Monday's Headlines: First debate a pivotal moment for Clinton and Trump

Democrats' hopes of winning Senate fade as Trump proves less toxic for GOP; Kellyanne Conway criticizes Obama's response to Trump claims about African Americans; Arnold Palmer, golf's first name-brand superstar, left an indelible mark; A tiny Indiana town sees its legacy preserved in the African American Museum;   The morning's most important stories, selected by Post editors   Top Stories First debate a pivotal moment for Clinton and Trump Much of the nation is expected to tune in amid great uncertainty about what they'll see — including which version of Donald Trump will be on stage. With polls showing the candidates in a virtual tie six weeks out from Election Day, the stakes in Monday's debate could hardly be higher. By John Wagner, Jose A. DelReal and Abby Phillip  •  Read more » Democrats' hopes of winning Senate fade as Trump proves less toxic for GOP Voters appear to be separating Donald Trump from down-ballot Republicans, pushing the fight for the Senate into a knuckle-to-knuckle brawl that will likely result in the chamber closely divided or potentially even tied. By Mike DeBonis  •  Read more »   Kellyanne Conway criticizes Obama's response to Trump claims about African Americans Donald Trump's campaign manager chided the president for his response to the GOP nominee's assertion that life has never "ever" been worse for African Americans than it is today. By Janell Ross  •  Read more »   Arnold Palmer, golf's first name-brand superstar, left an indelible mark Credited with inventing golf as a televised sport and being the first to earn $1 million in purses, he won seven major titles, brought zest to the staid game and turned his everyman image into a worldwide franchise. Palmer, 87, died Sunday in Pittsburgh. By T. Rees Shapiro  •  Read more »   A tiny Indiana town sees its legacy preserved in the African American Museum Lyles Station, Ind., was a haven of free blacks who were able to buy land and build their own farms before the Civil War. A century and a half later, some of those who still live and farm there traveled to Washington to see their ancestors' stories introduced to the world. By David Montgomery  •  Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT   Opinions   Dear debate moderators: Please do not duck By E.J. Dionne Jr.  •  Read more »   Beyond debate? By Editorial Board  •  Read more »   The wrong immigration debate By Robert J. Samuelson  •  Read more »   A soliloquy on Syria By Fred Hiatt  •  Read more »   Obama's failed legacy on child soldiers By Josh Rogin  •  Read more »   GOP voters declare fealty to Trump as partisanship intensifies By James Downie  •  Read more » ADVERTISEMENT   More News   U.S. accuses Russia of 'barbarism' and war crimes in Syria As a war of words unfolded at the United Nations in New York, Aleppo's rebel-held eastern neighborhoods were being shaken by the most ferocious aerial attacks there in recent memory. By Louisa Loveluck and Liz Sly  •  Read more » Vin Scully's last game at Dodger Stadium provides another storybook ending The 88-year-old broadcaster called a division-clinching walk-off home run, a final big moment in a career full of them. By Chuck Culpepper  •  Read more » Loss of exuberant Jose Fernandez shakes the baseball community The untimely death of the 24-year-old Marlins star, who combined extraordinary pitching with a harrowing story of defecting from Cuba, leaves a void in the sport and in the city of Miami. By Barry Svrluga  •  Read more » Trump's reference to Bill Clinton affair underscores his own history of infidelity Some say suggesting Hillary Clinton is somehow to blame for her husband's extramarital affair will hurt Trump with women. By Mary Jordan  •  Read more » Trump, Clinton meet separately with Israeli prime minister in New York The press was not granted access to either meeting. By Jose A. DelReal and Anne Gearan  •  Read more » Sullivan: Why you should watch the debate — even if you've made up your mind Under fire from candidates and pundits, these confrontations matter more than any speech or ad. By Margaret Sullivan  •  Read more » What they said, what they meant Sign up to have The Fix's Aaron Blake text you the highlights of each debate as it unfolds. Read more » It's been two years since Ferguson, but police reform remains slow to roll out across the U.S. In Charlotte and elsewhere, there have been pushes to step up officer training, but the pace of deadly shootings has not changed. The toll illustrates the challenges of reforming a police force and the fatigue of the communities demanding new accountability. By Kimberly Kindy  •  Read more » As kindergarten ratchets up academics, parents feel the stress Many new parents say they have been shocked to find their children in a pressure cooker of rigorous academics, standardized tests, homework and what seem like outrageous expectations. By Moriah Balingit  •  Read more » Afghan refugees have settled in Pakistan for decades. Now they're being ordered to get out. Pakistan, long a safety valve for Afghans fleeing successive periods of conflict and repression, has given 1.5 million long-settled and registered refugees six months to leave. By Pamela Constable  •  Read more » Identical twin confesses to 2003 murder that put his brother behind bars The shocking admission brought both men to tears in a Chicago courtroom. By Peter Holley  •  Read more »         Share Today's Headlines:       Twitter      Facebook Trouble reading? Click here to view in your browser. You received this email because you are signed up for Headlines. For additional free newsletters or to manage your newsletters, click here. We respect your privacy. If you believe that this email has been sent to you in error or you no longer wish to receive email from The Washington Post, click here. Contact us for help. ©2016 The Washington Post, 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071