From NPR: Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the ballad after witnessing the Battle for Baltimore in 1814. According to author Steve Vogel, after it was published, Key's composition took the country by storm. But it didn't become the national anthem until more than 100 years later.
Kentucky: An ordinance gradually raising water bills about 31 percent in Hopkinsville is set for the city council’s approval. The U.S. Energy Department has issued a request for offers for the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, a move that Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said "disappointed" him. The Kentucky Supreme Court will hear arguments in August over whether a slot machine-like device, known as Instant Racing, is legal in the state.
Illinois: Gov. Pat Quinn has signed a law that allows some 17-year-old Illinoisans to vote in primary elections. Illinois has suspended non-emergency roadwork to help keep traffic moving over the July 4th holiday weekend.