The British actor was 86. He achieved pop-culture stardom as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

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Expectations are cresting for Democrats, and some kind of wave seems likely, but so much will depend on a few close Senate races.

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A tale of political intrigue from Alaska.

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Karl Bushby has walked 31,000 miles, crossing some of the world’s harshest landscapes. He plans to reach his mother’s house in England next week.

© Sam Bush for The New York Times