On Monday, the Supreme Court released its 5-4 decision in the case, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. The knee-jerk reaction for many television and media news outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News, was to make the debate about the idea of corporate personhood, or women's health, or the extent of religious liberty and whether or not the state has an interest in mandating contraceptive care (or if it can).

United States Senate seats from Kansas have comprised of a constant stream of Republican politicians since George McGill (D) lost his re-election bid in 1938. Kansas is considered, at least in national politics, a safe, solid-red state.

Greg Orman, an independent candidate, is trying to change this.

On Friday, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Mary Mikva issued a ruling that effectively ended the redistricting reform efforts of Yes for Independent Maps. Citing previously rejected ballot initiatives, she rejected the group's initiative, saying:

“History furnishes one example only of a first Magistrate being formally brought to public Justice. Every body cried out against this as unconstitutional. What was the practice before this in cases where the chief Magistrate rendered himself obnoxious? Why recourse was had to assassination in which he was not only deprived of his life but of the opportunity of vindicating his character.

David Crane, an adviser to former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, declared in 2010 that public pension crises nationwide represent “the largest single financial issue facing state and local governments." According to one estimate, state and municipal governments across the country have a total unfunded pension liability of $4.1 trillion.

It's been a while since Mexico has caught the attention of U.S. manufacturers attempting to shrink their costs. However, this is quickly changing.

The main reason is that wages have almost quadrupled in China in the last 5 years, while Mexico did not see a significant hike. Also, since Americans are the main consumers of these companies, it is cheaper to transport products from Mexico.

Two big announcements came out of independent Evan Falchuk's camp on Monday: he became the first gubernatorial candidate to officially qualify for the November ballot in Massachusetts, and he plans to spend at least $360,000 on his initial TV and radio advertisement campaign.

While only 10,000 signatures are required to be submitted before the August 26 deadline, Falchuk, who founded the United Independent Party, said his team collected more than 17,000 signatures -- all without the help of paid signature-gathering firms.

The outcome of the Mississippi Republican runoff election between U.S. Senator Thad Cochran and state Senator Chris McDaniel has sparked controversy within the GOP.

The rapid expansion of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) across Iraq is leading to sectarian violence on a scale not seen in the country in years. In June 2014 alone, approximately a thousand Iraqis -- nearly all civilians -- have been killed.

The president plans to sign an executive order banning companies that do business with the federal government from discriminating against gay and transgender employees. This could make life easier on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers currently employed for such companies, according to Sarah Ovink, sociology professor at Virginia Tech.