Today is Saturday, July 4, the 185th day of 2009. There are 180 days left in the year. This is Independence Day.

Today's Highlight in History:

July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.

On this date:

1802, the United States Military Academy officially opened at West Point, N.Y.

1826, 50 years to the day after the Declaration of Independence was adopted, former presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died.

1919, Jack Dempsey won the world heavyweight boxing title by defeating Jess Willard in Toledo, Ohio.

1939, baseball's "Iron Horse," Lou Gehrig, said farewell to his fans at New York's Yankee Stadium.

1959, America's 49-star flag, honoring Alaskan statehood, was officially unfurled.

1960, America's 50-star flag, honoring Hawaiian statehood, was officially unfurled.

1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Freedom of Information Act, which went into effect the following year.

1976, Israeli commandos raided Entebbe airport in Uganda, rescuing almost all of the passengers and crew of an Air France jetliner seized by pro-Palestinian hijackers.

Today's Birthdays: Advice columnist Pauline Phillips (the original "Dear Abby") is 91. Baseball team owner George Steinbrenner is 79. Broadcast journalist Geraldo Rivera is 66. Actress Becki Newton (TV: "Ugly Betty") is 31. Presidential daughter Malia Obama is 11.

The Associated Press