Good morning. Here are some of the headlines we're following this morning:
1. Obama Hits Trump, Passes the Baton to Clinton
President Barack Obama offered an optimistic vision of the country and a strong indictment of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Wednesday night in a speech that also cast Hillary Clinton as the best candidate to carry on his legacy and complete his unfinished business. Read more in POLITICS.
2. Kaine Steps Into Spotlight, Swings at Trump
Tim Kaine introduced himself to the American people on Wednesday night, accepting his place on the Democratic ticket and firing his first prime-time shots at the party's foe. Read more in POLITICS.
3. ‘Deeply Troubling’: Intel Experts Blast Trump
Trump's comments that Russia should "find the 30,000 emails that are missing" from Clinton's email account provoked outrage from national security experts across the spectrum. Read more in POLITICS.
4. Second Church Attacker Was Known Potential Radical
The second culprit behind an ISIS-linked attack that killed a priest in a church was a teenager reportedly known to security services as a potential Islamist militant. Read more in NEWS.
5. President Reagan’s Daughter: Keep Hinckley Locked Up
Patti Davis said she has forgiven her dad's would-be assassin, John Hinckley Jr., but thinks he should remain locked up. She weighed in on Hinckley just hours after a judge Wednesday sprung him from the mental hospital that has been his home for 35 years. Read more in NEWS.
6. U.S. ‘Looking Into’ Reports Iran Detained American
The State Department says it is looking into reports that Iran has detained a third U.S. citizen of Iranian descent after the detention of an unnamed visiting U.S. citizen — the latest in a string of arrests of dual nationals. Read more in NEWS.
7. Man With Gun Arrested, Threatened to ‘Off’ Cops
An 18-year-old Florida man was in custody Thursday morning after he allegedly threatened to shoot NYPD officers at Manhattan's Port Authority bus terminal. Read more at NBC NEW YORK.
Nightly Spotlight
Exactly 12 years ago, then-Sen. Obama stole the DNC spotlight. And his speech before the country Wednesday night was a major moment for marking his legacy.