Was the Declaration of Independence signed on July 4th?
It was dated July 4, 1776, but the Declaration of Independence was signed by the Continental Congress nearly a month later, on Aug. 2. Fifty-six delegates eventually signed, though not all were present that day, according to the National Archives. The actual vote for independence was July 2, 1776 — a date that John Adams predicted would go down in the history books.
Will Harry Thomas Jr. serve his full 38-month sentence?
The former District councilman, sentenced to prison in Alabama for stealing more than $353,000 earmarked for youth sports programs, is unlikely to serve the full term. Federal law allows parole and good-time credit to inmates who behave. He’ll probably be released in March 2015, after serving 33 months.
What is a stand-your-ground law?
Most states have a Castle Doctrine, allowing people to use force to defend their homes. Stand-your-ground laws go further, allowing people to use force if they feel threatened anywhere. The law, dubbed “shoot first” by critics, does not require the person to retreat from the threat. The law is central to the Feb. 26 Florida case in which George Zimmerman is accused of shooting teenager Trayvon Martin.
What is the God Particle?
The particle, known as the Higgs boson, is believed to be the particle that gives mass to matter and could help explain how the universe was formed. Scientists meeting in Switzerland announced this week that they found proof the particle likely exists, though that’s not the same as confirming the existence of the God Particle. The Higgs boson is the only elementary particle that has not been observed by particle physicists.
