from a married lesbian couple because of their sexual orientation. Juvenile Court Judge Scott N. Johansen had originally ordered the nine-month old baby to be placed with a heterosexual couple, saying, “It is not in the best interest of children to be raised by same-sex couples.”

Judge Johansen is a bishop in the Mormon Church, which does not approve of homosexuality. Last week the church decreed that same-sex Mormon couples should be considered “apostates,” and that the children of those couples may join the church only after they’ve turned 18 and have moved out of the family home.

The Finish Line: Russian track and field athletes have been banned from competing in all sanctioned international track and field events following a lengthy report that accuses the Russians of systematic doping and cheating. Sebastian Coe, the federation president for international track and field, said, “This has been a shameful wake-up call, and we are clear that cheating at any level will not be tolerated.”

Russia disputes the findings of the World Anti-Doping Association. The ban will eliminate Russian track and field athletes from events leading to the summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and if it stays in place, from the Olympics as well.

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