Trump team tells GOP he has been ‘projecting an image’  —  HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump's chief lieutenants told skeptical Republican leaders Thursday that the GOP front-runner has been “projecting an image” so far in the 2016 primary season and “the part that he's been playing is now evolving” …

GOP veepstakes begin: Candidates start building lists and vetting prospects  —  What is the GOP establishment? … State of the race 2016  —  HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — As the Republican presidential race heads toward a possible contested convention, the three remaining candidates …

As your friend, let me tell you that the EU makes Britain even greater  —  In 1939, President Franklin D Roosevelt offered a toast to King George VI in the White House.  “I am persuaded that the greatest single contribution our two countries have been enabled to make to civilisation …

Prince Once Wrote A Donald Trump Song And It Is Spectacular  —  It is a ‘90s romantic ballad and it is called “Donald Trump (Black Version).”  —  Outside of his own hits, the late Prince was famous for having writing, instrumental, or production credits on other artists’ albums.  —  Mike Blake / Reuters

Police: Seven dead after shooting in Pike County  —  PIKE COUNTY, OH (WCMH) — Police are responding to multiple scenes near the Pike and Adams county line where at least seven people are dead.  —  Law enforcement sources tell NBC4 there are a total of three scenes near Piketon, Ohio along Union Hill Road.

Hey, Berniacs: I Learned to Love Hillary and So Can You  —  An Obama 2008 veteran, who's been on a campaign that was in a position similar to Clinton's and that had to reconcile with Clinton, offers his thoughts.  —  In late May of 2008, there was a bit of a misunderstanding that briefly blew …

Virginia Governor Restoring Voting Rights to Felons  —  WASHINGTON — Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia will use his executive power on Friday to restore voting rights to more than 200,000 convicted felons, circumventing his Republican-run legislature.  The action will overturn a Civil War-era provision …

Prince — Treated for Drug Overdose Days Before Death  —  TREATED FOR DRUG OVERDOSE DAYS BEFORE DEATH  —  EXCLUSIVE  —  Prince was treated for a drug overdose 6 days before his death ... multiple sources tell TMZ.  —  We broke the story ... Prince's private jet made an emergency landing in Moline …

U.S. Suicide Rate Surges to a 30-Year High  —  WASHINGTON — Suicide in the United States has surged to the highest levels in nearly 30 years, a federal data analysis has found, with increases in every age group except older adults.  The rise was particularly steep for women.

Inside Prince's bizarre life at Paisley Park: This is what happened when we visited the music icon  —  When the Daily Mirror's Peter Willis went to interview the music legend at his Paisley Park mansion in 2010 it was even weirder than he could have imagined

Growing and growing up  —  Today we announced a settlement in two important class-action lawsuits: O'Connor (California) and Yucesoy (Massachusetts).  The key issue at stake in both cases is whether drivers using the Uber app should be classified as independent contractors or employees.

Secretive group of Hollywood conservatives suddenly dissolves  —  The announcement by the Friends of Abe fueled speculation that infighting over Donald Trump's candidacy had drained commitment  —  The Friends of Abe has acted as a clandestine club for Hollywood conservatives for more than a decade …

Politicians' Promises and #NeverTrump's Evolution  —  1. Yup, politicians usually attempt to keep their promises, and they often succeed.  Timothy Hill at FiveThirtyEight looks at the research.  (My old item on this is here.)  —  2. Andrew Rudalevige at the Monkey Cage on the Supreme Court arguments …

Donald Trump's More Accepting Views on Gay Issues Set Him Apart in G.O.P.  —  Elton John and his longtime boyfriend, David Furnish, entered a civil partnership on Dec. 21, 2005, in England under a law the country had just enacted granting recognition to same-sex couples.

Apple No Longer Immune to China's Scrutiny of U.S. Tech Firms  —  For years, there has been a limit to the success of American technology companies in China.  Capture too much market share or wield too much influence, and Beijing will push back.  —  Apple has largely been an exception to that trend.