World

War-Weary Military Wanted Lesser Role in Iraq Summary As President Obama was weighing how to halt Islamic State advances in Iraq, some of the strongest resistance to boosting U.S. involvement came from a surprising place: a war-weary military that has grown increasingly skeptical that force can prevail in a conflict fueled by political and religious grievances, according to The Washington Post. LINK

U.S. Poised to Put Heavy Weaponry in Europe to Check Putin In a significant move to deter possible Russian aggression in Europe, the Pentagon is poised to store battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other heavy weapons for as many as 5,000 American troops in several Baltic and Eastern European countries, American and allied officials say, According to The New York Times. LINK

Pope to Explore Climate Effect on Poor Pope Francis on Thursday will release his first major teaching letter, known as an encyclical, on the theme of the environment and the poor. Given the pope’s widespread popularity, and his penchant for speaking out on major global issues, the encyclical is being treated as a milestone that could place the Roman Catholic Church at the forefront of a new coalition of religion and science, The New York Times reported. LINK

Vermont

Trail Bridge In 1912, the Vermont Legislature budgeted $500 for a new foot bridge over the Winooski River, so hikers on Vermont's north-south Long Trail wouldn't have to make a 3-mile detour. More than a century and $2 million later, the bridge opened Friday, AP reported.