Clinton rivals pounce as her ratings fall  —  A once-sleepy Democratic presidential primary contest is fast coming alive as Hillary Rodham Clinton's poll numbers fall and a diverse array of long-shot opponents step forward to challenge her.  —  The recent developments mark a dramatic evolution …

Limbaugh to GOP: Don't accept Caitlyn Jenner  —  Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh thinks Republicans should reject Caitlyn Jenner, even if she agrees with them politically.  —  Limbaugh said on his radio show Tuesday that liberals are trying to “redefine normalcy” …

Cruz apologizes for Biden joke at Livingston Co. dinner  —  Howell — GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz used a speech before Livingston County Republicans on Wednesday night to tell jokes about liberals and Democrats, including Joe Biden on the week the vice president lost his eldest son to brain cancer.

White House Brief: Things to Know About Rick Perry  —  Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry is entering the 2016 race for the Republican presidential nomination Thursday.  Key things to know about him:  —  THE BRIEF  —  The longest-serving governor in Texas history, Perry was a Democrat who became …

Inequality Troubles Americans Across Party Lines, Times/CBS Poll Finds  —  Americans are broadly concerned about inequality of wealth and income despite an economy that has improved by most measures, a sentiment that is already driving the 2016 presidential contest, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll.

Martin O'Malley counters Hillary Clinton: I'm not new to immigration reform  —  The former Maryland governor is staking his own claim on the Latino vote.  —  Martin O'Malley, struggling to emerge from the long shadow of Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, is betting on immigration …

Story highlights  —  (CNN)Usaamah Rahim, who was fatally shot after waving a military knife at law enforcement officers, was originally plotting to behead Pamela Geller, an activist and conservative blogger, law enforcement sources told CNN on Wednesday.  —  But Rahim, a 26-year-old security guard …

Dish Network in Merger Talks With T-Mobile US  —  Dish and T-Mobile have agreed Charlie Ergen would be chairman and John Legere CEO, sources say  —  Dish Network Corp. is in talks to merge with T-Mobile US Inc., people familiar with the matter said, a deal that would accelerate a wave …

I'm a liberal professor, and my liberal students terrify me  —  I'm a professor at a midsize state school.  I have been teaching college classes for nine years now.  I have won (minor) teaching awards, studied pedagogy extensively, and almost always score highly on my student evaluations.

Attorney: Scottsdale yoga instructor was drugged  —  File video: Yoga instructor facing sex abuse charges  —  The attorney for a 33-year old yoga instructor accused of having oral sex with a 15-year-old boy at a Bar Mitzvah earlier this year said he believes his client was drugged while at the party.

Obama's trust-me approach falls flat with Democrats  —  President Obama's argument that Democrats should trust his vision on trade is falling flat on Capitol Hill.  —  Democrats — even some of Obama's closest allies — say it's not enough for the president to pronounce his trade agenda the most progressive in history.

Jeb Bush to announce for president June 15 in Miami  —  Nearly six months after saying he was “actively” exploring the idea of running for president, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will officially enter the race June 15 in Miami.  —  “Gov. Bush is thankful for the support and encouragement …

Obama Bets It All on the Mullahs  —  The president looks to secure his legacy with a deal that would prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.  But can he stave off the hawks both here and in Tehran?  —  The moment of truth for U.S.-Iranian relations—and for President Obama's foreign policy legacy— is nearly upon us.

Only Half of Iowa Republican Caucus-Goers Care if 2016 Candidates Attend Straw Poll  —  Republican presidential candidates who skip the Iowa Straw Poll in August aren't likely to pay much of a price for their decisions.  —  Only 51 percent of likely Republican caucus-goers …

The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is the Other Party  —  How negative partisanship is dividing Americans and shaping the outlook for the 2016 election  —  Which candidate will emerge from the crowded Republican presidential field next year?  Can anyone stop or at least slow …

Four People Charged For Cheering At Mississippi High School Graduation  —  Four people were charged with disturbing the peace after cheering too loudly at a high school graduation ceremony in Senatobia, Miss., Memphis television station WREG reported on Tuesday.

Mosby says she'll seek order to block release of Freddie Gray autopsy report  —  Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby plans to seek a protective order that would block the release of Freddie Gray's autopsy report and other “sensitive” documents as she prosecutes the six police officers involved in his arrest.

Today is the end of sheloshim for my beloved husband—the first thirty days.  Judaism calls for a period of intense mourning known as shiva that lasts seven days after a loved one is buried.  After shiva, most normal activities can be resumed, but it is the end of sheloshim that marks the completion of religious mourning for a spouse.