Morning Must Reads: September 15

Scottish Referendum Heats Up

Proponents and opponents of Scottish independence scramble for votes as polls show the two sides almost level just days before Sept. 18. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Scotland,” says Alex Salmond of the Scottish National Party

Putting ISIS’s Threat in Perspective

The Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria is not a well-armed fighting force, but a ragtag collection of militants using secondhand weapons. But they still pose a risk to the U.S. and its interests

Hillary Winks at 2016 in Iowa

The former Secretary of State was greeted by fans wearing “Ready for Hillary” T-shirts at a historic Democratic launch pad in Iowa; as speculation about 2016 reaches fever pitch, Clinton teased a crowd: “Well it is true, I am thinking about it”

Hundreds Flee 2 Raging Wildfires in California

The wildfires forced some 1,000 people to evacuate their homes, including one near a lakeside resort town that burned nearly two dozen structures; one blaze sparked Sunday afternoon near Oakhurst quickly charred at least 320 acres and is 20% contained

Anti-ISIS Coalition Converges in Paris for Strategy Meeting

Delegates from more than 20 countries descended on the French capital to hold an emergency meeting to draw up battle plans to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria, days after ISIS posted a video showing the beheading of a British captive

NFL Commissioner Faces Mounting Pressure to Resign

Commissioner Roger Goodell faces mounting calls for his resignation amid the league’s handling of a recently published video tape of Ray Rice, which shows the Baltimore Ravens running back knocking his then-fiancée unconscious in an elevator

Hurricane Odile Slams Mexican Resort

A ferocious Category 3 hurricane slammed Cabo San Lucas early Monday with 125 mph winds and six months’ rain in just one hour, becoming the strongest storm to ever hit Mexico’s southern Baja California peninsula

U.S. to Lift Ban on Adopting Vietnamese Youth

The U.S. is set to lift a ban on child adoption from Vietnam, imposed in 2008 after a number of trafficking allegations; certain restrictions will remain, as American parents will initially only be able to adopt children who are older than 5, have disabilities or have siblings

German Chancellor Vows to Fight Surge in Anti-Semitism

Angela Merkel pledged on Sunday to step up the battle against anti-Semitism in Germany, home to about 200,000 Jews; speaking at a rally in Berlin, she said Germany would do all it could to stop the surge, which has risen since the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza

Amy Winehouse Statue Is Unveiled in London

English soul and jazz singer Amy Winehouse has been immortalized three years after her death, at the age of 27, with the unveiling of a life-size statue in Camden, North London; the statue depicts Winehouse with a hand on her hip and a rose in her signature hairdo

The Imitation Game Wins Top Prize at Toronto Film Festival

War and injustice — plus top-billing stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley — combine in the biopic of wartime cryptologist Alan Turing; earning the Toronto festival’s People’s Choice Award is considered a bellwether for the Academy Awards

American Held in North Korea Given 6 Years of Hard Labor

At a nearly 90-minute trial, the court said Matthew Miller, 24 and of Bakersfield, Calif., tore up his tourist visa upon arrival to Pyongyang in April and admitted to having the “wild ambition” of experiencing prison life to secretly investigate the human rights situation

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