‘Illegal immigrant’ no more  —  The AP Stylebook today is making some changes in how we describe people living in a country illegally.  —  Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll explains the thinking behind the decision:  —  The Stylebook no longer sanctions the term …

Statement from Senator Kirk on Same-Sex Marriage  —  When I climbed the Capitol steps in January, I promised myself that I would return to the Senate with an open mind and greater respect for others.  —  Same-sex couples should have the right to civil marriage.  Our time on this Earth is limited, I know that better than most.

Conspiracy Theory Poll Results  —  On our national poll this week we took the opportunity to poll 20 widespread and/or infamous conspiracy theories.  Many of these theories are well known to the public, others perhaps to just the darker corners of the internet.  Here's what we found:

Ben Carson blasts ‘vicious,’ white liberal critics as ‘the most racist out there’  —  Dr. Ben Carson on Tuesday blasted his critics for heat he's taken recently over controversial remarks on gay marriage, calling his white liberal detractors “the most racist out there.”

Justin Timberlake, Queen Latifah to perform at White House  —  President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will host a handful of celebrated musicians next Tuesday for an event the White House is describing as a “celebration of Memphis Soul music.”  —  Among the acts on the lineup …

KAREN FINNEY NAMED MSNBC WEEKEND HOST  —  Karen Finney has been named host of a new MSNBC program to air on weekends from 4-5 p.m. ET.  More details about the program, including the launch date, will be announced in the coming weeks.  —  “Karen's rich background in both education policy …

Lawmakers Charged in Plot to Buy Spot on Mayoral Ballot  —  State Senator Malcolm A. Smith, a contractor and real estate developer who rose to become the first black president of the State Senate, and City Councilman Daniel J. Halloran III were arrested early Tuesday on charges of trying …

Freedom Loses One  —  I don't think we've paused sufficiently to celebrate the wonderful recent defeat for the cause of personal freedom.  After all, these sorts of defeats don't happen every day.  —  Over the past 40 years, personal freedom has been on a nearly uninterrupted winning streak.

Louie Gohmert Opposes Gun Control Because Gay Marriage Leads to Bestiality  —  Earlier this year, Rick Scarborough of Vision America launched a new organization called Tea Party Unity, which seeks to become a “unique clearinghouse and town hall forum where various existing Tea Party leaders …

Ben Carson's next misstep: Catering to extreme Illinois Family Insitute  —  Readers who have followed my coverage of the Illinois marriage debate know how over-the-top the Illinois Family Institute is.  The IFI—one of the few state-level anti-gay groups, I should note upfront …

Tight gun laws ahead for Connecticut  —  Newtown parents, including Mark Barden, spoke at the state capitol building on Monday to call for a complete ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines  —  Lawmakers in the state of Connecticut will vote on a sweeping set of gun restrictions, including a ban on new high-capacity magazines.

Apple Preps iPhones  —  Apple Inc. plans to begin production of a refreshed iPhone similar in size and shape to its current one in the second quarter of the year, according to people familiar with the device's production, teeing up a possible summer launch for the next version of its flagship device.

Mark Sanford wins GOP nomination for his old House seat  —  CHARLESTON, S.C. — 8:50 p.m. 308 of 317 precincts - 97 percent  —  x-Mark Sanford, GOP 25,383 - 57 percent  —  *************************************** *********** Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford on Tuesday cleared another hurdle …

Outrage 101: Radical jailed in slay now Columbia prof  —  Former Weather Underground radical Kathy Boudin — who spent 22 years in prison for an armored-car robbery that killed two cops and a Brinks guard — now holds a prestigious adjunct professorship at Columbia University's School of Social Work, The Post has learned.

Chuck Hagel to give back some of his salary to DOD  —  Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will give back a portion of his salary this fiscal year in solidarity with his department's workers who are facing 14 days of furloughs, the Pentagon said Tuesday.  —  As a political appointee …

Obama's continued use of the claim that 40 percent of gun sales lack background checks  —  “Why wouldn't we want to close the loophole that allows as many as 40 percent of all gun purchases to take place without a background check?”  —  “FACT: Nearly 40% of all gun sales don't require a background check under current law.

Who will be the next Fed chair?  Here are Wonkblog's odds.  —  Ben Bernanke has another ten months in his term as Federal Reserve chairman, but that hasn't stopped the economic punditocracy from beginning an obsession over who will take charge of monetary policy for the world's largest economy come February 1, 2014.

Airline to charge overweight passengers more  —  Samoa Air has become the world's first airline to implement “pay as you weigh” flights, meaning overweight passengers pay more for their seats.  —  “This is the fairest way of travelling,” chief executive of Samoa Air, Chris Langton, told ABC Radio.

Wal-Mart Customers Complain Bare Shelves Are Widespread  —  Wal-Mart Customers Complain About Bare Shelves  —  More than 1,000 e-mailed complaints signal that Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s (WMT) restocking challenges are more widespread than the world's largest retailer has said.

Nearly half of Louisianians give Jindal a failing grade in new poll  —  Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal gives a speech at the Governor's West Bank Luncheon at the Alario Center in Westwego on Thursday, March 28, 2013.  (Photo by Chris Granger, NOLA.com |  The Times-Picayune)