A Certificate of Embarrassment  —  With sardonic resignation, President Obama, an eminently rational man, stared directly into political irrationality on Wednesday and released his birth certificate to history.  More than halfway through his term, the president felt obliged to prove that he was a legitimate occupant of the Oval Office.

Dozens of tornadoes kill 194 in 5 Southern states  —  PLEASANT GROVE, Ala. (AP) — Dozens of tornadoes spawned by a powerful storm system wiped out entire towns across a wide swath of the South, killing at least 194 people, and officials said Thursday they expect the death toll to rise.

Rand Paul has ‘birther’ demand for Trump: Prove you're a Republican  —  Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Thursday took a swipe at billionaire businessman Donald Trump, demanding to see his “Republican registration.”  —  While speaking at a breakfast with New Hampshire Republicans one day after …

Superman Renounces [SPOILER] in ‘Action Comics’ #900  —  After recently undertaking a journey to walk — not fly — across the United States in the “Grounded” storyline and reconnect with the country and everyday Americans, Superman appears to be taking another step that could have major implications …

Economic Growth Slow as Inflation Measure Spikes Up  —  U.S. economic growth slowed more than expected in the first quarter as higher food and gasoline prices dampened consumer spending, and sent a broad measure of inflation rising at its fastest pace in 2-1/2 years.

Solar Panels Rise Pole by Pole, Followed by Gasps of ‘Eyesore’  —  ORADELL, N.J. — Nancy and Eric Olsen could not pinpoint exactly when it happened or how.  All they knew was one moment they had a pastoral view of a soccer field and the woods from their 1920s colonial-style house; the next all they could see were three solar panels.

Governor weighs signing abortion bill  —  Legislation would take away $2 million of $3 million that Planned Parenthood receives  —  9:23 AM — Governor weighs signing abortion bill  —  Gov. Mitch Daniels said this morning he does not know yet if he will sign House Bill 1210 …

Bernanke Gives a Press Conference  —  The big takeaway from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's historic press conference was that the focus, both of questions asked and Bernanke's own remarks, addressed a situation that would be the exact opposite of the one we're in now.  —  What is our current situation?

Honoring Those Who Said No  —  IN January 2004, Spec.  Joseph M. Darby, a 24-year-old Army reservist in Iraq, discovered a set of photographs showing other members of his company torturing prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison.  The discovery anguished him, and he struggled over how to respond.

Poll: Mass. Republicans want ‘RomneyCare’ repealed  —  A majority of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents in Massachusetts would like to see the 2006 health care law enacted by then-Gov. Mitt Romney and the state legislature repealed and replaced with something else …

More Than Half Still Say U.S. Is in Recession or Depression  —  Democrats rate the economy better than Republicans or Tea Party supporters  —  PRINCETON, NJ — More than half of Americans (55%) describe the U.S. economy as being in a recession or depression, even as the Federal Open Market Committee …

Alabama death toll hits 128 — Dems aim to marginalize Trump; Robert Gibbs demands 10 years tax returns — Panetta-Petraeus announcement: Rose Garden, 3:10 pm — Reid plans vote on Ryan plan  —  SUNDAY SO FAR: Sen. Marco Rubio on “Meet.”  —  DCCC invites you to the “R-Oil Wedding.” www.roilwedding.com

The demand threatened to open another yawning abyss, the debate over affirmative action and race, and black leaders sharply rebuked Trump.  —  “Trump and the rest have played a very divisive card from the fact of his birth to now implying that he got into two Ivy League schools …

Rep. West says Medicare spells end of United States  —  Several booted from Boca town hall  —  BOCA RATON, Fla. - If those opposed to Rep. Allen West have their way, the 2012 election will be fought on his recent vote to privatize Medicare starting in 2023.

National GOP Primary Poll: Trump 19% Romney 17% Huckabee 15%  —  Republican primary voters at this early stage of the game now give billionaire developer Donald Trump the edge over presumptive favorites Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee in the race to be the GOP's presidential nominee in 2012.

Fanatics' fury at Muslim Playgirl  —  A MUSLIM actress has caused a storm by posing naked for Playboy.  —  Sila Sahin has been branded a “whore” and a “western slut” after appearing topless on the cover of the German edition of the men's magazine.  —  And Islamic fanatics have posted threatening internet messages.