Nation: President Obama sent Congress a $4 trillion budget that’s a challenge to the Republican majority to get up and do something to help the middle class. He wants to help the middle class pay for education, childcare, and job …

Freed: Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste, an Australian who spent 400 days in an Egyptian prison, was allowed to leave the country and go home today. Greste and colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were arrested while interviewing a leader …

Softball: The NFL broke its silence on the Patriots ball scandal yesterday, saying 40 people have been interviewed and that the league has even hired a video/electronic forensic expert to find out who dunnit. Reports say 11 0f 12 Patriot …

Turnover: A former federal judge acting as an arbitrator overturned the indefinite suspension of former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for domestic violence. It’s a big setback for the NFL trying to police domestic violence by players, but the …

Scotland: First Minister Alex Salmon is stepping down after losing the independence vote and also resigning as leader of the Scottish National Party. Salmon dedicated his political life to Scottish independence and leaves in disappointment. He said, “For me as …

The Coming Fight: In a rare moment of agreement, House leaders from both parties voted to train and arm Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State extremists in Syria and Iraq. Some dissenters said it was a step toward re-entering …

The Football Business:After a flurry of outrage over his re-instatement, The Minnesota Vikings have once again sidelined their star running back Adrian Peterson, who’s facing criminal charges that he hit his four-year-old son with a switch. A statement by the …

Ebola: President Obama is expected today to announce a dramatic step-up in aid to stop the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa. He’s sending 3,000 military personnel for medical and logistical help. The aid also would include five treatment centers …

The Big Melt: An enormous portion of the West Antarctic ice sheet is melting and it may be irreversible, according to scientific reports released yesterday. Eric Rignot, a glaciologist at the University of California, Irvine said, “It has passed the …

Ukraine: Turnout appeared to be light today for a referendum on independence in eastern Ukraine, with many voters marking their ballots “yes.” The movement’s backers would create independent republics in Donetsk and Luhansk. The chairman of the election committee for …