Supreme Court Weighs Future Of Voting Rights Act
Race is front and center at the U.S. Supreme Court today and so is Shelby County, Alabama. The county is suing the U.S. Justice Department, challenging a requirement that it get prior approval from the federal government to change voting laws or maps. Civil rights pioneer and Democratic Representative John Lewis of Georgia says the case is one of the most important in a generation. He says the so-called “pre-clearance provision” prevents the disenfranchisement of minority voters. He cites the case of a black city councilman in Calera, AL, who risked losing his seat because of redistricting.
But Shelby County’s long-time attorney, Frank “Butch” Ellis, tells NPR’s Nina Totenberg that “the South has changed.” He notes that in a county that is 90 percent white, there have been multiple elections in which black candidates defeated white candidates.
“In any race, you show where you had a minority candidate happen to lose, I can show you two where they won with a 90 percent white population.”
Listen to Totenberg’s full report here and hear longtime Alabama resident and NPR reporter Debbie Elliot’s story on the issue here.
Regular WBHM contributor, Birmingham News political reporter Kyle Whitmire, also has a story on the legal case here, including a comment from former Rep. Artur Davis, who says the Voting Rights Act has had the unintended consequence of quarantining African-Americans into gerrymandered voting districts.
UPDATE (12:42 pm CT) – The New York Times is reporting that the conservative justices on the Supreme Court voiced skepticism of the Voting Rights Act during oral arguments this morning. Read more in the Times’ coverage.
Torture and treason trials: what’s happening in Tanzania?
Tanzania's government is facing growing accusations of repression after prominent human rights defenders say they were beaten and sexually assaulted while in custody.
4 takeaways from Erin Patterson’s testimony at her toxic mushroom triple murder trial
Patterson is accused of putting death cap mushrooms in a meal she served her estranged husband's relatives in July 2023, killing three. She took the stand in Week 6 of the trial gripping Australia.
‘You barely see people out’: How immigration raids are reshaping daily life in Puerto Rico’s Dominican enclave
Puerto Rico's Dominican immigrant community is on edge following a series of immigration raids, which started in January. People have stopped going to work, sending kids to school, or attending medical appointments. What was once a lively barrio is now mostly quiet in the wake of the crackdown.
A baklava crawl in the Turkish city that’s obsessed with the pastry
Here's how the Turkish city of Gaziantep became synonymous with baklava, the sweet pastry made of layers of phyllo dough, filled with nuts and soaked in syrup or honey.
WorldPride caps off its first D.C. celebration with a weekend parade
The global LGBTQ+ festival was held for the first time in the nation's capital. Organizers say the current political environment has dampened the excitement surrounding the celebration.
6 feel-good exercises to alleviate sore, achy feet
Foot care professionals share movements that can reduce the risk of injury, prevent and alleviate pain, and improve overall foot health. Give them a try the next time your dogs are barking.
