A Defiant Rancher Savors the Audience That Rallied to His Side  —  BUNKERVILLE, Nev. — Cliven Bundy stood by the Virgin River up the road from the armed checkpoint at the driveway of his ranch, signing autographs and posing for pictures.  For 55 minutes, Mr. Bundy held forth to a clutch …

A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list  —  (CNN) — At least 40 U.S. veterans died waiting for appointments at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system, many of whom were placed on a secret waiting list.  —  The secret list was part of an elaborate scheme designed …

Wynn, Clooney exchange barbs over heated dinner conversation  —  George Clooney, right, shown last year at Wynn Las Vegas promoting his Casamigos tequila with Steve and Andrea Wynn, reportedly took issue with Steve Wynn's comments about President Barack Obama.  (Courtesy)  —  George Clooney.

Michelle Obama scraps graduation speech  —  First lady Michelle Obama is scrapping her plans to deliver a graduation speech for high school seniors in Topeka, Kan., after hundreds signed a petition in protest.  —  Instead of delivering a graduation speech, Obama will speak before the school district …

Obama: Japanese robots a little scary'  —  Tokyo (CNN) - President Barack Obama has some new high tech friends  —  The President played soccer Thursday with a Japanese robot during a stop at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, or Mirikan.

Gay veteran: 'Ashes of a couple old lesbians isn't going to hurt'  —  BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) — Madelynn Taylor wants to spend eternity next to the love of her life.  —  The 74-year-old U.S. Navy veteran from Boise instantly fell in love with her partner back in 1995.  They were inseparable and married soon after.

Southern Whites' Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats  —  President Obama's landslide victory in 2008 was supposed to herald the beginning of a new Democratic era.  And yet, six years later, there is not even a clear Democratic majority in the country, let alone one poised for 30 years of dominance.

Obama administration prepares to take over Oregon's broken health insurance exchange  —  The Obama administration is poised to take over Oregon's broken insurance exchange, according to officials familiar with the decision, who say that it reflects federal officials' conclusion …

THE 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE  —  Scott Walker

Op-ed: Chad Griffin on Controversial Marriage Equality Book  —  The response to Jo Becker's book from many of my friends and colleagues in the LGBT movement has had a profound effect on me.  Most troubling of all is the impression that I personally am unaware or dismissive of the decades of hard work …