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 …

Offline: Users of Sony Play Station and Microsoft Xbox, two of the outlets that were streaming the movie The Interview, were forced offline yesterday in an apparent hacking attack. Users who tried to play new games on Christmas Day posted …

Econ 101: The Dow Jones closed above 18,000 for the first time in its history yesterday, lifted by lower gasoline prices, increased jobs, and growing confidence. The economy grew at a rapid-paced 5 percent last quarter, according to the government, …

Ferguson: Police Officer Darren Wilson, who was cleared Monday by a grand jury in the shooting of an unarmed black teenager, has resigned from the Ferguson, Mo. police department. A letter from Wilson released by his lawyer said, in part, …

Touchdown: The European Space Agency successfully landed its Philae robotic probe on a comet 310-million miles from earth. It’s an historic first landing of a man-made craft on a comet. It wasn’t all smooth. The lander hit hard and bounced …

Here It Comes: The first blast of winter is hitting the northern part of the country from Idaho all the way to the Michigan peninsula. Over the next several days, cold air is expected to plunge down as far as …

Election Day:After the most expensive midterm election campaign in history, American voters go to the polls with little love for either the Republicans or the Democrats, but it looks like Republicans will benefit from the unpopularity of President Obama. Republicans …

Political Climate: An estimated 100,000 to 300,000 people marched in Manhattan yesterday, calling for action against global warming and climate change. Scientists carried oversized chalkboards and survivors of Hurricane Sandy wore life preservers. The People’s Climate March, as it was …

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 …

Ukraine Deal: NATO leaders are scheduled to meet today in Wales to discuss a variety of issues, including the Ukraine crisis and possibly to establish a quick-reaction force to defend members in Eastern Europe. They are becoming increasingly irritated by …