Trump stands by statements on Mexican illegal immigrants, surprised by backlash  —  Republican presidential candidate and real estate mogul Donald Trump on Saturday stood by statements he made recently that too many illegal immigrants from Mexico are criminals, but said he was surprised …

Gov. Walker and Wisconsin GOP Retreat on Open Records Limits  —  In a sudden reversal amid a stinging backlash, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and GOP legislative leaders said they agreed Saturday to completely remove a part of the proposed state budget that would severely roll back open records laws.

GOP punts on Confederate symbolism in Capitol  —  House Republicans are struggling with the question of whether to remove the Confederate image from around the Capitol complex — and they seem in no hurry to commit themselves one way or another.  —  Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson …

Health Insurance Companies Seek Big Rate Increases for 2016  —  WASHINGTON — Health insurance companies around the country are seeking rate increases of 20 percent to 40 percent or more, saying their new customers under the Affordable Care Act turned out to be sicker than expected.

What the Declaration of Independence Really Claimed  —  (As we celebrate Independence Day, I thought I would post a couple excerpts about the Declaration of Independence from my forthcoming book, Our Republican Constitution: Securing the Sovereignty of the People (which is now available for pre-order on Amazon).

Alligator Attacks And Kills 28-Year-Old Man  —  Investigators, a witness and friends are revealing the harrowing accounts of the first recorded fatal alligator attack in Texas and more about the victim.  —  A justice of the peace tells KFDM News Tommie Woodward, 28, is from St. Louis, but moved to Orange with his twin brother.

Hillary Clinton: ‘I take a backseat to no one’ on liberal record  —  Hillary never mentioned Bernie Sanders by name, but the subtext was unmistakeable.  —  Hanover, N.H. — Hillary Clinton arrived in this liberal New England enclave with a message for anyone thinking about voting …

Obama Plans Broader Use of Clemency to Free Nonviolent Drug Offenders  —  WASHINGTON — Sometime in the next few weeks, aides expect President Obama to issue orders freeing dozens of federal prisoners locked up on nonviolent drug offenses.  With the stroke of his pen, he will probably commute …

I owe an apology.  On the eve of this Independence Day, I have a renewed sense of what this country stands for, and how I personally could help achieve it.  The promise of equality and freedom is one that all of us have to work for, at all times.  I know this as a survivor …