Mt. Vernon Register-News

National News

June 29, 2009

Summary of actions by the Supreme Court on Monday

By The Associated Press

The Supreme Court on Monday:

— Bade farewell to Justice David Souter, who is retiring.

— Ruled that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, a decision that could alter employment practices nationwide and make it harder to prove discrimination where there is no evidence it was intentional. The ruling reverses an opinion that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge.

— Ruled that state attorneys general can investigate national banks for discrimination and other crimes in the states where they operate as long as they can convince a judge that investigations are needed.

— Failed to reach a decision in a campaign finance case and scheduled more arguments on whether a scathing documentary about Hillary Rodham Clinton that was shown during the 2008 presidential race should be regulated as if it were a campaign ad.

— Agreed to hear arguments in a child custody dispute between a Texas mother and a British father that tests the boundaries of an international treaty.

— Agreed to hear arguments from the National Football League and its 32 teams for an exemption from federal antitrust laws.

— Agreed to hear an appeal from Bruce Weyhrauch, an Alaska state lawmaker who was caught up in a corruption investigation.

— Refused to allow victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to pursue lawsuits against Saudi Arabia and four of its princes over charitable donations that allegedly were funneled to al-Qaida.

— Refused to block the use of a new digital video recorder system that could make it cheaper and easier for viewers to record shows and watch them when they want, without commercials. Hollywood studios and television networks argued that Cablevision Systems Corp.’s remote-storage DVR violates copyright laws.

— Left in place an appeals court ruling that an autistic child from Ohio is not entitled to private education at taxpayer expense.

— Declined to interfere with school officials in Washington state who are blocking a group of Christian students at Kentridge High School from forming a Bible club on campus.

— Declined to interfere with a New Hampshire law that keeps doctors’ prescription-writing habits confidential. IMS Health Inc. Verispan LLC claimed wanted to collect, analyze and sell prescription information to drug marketers.

— Refused to hear arguments from Missouri officials who want to restrict protests near funerals. A lower court order bars the state from enforcing its law aimed at a Topeka, Kan., church whose members have picketed outside funerals of people killed during the Iraq war.

Text Only
National News
  • U.S. obesity rate high, but not rising CHICAGO (AP) — Raise a glass of diet soda: The nation’s obesity rate appears to have stalled. But the latest numbers still show that more than two-thirds of adults and almost a third of kids are overweight, with no sign of improvement.

    January 13, 2010

  • Popularity of texting edging out cell phone calls WASHINGTON (AP) — R u kidding me? Americans punched out more than 110 billion text messages last year, double the number in the previous year and growing, as the shorthand communication becomes a popular alternative to cell phone calls.

    December 15, 2009

  • EPA: Greenhouse gases endanger human health WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency took a major step Monday toward regulating greenhouses gases, concluding that climate changing pollution threatens the public health and the environment.

    December 7, 2009

  • Woman gives birth on flight diverted to Denver DENVER (AP) — A woman gave birth to a baby boy on a Southwest Airlines flight from Chicago that had to be diverted to Denver International Airport.

    December 4, 2009

  • Obama: Jobs plan will ’jump-start’ hiring ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Even as he trumpeted a slowdown in the nation’s job losses Friday, President Barack Obama put finishing touches on a proposal he’ll unveil next week to “jump-start” business hiring across America.

    December 4, 2009

  • Unexpected drop in jobless rate sparks optimism WASHINGTON (AP) — A surprising drop in the unemployment rate and far fewer job losses last month cheered investors Friday and raised hopes for a sustained economic recovery.

    December 4, 2009

  • Retailers report surprise drop in November By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO

    AP Retail Writer

    NEW YORK — A decline in sales at the nation's retailers in November after two consecutive months of gains is an ominous warning sign for the holiday shopping season and for an economy in the early stages of a fragile recovery.

    December 3, 2009

  • Police: Pa. man punched Wal-Mart greeter, 72 NORTH VERSAILLES, Pa. (AP) — A 72-year-old Wal-Mart greeter near Pittsburgh was punched in the face outside his store and now is in the hospital.

    December 3, 2009

  • GM, Chrysler agree to reconsider dealer closings WASHINGTON (AP) — General Motors Co. and Chrysler will reconsider decisions to close thousands of dealerships as part of a compromise meant to stave off federal legislation that would require them to keep the showrooms open.

    December 3, 2009

  • Pilot who endured torture at ’Hanoi Hilton’ dies JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Retired Air Force Col. Jack Pitchford, a fighter pilot from Mississippi who survived seven years in the Vietnamese prison camp known as the “Hanoi Hilton,” has died. He was 82.

    December 3, 2009