Good morning. Here are some of the stories we're following today:
1. Body of Drowned Boy Returned to Syria for Burial
The grieving father of the Aylan Kurdi, the Syrian toddler whose drowning made headlines around the world, returned home to bury his two sons and his wife on Friday. The burial came two days after a photograph of Aylan's tiny body, face down on a Turkish beach, went viral and prompted worldwide outrage at the plight of thousands of desperate refugees. Read more in NEWS.
2. Kentucky Clerk Jailed as Gay Couples Plan to Marry
Gay couples are expected to line up for marriage licenses in Rowan County, where clerk Kim Davis had been refusing to issue them. A judge found Davis in contempt of court Thursday and ordered her to be jailed, prompting her deputy clerks to fulfill her duties. Read more in NEWS.
3. Donald Trump Promises Not to Launch Third-Party Bid
The party front-runner has signed the Republican National Committee's pledge to endorse the eventual GOP nominee in 2016 and forgo a run as a third-party candidate in the general election. Trump previously had been the only candidate who refused to say he would not run as a third-party candidate if he did not win the GOP nod. Read more in POLITICS.
4. Biden Says Family Will Dictate Whether He Runs for 2016
Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday night he "will not hesitate" to run for president next year — but only if his family is up to it. The most recent Quinnipiac poll put Biden in a statistical tie for second in the race for the Democratic nomination. Read more in POLITICS.
5. Did Forged Signature Clear Way for Dangerous Device?
NBC News has found that the Recovery blood-clot filter, which is implanted in thousands of people, was associated with 27 deaths and hundreds of other non-fatal problems after it received FDA clearance. Questions are now being raised over possibly forged documents. Read more in INVESTIGATIONS.
6. Tom Brady Beats NFL, Judge Tosses Suspension
A Manhattan federal court judge announced the decision Thursday after the league and the players union representing star Patriots quarterback Tom Brady failed to reach a settlement in their bitter suspension dispute. The league had suspended Brady over the Deflate-Gate scandal. Read more in SPORTS.
7. ‘Star Wars’ Fans Awaken to New Film’s Toys
Happy "Force Friday." Although the release of the new "Star Wars" movie is still months off, Disney is unleashing its full marketing force behind the launch Friday of hundreds of toys and other items related to the much-hyped film. Read more in POP CULTURE.
Nightly Spotlight
The harrowing images of Europe's migrant and refugee crisis have sparked international outcry over the fate of tens of thousands of desperate refugees. Watch how to help: