Former president George W. Bush thanks troops amid thunderous Okla. applause in July 4 speech

WOODWARD, Okla. — Former President George W. Bush was greeted by thunderous applause on the Fourth of July as he told thousands of spectators in a rural Oklahoma rodeo arena that the U.S. was “the greatest nation on the face of the earth.”

Obama praises Iraq’s independence but says there will be difficult days ahead

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama warned on Saturday “there will be difficult days ahead” in Iraq and said the U.S. will remain a strong partner to Iraq for its security.

‘Biggest and best’ fireworks show promised in NYC as Independence Day celebrated around US

NEW YORK — Fireworks lit the night sky above New York with a kaleidoscope of colors shooting 1,000 feet into the air on an Independence Day that began with the Statue of Liberty’s crown opening to the public for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001.

Palin links resignation to ‘higher calling,’ need to unite nation along conservative lines

JUNEAU, Alaska — Outgoing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Saturday laid the groundwork to take on a larger, national role after leaving state government, citing a “higher calling” with the aim of uniting the country along conservative lines.

1 dead, several injured when lightning strikes at Fourth of July gathering in central Fla.

LAKELAND, Fla. — A lightning strike at a Fourth of July gathering in central Florida killed one person and 18 others were taken to hospitals, officials said Saturday.

Jeremy Mayfield doesn’t want to be distraction at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Jeremy Mayfield wasn’t at Daytona International Speedway for Saturday night’s race, citing the media attention on his legal fight with NASCAR as an unnecessary distraction from the Independence Day celebration.

Sarah Palin keeps low-profile after surprise announcement she is stepping down as Alaskas gov

JUNEAU, Alaska — Where is Sarah Palin? A day after surprising even her closest friends by announcing she would step down as Alaska governor more than a year before her term was up, the controversial hockey mom was keeping a low profile. Her spokesman, David Murrow, said Palin told him she was flying to Juneau, the state capital, for the Fourth of July weekend, but he wasn’t sure what activities she planned to attend.

With 3rd win in row, Joey Chestnut sets record at Coney Island’s hot dog eating contest

NEW YORK — Joey Chestnut chomped down a record 68 hot dogs, capturing his third straight July Fourth hot-dog eating contest at Coney Island, an annual showcase for flamboyant hot dogging contestants eager to show they really are what they eat.

Soldier who fought Taliban in pink boxers is back home in Texas for July 4th

FORT WORTH, Texas — The soldier who was photographed fighting the Taliban in his pink boxer shorts said Saturday he was glad to be back home in Texas after his yearlong deployment to Afghanistan — especially for the Fourth of July.

Palin keeps low-profile after surprise announcement she is stepping down as Alaska’s governor

JUNEAU, Alaska — Where is Sarah Palin?

Former president George W. Bush to speak at 4th of July celebration in remote Oklahoma town

WOODWARD, Okla. — Former President George W. Bush, who has turned up in a handful of out-of-the-way places since leaving office, was set to spend part of Independence Day speaking at a remodeled rodeo arena in rural northwestern Oklahoma.

North Korea fires 7 ballistic missiles off eastern coast, flouting UN resolutions

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea launched seven ballistic missiles Saturday into waters off its east coast in a show of military firepower that defied U.N. resolutions and drew global expressions of condemnation and concern.

White House celebrating Independence Day with barbecue, fireworks for military families

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says Iraq’s independence is an extraordinary accomplishment but that its transition won’t be without problems.

VP Biden celebrates July 4 with US troops in Iraq after delivering warning to Iraqi leaders

BAGHDAD — Vice President Joe Biden celebrated the Fourth of July with his son and other American troops in Iraq on Saturday, a day after warning Iraqi leaders that U.S. assistance will be jeopardized if the country reverts to ethnic and sectarian violence.

Friendly territory: George W. Bush to spend Fourth of July in small Oklahoma town

WOODWARD, Okla. — When the middle-of-nowhere town of Woodward invited George W. Bush to its Fourth of July celebration, no one really expected the former president to accept. But he did.

North Korea fires 4 missiles amid concern about launch toward Hawaii July Fourth

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea fired a barrage of short-range missiles off its east coast in a possible prelude to the launch of a long-range missile toward Hawaii over the U.S. Independence Day holiday.

Hear ye, hear ye! RI town holds nation’s oldest July 4th celebration with parade, speeches

BRISTOL, R.I. — In July 1785, the citizens of this waterfront town assembled to heap praise on their newly minted nation and to thank God for helping them survive a fierce assault by the British during the Revolutionary War.

How 1 immigrant high schooler soared, despite detainment

TRENTON, N.J. — He was born on the Fourth of July, an irony he would learn to appreciate later, during the dark period of his life, when liberty and freedom came to mean something far more real than words in his high school history book.

United Airlines computers back up at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, easing long lines of passengers

CHICAGO — A computer problem temporarily disrupted United Airlines flights at O’Hare International Airport on Thursday, causing long delays and lines for travelers headed out for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

British National Archives finds rare copy of the Declaration of Independence hidden in a file

LONDON — British researchers have announced the discovery of a rare original copy of America’s Declaration of Independence — just in time for the Fourth of July.

Computer problems cause delays of United Airlines flights at Chicago’s O’Hare airport

CHICAGO — A computer problem grounded all United Airlines flights at O’Hare International Airport Thursday, causing long delays and lines for travelers headed out for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Dry Louisiana: Farmers struggle, fish die in dry ditches, some areas consider fireworks ban

NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana got some welcome rain this week, but farmers were still worrying about vulnerable crops in drought conditions that even threatened to cancel their Fourth of July fireworks displays.

AP NewsBreak: SC governor says he considered resigning over affair; will try to restore trust

SULLIVANS ISLAND, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford gave thought to quitting, retreating from public scrutiny to rebuild his life as the scandal of his extramarital affair with an Argentinian woman came out, he told The Associated Press Sunday.

‘Prairie Home Companion’ turns 35, but creator Garrison Keillor unsentimental about milestone

ST. PAUL, Minn. — For the 35th anniversary of his “A Prairie Home Companion,” humorist Garrison Keillor will actually be in Lake Wobegon when he reads the news from Lake Wobegon.

Police use tear gas and clubs to crush protest as Iranian leader says government won’t yield

EDITOR’S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media.

State Department says no Iranian diplomats have accepted overseas 4th of July invitations

WASHINGTON — The State Department says no Iranian diplomat has accepted an invitation from U.S. diplomatic posts abroad to attend embassy Fourth of July parties.

Energy prices fall with gasoline supplies surging; traders await Fed statement

NEW YORK — Oil prices fell Wednesday after the government reported that unused gasoline in storage has grown by millions of barrels.

Want an all-American Independence Day? Try London

LONDON — There are few better places to celebrate the United States and its Independence Day than London.

Gasoline futures tumble to end the week, dragging down oil and other energy commodities

NEW YORK — Gasoline markets exhibited the first signs that an extended rally in pump prices is nearing an end after 52 straight days on the rise.

Source: US military watching North Korean ship, first under new UN nonproliferation effort

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is tracking a ship from North Korea that may be carrying illicit weapons, the first vessel monitored under tougher new United Nations rules meant to rein in and punish the communist government following a nuclear test, officials said Thursday.