AFL-CIO leader tries to quell pro-Sanders revolt  —  The labor federation's rules don't allow its state and local leaders to endorse presidential candidates, Richard Trumka says as the Vermont senator surges.  —  Richard Trumka has a message for state and local AFL-CIO leaders tempted to endorse Bernie Sanders: Don't.

State Silences Bakers Who Refused to Make Cake for Lesbian Couple, Fines Them $135K  —  Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian finalized a preliminary ruling today ordering Aaron and Melissa Klein, the bakers who refused to make a cake for a same-sex wedding, to pay $135,000 in emotional damages to the couple they denied service.

A few fans have written wondering whether I intended to utter a racist remark by referring to Justice Thomas as a “clown in blackface.”  —  “Blackface” is a lesser known theatrical term for a white actor who blackens his face to play a black buffoon.  In traditional theater lingo, and in my view and intent, that is not racist.

The worst agreement in U.S. diplomatic history  —  The devil is not in the details.  It's in the entire conception of the Iran deal, animated by President Obama's fantastical belief that he, uniquely, could achieve detente with a fanatical Islamist regime whose foundational purpose is to cleanse …

Courtroom school reunion between judge, suspect  —  Judge Mindy Glazer, suspect Arthur Booth attended middle school together  —  Author: Jeff Tavss, Executive Producer, jtavss@local10.com … MIAMI -  —  While most school reunions are held in hotel ballrooms or local gymnasiums …

Smaller Majority “Extremely Proud” to Be an American  —  Story Highlights  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Independence Day approaches, most in the U.S. say they are proud to be an American, including a slight majority, 54%, who are “extremely proud.”  The percentage saying they are “extremely proud” …

Koch-Backed Group Calls For No More National Parks  —  Claire Moser is the Research and Advocacy Associate with the Public Lands Project at the Center for American Progress.  You can follow her on Twitter at @Claire_Moser.  —  Just in time for the Fourth of July — when millions of people across …

Romney to host the Christies, Rubios at his New Hampshire home  —  BEDFORD, N.H. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's comeback journey begins here in New Hampshire, so the Republican presidential candidate is paying a visit to the last winner of the state's first-in-the-nation primary and one of its most famous summertime residents.

Reddit is in meltdown.  —  The hugely popular link-sharing site is in a state of virtual lockdown after the volunteers who run some of the site's biggest communities (known as “subreddits") went on the digital equivalent of a general strike.  This followed the sacking of Victoria Taylor …

Illegal Aliens Disrupt Ann Coulter Book Signing, Author Fires Back  —  COSTA MESA, CA - Political commentator and author Ann Coulter was signing copies of her new book Adios America: The Left's Plan to Turn our Country into a Third World Hellhole at a Barnes and Noble Tuesday night when the calm …

TV news crews robbed in S.F.; cameraman pistol-whipped  —  News crews from two television stations were robbed of cameras Thursday morning, and a camera operator was pistol-whipped by a man in a ski mask, as they reported on a homicide at Pier 14 in San Francisco.

Bubba Watson Says He Will Paint Over Confederate Flag On ‘Dukes Of Hazzard’ Car  —  As the tide continues to turn against Confederate flags, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson said Thursday that he too would remove the flag from one of its most visible cultural likenesses.

State chemist's addiction may have affected more drug cases than previously known  —  For years, Sonja Farak was addicted to cocaine, methamphetamine, and amphetamines, the kind of drugs usually bought from street dealers in covert transactions that carry the constant risk of arrest.

3 reasons the American Revolution was a mistake  —  This July 4th, I'm celebrating by taking a plane from the US to the United Kingdom.  The timing wasn't intentional, but I embrace the symbolism.  American independence in 1776 was a monumental mistake.  We should be mourning the fact that we left the United Kingdom, not cheering it.