Bladerunner: The judge in the Oscar Pistorius trial has thrown out all murder charges, saying the prosecution failed to prove Pistorius deliberately killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The judge said Pistorius could not have known who was inside the night he fired his gun through the door.

Pistorius testified that he thought an intruder was in the bathroom. The judge noted that although Pistorius was an evasive witness, that didn’t mean he was guilty. Pistorius still faces manslaughter charges.

The Strategy: President Obama said the US will strike ISIS even in Syria, if necessary, to destroy what he called a growing threat to American security. The president announced the US will conduct a campaign of air strikes and send in an additional 475 ground troops to provide intelligence in Iraq’s fight against ISIS. But he promised, “We will not get dragged into another ground war in Iraq.” Despite his promise, though, this is the way the US has been sucked down the rabbit hole before.

The president said the US will be joined by “a broad coalition of partners.”

Obama also called upon Congress to provide more help to rebels fighting the Assad regime in neighboring Syria. It’s a confusing situation because crushing ISIS will strengthen Assad and let him turn to fight more religiously moderate rebels who want to topple his regime.

Ukraine: The country’s president says Russia has largely withdrawn the troops Russia denied ever sending to fight in eastern Ukraine in the first place. “According to the latest information I have received from our intelligence, 70 percent of Russian troops have been moved back across the border,” President Petro Poroshenko said. He said the Russian withdrawal bolsters his hopes for peace. Poroshenko said he believes Ukraine will remain a united country but the east, which is heavily populated with Russian-speakers, will be granted a special status.

Nation: The co-founder of a home for old circus elephants in Maine was killed when he fell and was stepped on by an elephant. Investigators said veterinary Dr. James Laurita, 56, apparently had fallen and was knocked out at the barn of Hope Elephants 90 miles northeast of Portland. The elephant stepped on his chest in what was clearly an accident, they said.

The Knockout: The Associated Press reports that the NFL has had a copy of the Ray Rice elevator knockout video since April, contrary to the NFL’s statement that it got the full video only this week. The AP quotes an unnamed law enforcement source who played a recording of a female NFL employee confirming on the phone, “You’re right, it’s terrible.”

Commissioner Roger Goodell, who’s being pressured by women’s groups to resign, reiterated his denial. An NFL spokesman said, “We are not aware of anyone in our office who possessed or saw the video before it was made public on Monday.”

   Running back Rice was fired by the Baltimore Ravens and suspended by the NFL after the celebrity website TMZ posted video showing Rice knocking cold the woman who has since married him.

Protest: Thirty-five people were arrested yesterday near Ferguson, Mo.

when they tried to shut down Interstate 70 to protest the police killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. The demonstrators at first were peaceful but then threw bricks, stones, and bottles at riot police. An investigation of the shooting is still underway.

The Obit Page: Richard Kiel, the 7-2 actor who famously played Jaws the steel-toothed giant in two James Bond movies, has died at age 72. He appeared in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979) as an un-killable bad guy whose lumbering evilness made you laugh.

Beaver Tales: Toronto’s troubled and colorful Mayor Rob Ford is in the hospital with a tumor in his abdomen. The nature of the tumor has not been described. Despite drug and alcohol fueled antics, and a stint in rehab, Ford is running for re-election.

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