‘Illegal immigrant’ no more  —  The AP Stylebook today is making some changes in how we describe people living in a country illegally.  —  Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll explains the thinking behind the decision:  —  The Stylebook no longer sanctions the term …

Statement from Senator Kirk on Same-Sex Marriage  —  When I climbed the Capitol steps in January, I promised myself that I would return to the Senate with an open mind and greater respect for others.  —  Same-sex couples should have the right to civil marriage.  Our time on this Earth is limited, I know that better than most.

Conspiracy Theory Poll Results  —  On our national poll this week we took the opportunity to poll 20 widespread and/or infamous conspiracy theories.  Many of these theories are well known to the public, others perhaps to just the darker corners of the internet.  Here's what we found:

Ben Carson blasts ‘vicious,’ white liberal critics as ‘the most racist out there’  —  Dr. Ben Carson on Tuesday blasted his critics for heat he's taken recently over controversial remarks on gay marriage, calling his white liberal detractors “the most racist out there.”

Lawmakers Charged in Plot to Buy Spot on Mayoral Ballot  —  State Senator Malcolm A. Smith, a contractor and real estate developer who rose to become the first black president of the State Senate, and City Councilman Daniel J. Halloran III were arrested early Tuesday on charges of trying …

KAREN FINNEY NAMED MSNBC WEEKEND HOST  —  Karen Finney has been named host of a new MSNBC program to air on weekends from 4-5 p.m. ET.  More details about the program, including the launch date, will be announced in the coming weeks.  —  “Karen's rich background in both education policy …

Apple Preps iPhones  —  Apple Inc. plans to begin production of a refreshed iPhone similar in size and shape to its current one in the second quarter of the year, according to people familiar with the device's production, teeing up a possible summer launch for the next version of its flagship device.

Louie Gohmert Opposes Gun Control Because Gay Marriage Leads to Bestiality  —  Earlier this year, Rick Scarborough of Vision America launched a new organization called Tea Party Unity, which seeks to become a “unique clearinghouse and town hall forum where various existing Tea Party leaders …

Tight gun laws ahead for Connecticut  —  Newtown parents, including Mark Barden, spoke at the state capitol building on Monday to call for a complete ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines  —  Lawmakers in the state of Connecticut will vote on a sweeping set of gun restrictions, including a ban on new high-capacity magazines.

Outrage 101: Radical jailed in slay now Columbia prof  —  Former Weather Underground radical Kathy Boudin — who spent 22 years in prison for an armored-car robbery that killed two cops and a Brinks guard — now holds a prestigious adjunct professorship at Columbia University's School of Social Work, The Post has learned.

Obama's continued use of the claim that 40 percent of gun sales lack background checks  —  “Why wouldn't we want to close the loophole that allows as many as 40 percent of all gun purchases to take place without a background check?”  —  “FACT: Nearly 40% of all gun sales don't require a background check under current law.

Obama Names Himself ‘Scientist-in-Chief’  —  At a speech this morning at the White House to outline a new science initiative, President Barack Obama named himself “Scientist-in-Chief.”  —  “I'm glad I've been promoted Scientist-in-Chief,” Obama said to laughter at the White House.

Airline to charge overweight passengers more  —  Samoa Air has become the world's first airline to implement “pay as you weigh” flights, meaning overweight passengers pay more for their seats.  —  “This is the fairest way of travelling,” chief executive of Samoa Air, Chris Langton, told ABC Radio.

Chuck Hagel to give back some of his salary to DOD  —  Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will give back a portion of his salary this fiscal year in solidarity with his department's workers who are facing 14 days of furloughs, the Pentagon said Tuesday.  —  As a political appointee …

Who will be the next Fed chair?  Here are Wonkblog's odds.  —  Ben Bernanke has another ten months in his term as Federal Reserve chairman, but that hasn't stopped the economic punditocracy from beginning an obsession over who will take charge of monetary policy for the world's largest economy come February 1, 2014.

Michelle Obama: ‘This Is Your House, Too’  —  At a “workshop” for the film 42 in the State Dining Room of the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama told the assembled guests that “this is your house, too.”  —  “I want to make sure that you all know how welcome you are here in this house …

Sequestration Effects: Cuts Sting Communities Nationwide  —  WASHINGTON — It's now an article of faith that dire sequestration warnings were overblown.  —  New studies downsize potential job losses because of the federal budget cuts.  Agencies have figured ways to ensure that the more alarming effects …

Pat Robertson Blames Ivy League Schools For Lack Of Miracles In America  —  It may have been April 1st yesterday, but televangelist Pat Robertson wasn't kidding when he told a viewer that Americans aren't experiencing God's miracles because they are too “sophisticated.”

Nearly half of Louisianians give Jindal a failing grade in new poll  —  Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal gives a speech at the Governor's West Bank Luncheon at the Alario Center in Westwego on Thursday, March 28, 2013.  (Photo by Chris Granger, NOLA.com |  The Times-Picayune)

Kerry vows to protect South Korea  —  Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday warned North Korea that the United States is prepared to defend itself and its allies.  —  “We've heard an extraordinary amount of unacceptable rhetoric from the North Korean government in the last days …

Ben Carson's next misstep: Catering to extreme Illinois Family Insitute  —  Readers who have followed my coverage of the Illinois marriage debate know how over-the-top the Illinois Family Institute is.  The IFI—one of the few state-level anti-gay groups, I should note upfront …