Homepage PRoblems at Content/Footer Convergence

I would like to make my homepage consistent with all other pages. Currently the homepage is thrown off, likely due to something with the Featured Content feature that I can't seem to figure out. In the attached photo you can see my two problems: http://giantstepdesign.com/GSD/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/JRO.jpg 1. I cannot remove the thin white horizontal spacer line, pointed out by the arrow, and 2. There is space between the gray background and footer on all other pages but not the homepage. Is there a way to make that consistent?