SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2011

Today is Saturday, July 2, the 183rd day of 2011. There are 182 days left in the year.

1776 ― Continental Congress resolves ``these United Colonies are and of right ought to be Free and Independent States"

1777 ― Vermont becomes first American colony to abolish slavery

1787 ― De Sade shouts from Bastille that prisoners are being slaughtered

1843 ― An alligator falls from the sky during a Charleston, S.C., thunderstorm

1858 ― Partial emancipation of Russian serfs

1921 ― First million-dollar ($1.7m) boxing match (Dempsey KOs Carpentier)

1956 ― Elvis Presley records ``Hound Dog" and ``Don't Be Cruel"

1976 ― Formal reunification of North and South Vietnam

1980 ― Grateful Dead's Bob Weir and Mickey Hart are arrested for incitement

1986 ― Supreme Court upheld affirmative action in two rulings