Nairobi Shootout: A suspected terrorist attack on an upscale Nairobi shopping center today has left up to 20 people dead, according to the Red Cross. Reports say the attackers threw grenades and targeted non-Muslims in the Westgate shopping mall, which is popular with foreigners. Initially the incident was thought to be an attempted robbery, but authorities now say they suspect al Shabaab, a Somali militant group responsible for a string of terrorist attacks.

Defund: The House yesterday voted 230-189 to pass a temporary spending bill that would kill Obamacare, setting up a conflict with the Senate and a possible government shutdown Oct. 1. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said, “Let’s defund this law now, and protect the American people from the economic calamity that we know Obamacare will create.” President Obama said to a gathering of 2,000 autoworkers,  “They’re not focused on you. They’re focused on politics. They’re focused on trying to mess with me.”

National: For the first time in its history the EPA has proposed rules limiting new gas and coal-fired power plants to emitting roughly 70% of greenhouse gases put out by existing plants. Power plants are responsible for 30% of all greenhouse emissions. In effect, President Obama is dodging an unwilling Congress by using regulation to tackle climate change. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said, “The overwhelming judgment of science tells us that climate change is real, human activities are fueling that change, and we must take action to avoid the most devastating consequences of climate change.” The power industry says the technology to make power plants dramatically cleaner is expensive and unproven.

World: Syria has sent information about its chemical weapons to the chemical weapons watchdog group OPCW in The Hague. The NY Times quotes an anonymous US official saying, “We were pleasantly surprised by the completeness of their declaration.”

Papa Redux: A day after he was quoted in a magazine saying the Catholic Church had to end its obsession with social issues, Pope Francis admonished Catholic doctors not to perform abortions. He said abortions are part of the world’s “throw away culture” in which human lives are treated as garbage.

Still 1963: For the first time an all-white sorority at the University of Alabama has invited black and minority students to join. Fourteen students were invited; four black students and two other minorities decided to join. The other Greek houses at Alabama, both black and white, remain segregated, as they have been since the first black students were enrolled in 1963.

Over the Fence: Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez hit his 24^th grand slam last night, putting him one past Lou Gehrig for the career record. Rodriguez is appealing a season-suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs.

Firing Line: A Pennsylvania police chief who posted videos of himself spewing obscenities against liberals, the UN, and Secy. of State John Kerry while shooting an automatic rifle, has been fired. Gilberton, Pa. chief Mark Kessler called Kerry “that piece of shit traitor” before firing his AK-47. Holding his gun he then shouted to the camera, “Come and take it motherfuckers, come and get it,” They didn’t take his gun. They took his job.

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