Nation: Forty-seven Senate Republicans sent a direct letter to Iran threatening to abandon any nuclear weapons deal reached by the Obama Administration, undercutting the authority and negotiating power of the president. The occupants of the White House are pretty irritated. Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the senators were trying to “essentially throw sand in the gears here.” Earnest said, “Writing a letter like this that appeals to the hard-liners in Iran is frankly just the latest in a strategy, a partisan strategy, to undermine the president’s ability to conduct foreign policy.”

>The municipal court judge in Ferguson, Mo. has resigned and a state judge will take over. Ferguson Judge Ronald Brockmeyer was repeatedly cited in a federal report for abusive practices in the police department and courthouse. Brockmeyer said he was stepping aside to promote public confidence and “begin the healing process”.

World: Three French sports stars were killed today in Argentina when two helicopters collided while filming a “survival” reality show. Ten people died in all.

French yachtswoman Florence Arthaud, Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat, and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine were among the dead.

Sigma Alpha Jerkus: Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the University of Oklahoma was ordered shuttered yesterday after the weekend release of a video showing the frat boys on a bus singing a racist song. The boys were given until midnight tonight to get their belongings out of the house. More severe punishments could be in the pipeline, including expulsion.

Protesters gathered at dawn outside the fraternity yesterday, joined by University President David Boren. He said later at a press conference, “I’d be glad if they left. I might even pay the bus fare for them.”

Permawar: Ukraine says eastern rebels have pulled back a significant number of their heavy weapons to honor a ceasefire and an established neutral zone. The ceasefire has been repeatedly violated, but is slowly taking hold.

The Right Stuff: The Solar Impulse-2, a solar-powered airplane designed to fly around the world without liquid fuel, completed the first leg of its journey flying from Abu Dhabi to Oman. The plane’s 236-foot wings are covered with 17,000 solar cells. The really tough part could be five days of uninterrupted flight to cross the Pacific.

Armed: While gun sales continue to thrive, the percentage of American households that owns at least one gun is declining, according to a recent survey. According to the General Social Survey, 32 percent of Americans own a firearm themselves or live with someone who does, which ties a record low set in 2010. The decline is linked to the decline in the popularity of hunting. Only about 16 percent of households say they have a hunter in the home.

The Obit Page: Sam Simon, a successful television writer who was a co-creator of the irreverent The Simpsons cartoon show for adults, has died of cancer at age 59. Simon stayed with the show for only four years, but his continuing producer credit earned him a fortune. After learning he had terminal cancer he began buying zoos and circuses to free their animals. He later announced he would donate his $100 million fortune to charities including PETA, Save the Children, and Feeding Families.

Apple Time: Apple’s new iWatch will sell at a variety of prices ranging from $349 all the way up to $17,000, the company said at one of its product events yesterday.

The iWatch will be able to pay for stuff, check the Internet, and open your garage door. It also tells time.

The basic model is plastic and aluminum; stainless steel goes for $1,099. The gold watch, which starts at $10,000, becomes obsolete just as quickly as anything else Apple makes.

And we should say Apple is very proud that the watches have a battery that lasts “all day.”

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