Good morning, and happy Tuesday. Here are some of the stories we’re following today:
1. Exclusive: Ray Rice wants a second chance
The ex-Ravens running back sat down with TODAY's Matt Lauer to talk about the infamous elevator assault against his then-fiancee, Janay, which got him suspended from the NFL. "I took full responsibility for everything that I did. And only thing I can hope for and wish for is a second chance," Rice said. Janay and her father, Joe Palmer, also spoke with Lauer about the fallout from the attack. Palmer, who has been a father figure to Rice, said he wanted to speak "man-to-man" with the football player. Read more at TODAY.
2. Wife of ISIS leader detained in Lebanon
One of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s wives, along with their child, were detained in Lebanon after she was traveling under a false identity, according to officials and local reports. Little is known about ISIS mastermind Baghdadi, who is rarely seen or heard. An audio tape released by the terror network last month and purportedly from the militant chief called for "volcanoes of jihad" to erupt all over the world. Baghdadi is not his birth name and he uses a host of aliases. Read more in NEWS.
3. Justice Department will target racial profiling
Outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder said Monday that the Justice Department will update how federal law enforcement deals with racial profiling, including using "rigorous new standards" to end the controversial practice. The move comes in the wake of the police shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown, whose death sparked unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, and protests around the country. "This new guidance will codify our commitment to the very highest standards of fair and effective policing," Holder said from the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Read more in NEWS.
4. Rams, police disagree over Ferguson apology
The St. Louis Rams and St. Louis County police are at odds over players who came out during pre-game introductions on Sunday with their hands up — in solidarity with Ferguson protesters and Michael Brown. While the police chief claimed Monday he got an apology from a Rams official over the display, the Rams denied saying mea culpa. Meanwhile, the NFL says it will not discipline the players who participated in the "hands up, don’t shoot" pose. Read more at NBC SPORTS.
5. Bill Cosby resigns from Temple University board
The embattled comedian is stepping down from Temple University’s board of trustees, he said in a statement Monday. Cosby, a Philadelphia native who became a trustee in 1982, said stepping down would be in the best interest of the university and its students — but he didn’t specify why. Other schools with ties to Cosby have distanced themselves from him since allegations of sexual assault from several women surfaced in recent weeks. Read more in POP CULTURE.
6. What do we know about brain injuries?
The suicide of Ohio State University football player Kosta Karageorge led a coroner on Monday to order a special exam to determine whether he showed signs of a traumatic brain injury. Karageorge’s body was found in a trash bin on Sunday, and his mother had told police that her son suffered several concussions and had bouts of extreme confusion. The tragedy has raised questions about traumatic brain injuries and the effect on athletes. Read more in HEALTH.
And now this …
A lamb chop’s last stop is the final frontier. Watch what happens when a team of Londoners decided to mount the piece of meat on a high-altitude balloon.