…And the World:

We begin today in Brazil, where President Dilma Rousseff of the Workers Party secured first place in her country’s presidential election, but now faces a runoff with Aécio Neves, the center-right candidate in the race. Marina Silva of the Socialist party, came in third place after taking the place of Eduardo Campos at the top of the ticket. Campos died in an August plane crash roiling the election and upending its conventional wisdom. So far Rousseff, who emphasized income redistribution in her campaign, is the favorite to win the general, but momentum may be on Neves’ side, who was third at one point. Silva remains a wildcard too.

After clashes at the end of last week, a stalemate may be settling in between the government of Hong Kong and pro-Democracy activists. Others see the protests dwindling.

Israeli is fuming over Sweden’s decision to begin recognition talks with the Palestinian Authority, outside the traditional conduit for peace talks. However, Sweden is anything, but clear about what its decision means in the short term, although Israel fears other European countries may follow.

Pope Francis calls synod, primarily it seems, to discuss allowing divorcees to receive communion.

Haiti’s brutal one-time leader dies.

Canada’s Parliament will vote this week on whether to launch airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq. A divide in the Liberal Party over the issue may have erupted on the issue, possibly coloring that party’s fortunes in next year’s elections, a conservative Canadian publication argues.

The Feds:

The US Supreme Court has rejected petitions from five states facing rulings against their bans on same-sex marriage, effectively bringing marriage equality to five more states: Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. However, rulings from the 4^th, 7^th and 10^th Circuits upholding decisions that quashed the bans, in effect, ripples those rulings out to all of the states in those circuits or create legal chaos. The Guardian has a live blog of states’ reaction to the rejection of the petition for review.

Greater Washington potpourri. The Post looks at the race for a swingy Northern Virginia Congressional seat and President Obama endorses Muriel Bowser in the DC Mayoral race. A Maryland legislator proposes a way around (part of) Citizens United that does not offend the constitution.

Really Wisconsin is just a mess.

Isn’t that cute? Republicans have a candidate against Rosa DeLauro in Connecticut’s arch-Democratic New Haven-based Congressional seat. Elsewhere in the Nutmeg State, Obama will be fundraising in Greenwich, while the gubernatorial candidates talked taxes at a West Hartford synagogue. And a new poll shows Democratic Governor Dan Malloy up by…8!?!?

In Colorado, Senator Mark Udall and Rep. Cory Gardner spar in a debate. Gardner goes uber aggressive, but tears the truth asunder (yes we know this is a partisan link, but it is also true) on personhood and the government shutdown.

The State of Things:

Holyoke Treasurer Jon Lumbra announced he would be leaving that position soon to take a job at Treasurer-Collector in Lowell. Masslive reported that he intends to do both jobs during a transition period. The City Council will be able to fill the post, an elected position, after he formally resigns. Lumbra posted his decision to take the job to Facebook on Friday.

Our report on the First Lady’s visit to Boston to stump for Martha Coakley.

Suffolk Downs, which had hoped the casino gods would save it, shut down on Saturday.

Paul McMorrow considers whether Tom Menino’s mighty political machine was really almighty at all.

Republican Don Humason and Democrat Pat Leahy, competing for the 2^nd Hampden & Hampshire Senate seat, trade barbs on marriage equality, minimum wage and literacy.

The Fourth Estatements:

Afghanistan’s new president is allowing a New York Times reporter the country expelled to return.

City Slickers:

Jim Kinney at Masslive says the new owners of Five Town Plaza have plans for renovations and new retailers, but so far are mum on what that will mean.

The Reminder writes about the restoration of tornado damaged housing the South End and Six Corners neighborhoods.

Twitter Chatter:

The Supreme Court’s decision not to review the circuit cases overturning bans on same sex marriage probably foretells the inevitable. Marriage equality will come to the United States soon. Either the circuit courts will continue on the path they have taken or a conflicting circuit will rule differently forcing the Court’s hand. Either way it seems unimaginable that the march can go any other way. Today we award the tweet prize to two individuals. The first is Marissa Lang, a reporter for the Salt Lake Tribune, who noted that today is the anniversary of the plaintiffs in the Utah case.

Fun fact: today is #Utah plaintiffs Derek Kitchen & Moudi Sbeity’s anniversary. Betting no one will top #SCOTUS’s gift. #gaymarriage #lgbt

— Marissa J. Lang (@Marissa_Jae) October 6, 2014

However, special mention today must also go to an opponent of same-sex marriage. Utah Governor Gary Herbert. While disappointed, his call to all Utahns to accept the decision and, more importantly, treat all citizens of respect is precisely the right attitude and entirely civil. It is in stark contrast to the hysterical reaction of Oklahoma’s governor, and worthy of recognition.  

I encourage all Utahns, regardless of their personal beliefs on this issue, to treat each other with respect. — Gary R. Herbert (@GovHerbert) October 6, 2014