State legislators finally approved a coal ash bill, on Wednesday, which requires Duke Energy to potentially pay billions to clean up four of the 14 coal ash basins around the state, though some of the cost would be passed along to rate payers. "Under the bill, the ash from the 'high-priority' sites at the Asheville, Riverbend, Dan River and Sutton plants would be placed in industrial-lined landfills." The "short" session also adjourned yesterday.

ISIS has threatened to assassinate more American journalists if the U.S. keeps sending air strikes to Iraq. The extremist group warned American photojournalist James Foley's family in an email that he would be beheaded.

A Los Angeles police officer who was videotaped hitting a woman on the side of a highway is facing unspecified charges. People called the police department to report the woman walking on the side of the highway, who some say appeared drunk. The woman's lawyer, however, said she is bipolar and hadn't taken her medication.

Also out of Southern California: Police say they thwarted an alleged campus shooting plot at a high school in Pasadena.