Alabama Gov. Bentley removes Confederate flags from Capitol grounds  —  On the order of Gov. Robert Bentley, the Confederate battle flag which stands at the foot of the confederate memorial on the state Capitol grounds was taken down this morning.  —  Two workers came out of the Capitol building …

Fox dumps Sarah Palin  —  Fox News will not renew its contract with Sarah Palin, whose bombastic appearances have been a cable staple since the former Alaska governor's failed run on John McCain's ticket in the 2008 presidential election cycle.  When asked for comment, a Fox News spokesperson confirmed …

Anesthesiologist trashes sedated patient — and it ends up costing her  —  These audio clips are excerpts from conversations between a gastroenterologist, an anesthesiologist and a medical assistant during a colonoscopy.  This was entered as evidence in a lawsuit filed by the patient for defamation and medical malpractice.

A Special Announcement From Bobby Jindal  —  My name is Bobby Jindal, and I am running for President of the United States of America.  There were three people I think you would agree my wife Supriya and I had to tell first. … Puppy  —  My daughter Selia cut to the chase: she wanted a puppy.

French outraged over news of NSA spying  —  French President François Hollande said on Wednesday that it is “unacceptable” for the U.S. to have intercepted his and two other French presidents' communications.  —  The French government has reportedly summoned U.S. Ambassador Jane Hartley …

Homegrown Radicals More Deadly Than Jihadis in U.S.  —  WASHINGTON — In the 14 years since Al Qaeda carried out attacks on New York and the Pentagon, extremists have regularly executed smaller lethal assaults in the United States, explaining their motives in online manifestoes or social media rants.

Shawskank had closet sex with killer at least 100 times: ex-inmate  —  Joyce Mitchell (left), Richard Matt (top right) and David Sweat (bottom right).  —  Prison worker Joyce “Tillie” Mitchell had sex at least 100 times in a sewing-shop storage closet with one of the convicted killers she helped spring …

AP Exclusive: Document outlines big-power nuke help to Iran  —  1 photo  —  VIENNA (AP) — The United States and other nations negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran are ready to offer high-tech reactors and other state-of-the-art equipment to Tehran if it agrees to crimp programs that can make atomic arms …

Here Are Some Top New York Times Editors Joking About Mass Killings  —  The New York Times jealously guards its status as America's paper of record through an obsessive focus on decorum and propriety.  So it's interesting to see in two leaked photos that the paper's brass has a sense …

Every state flag is wrong, and here is why  —  As long as we're on the subject of flags that should and should not be flown in states, let's take a moment to talk about state flags.  —  Every state flag is wrong.  If you don't believe me, look at them.  Here are the 50 worst.

Take Down the Fascist, Anti-Christian Gay-Pride Flag  —  Under the banner of what is dishonestly called a gay pride or gay “rights” flag, hate, fascism, and intolerance has festered for years, specifically against Christians and conservatives.  Under the auspices of a “rights and equality” …

Lexus Builds a Functional Hoverboard Prototype  —  Back to the Future fans may finally get to try a real, live version of the film's famous floating skateboard  —  Watch out, world.  Toyota is heading back to the future.  —  The automaker has hinted it's looking into flying cars.

Scott Walker to sign legislation expanding gun rights in Wisconsin  —  Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) plans to sign two new laws on Wednesday that expand the rights of gun owners by removing a 48-hour waiting period for those looking to purchase a firearm and allowing off-duty …

Unraveling the threads of hatred, sewn into a Confederate icon  —  Sally Jenkins is a sports columnist for The Post and co-author with John Stauffer of “The State of Jones,” about Unionists in Mississippi during the Civil War.  They are writing a biography of Charles Sumner.

Obamacare dilemma for GOP govs running for president  —  The question: Salvage subsidies or stick to 2016 repeal script?  —  Ohio Governor John Kasich refused to set up an Obamacare exchange, as did most other GOP governors.  Getty  —  If the Supreme Court rules against Obamacare subsidies …

Five Hostages  —  Families whose children were held captive in Syria felt that U.S. officials had abandoned them.  So they secretly joined forces. … BUY THE PRINT » … The five hostages, from left: Kayla Mueller, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig, James Foley, and Theo Padnos.

What GOP Candidates Need To Speak To, Now  —  “This is not about guns.  This is about evil.  Here at home, and evil abroad.”  —  No GOP candidate for president has yet used those words but I hope some and perhaps all of them will before a week or more passes.