The Short List: Ferguson chaos; Robin Williams' secret; Meet the Press host
Ferguson police chief: 'It's a powder keg'
The nation is looking at the city of Ferguson, Mo. If you didn't know better, you'd think you were looking at a war zone. Ferguson has erupted in violent protests since the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was black, by a white police officer last weekend. Gov. Jay Nixon announced Thursday that the Missouri Highway Patrol will take control of security and that the unit in the embattled town would be overseen by Capt. Ron Johnson, who was born and raised near the community. Pictures and video show police in riot gear using tear gas and stun grenades. Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson said police are going to change their style. "It's a powder keg, and we all recognize that," he said. "What's happening now is not what anyone of us want. ... We need to get everyone to calm down."
NBC's 'Meet the Press' has a new moderator: Chuck Todd
Meet the Press is the longest-running program on network television. When there's a host change, it's a big deal. NBC News announced that chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd will replace David Gregory on Sept. 7. Gregory took over in December 2008 after the death of longtime moderator Tim Russert in June of that year. The change isn't a surprise. Rumors of Gregory's ouster had swelled as ratings declined.
Robin Williams' wife said he wasn't ready to share Parkinson's diagnosis
Robin Williams' wife is speaking out. Susan Schneider released a statement Thursday explaining that the star's sobriety was "intact" at the time of his death, calling him "brave" as he battled depression, anxiety and the early stages of Parkinson's disease. She said Williams wasn't ready to share his diagnosis publicly. She asked that her statement run in its entirety. You can read it here. Meanwhile, Twitter says it will review its user policies after Robin Williams' daughter announced she was quitting the social network following harassing messages sent after her father's death.
Rob Manfred elected to replace Bud Selig as commissioner
There's a new guy in charge. Major League Baseball owners, after weeks of dissent and discord, elected Rob Manfred to replace Bud Selig as the game's 10th commissioner on Thursday, according to a high-ranking baseball official. Manfred, promoted in September to the position of chief operating officer, was considered the favorite entering the owners meetings this week but faced stiff opposition from powerful Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno. They each supported Boston Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner.
Iraq's al-Maliki does a 180 degree turn and steps down
After vehemently denying he would, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki agreed to step down. Iraq is in bad shape. Militants have seized control of large swaths of the country. Iraq is trying to get its act together, and part of that is getting rid of al-Maliki, who many say is partly to blame for the crisis. The Obama administration has criticized al-Maliki for a sectarian rule through his Shiite-dominated government that alienated minority Sunnis and set the conditions for the offensive for Sunni extremists known as the Islamic State. Al-Maliki was in charge for eight tumultuous years in the wake of the 2003 U.S. invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.
Kevin Ward Jr.'s funeral: A '13' in flowers for car No. 13
Today Kevin Ward Jr.'s friends and family said goodbye. They remembered his "goofy" smile, his insatiable love for speed, and the lookin'-for-a-good-time demeanor with which he lived his life. Ward Jr., 20, was killed Saturday night during a sprint car dirt track race at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park when he exited his car after a crash and was struck and killed when the car NASCAR star Tony Stewart was driving clipped him. At the funeral, dozens of floral arrangements hung along the stage of the auditorium. Above the open casket was a white 13 surrounded by orange flowers. Ward Jr. drove car No. 13. The investigation into Ward's death is supposed to last at least another two weeks. It was announced Thursday that Tony Stewart will not race at Michigan International Speedway this weekend.
'Top 15 most wanted' fugitive couple caught in Oregon
Janet and Ramon Barreto had been wanted since 2008 in the death of their 2-year-old adopted daughter, Enna Barreto. On Tuesday, they were finally arrested. The couple were charged in 2008 with child neglect, child abuse, tampering with a witness and manslaughter in the death of their daughter, and the abuse of six other children. From 2005 to 2006, it was alleged that the Barretos traveled to Guatemala on several occasions to buy children from an adoption agency. The children were allegedly physically abused, malnourished and lived in deplorable conditions. "I am absolutely overjoyed that they have been caught, and I had confidence that they would be," said Union County investigator Roger Garner, who had worked the case from the beginning.
Extra Bites
Day in Pictures: Our favorite photo from today's gallery.
Chelsea Plymale has set up her own Ocean City Boardwalk pole-dancing operation. Some people love of it. Some, not so much.
Speaking of poles, a former Teen Mom has a new job as a stripper.
This is a compilation of stories from across Paste BN.
Contributing: Yamiche Alcindor, Aamer Madhani, Doug Stanglin, Andrea Mandell, Jim Michaels, Bill Keveney, Paste BN; Kevin Oklobzija, Bob Nightengale, Paste BN Sports; Therese Apel, The Clarion-Ledger