It’s Wednesday, July 4, the 186th day of 2012. There are 180 days left in the year.

In Hisory

Highlights: In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. In 1862, English mathematician and clergyman Charles L. Dodgson (“Lewis Carroll”) began devising the story of Alice in Wonderland for his young friend Alice Pleasance Liddell and her sisters during a boating trip.

Ten years ago: A gunman opened fire at Israel’s El Al ticket counter at Los Angeles International Airport, killing two people; gunman Hesham Mohamed Hadayet was shot dead by an El Al guard.

Five years ago: The Black Sea resort of Sochi was elected the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics, taking the Winter Games to Russia for the first time.

One year ago: Otto von Hapsburg, 98, the oldest son of Austria’s last emperor and longtime head of one of Europe’s most influential families, died in Poecking, Germany.

Birthdays

Advice columnist Pauline Phillips (the original “Dear Abby”) is 94. Singer Bill Withers is 74. Broadcast journalist Geraldo Rivera is 69. TV personality Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino (TV: “Jersey Shore”) is 30. Presidential daughter Malia Obama is 14.

— From wire reports