U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Portion of Voting Rights Act
In a five to four decision Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Section 4 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, a part of the law that sets out a formula for determining which states are examined for voting discrimination. Shelby County, Alabama, challenged that section along with Section 5 which requires certain states, mostly in the south, gain prior approval from the federal government before changing voting laws. While the court left Section 5 intact, legal experts say its left effective dormant until Congress passes a new formula.
Shelby County’s Attorney Butch Ellis says he’s “elated” with the ruling and that it will save the county time and money. From the Associated Press:
Ellis says local governments have spent more than $1 billion seeking Justice Department approval of voting changes. He says money spent on lawyers in the past can now go to schools, police and fire protections.
NPR News has more on why the justices considered the formula “outdated.”
More on the decision from Al.com.
Read the U.S. Supreme Court opinion.
Background on the case from NPR’s Nina Totenberg and Debbie Elliot.
UPDATE: Statements from Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, Attorney General Luther Strange and Secretary of State Beth Chapman.
~ June 25, 2013
Trump and Putin discuss Ukraine drone strikes, Iran during 75-minute call
President Trump said it was a "good conversation" but noted the Russian leader had vowed "very strongly" during the call to respond to Ukraine's Sunday drone strikes on air bases in Russia.
Vietnam ends its longstanding 2-child policy
A declining birth rate led lawmakers to approve a new policy on Tuesday that lifts the limit on the number of children many families may have.
Some federal workers lost health coverage they had paid for. A Democrat wants answers
Commerce Department employees who were fired, reinstated, and fired again learned belatedly that their health insurance has been cut off. Some had already racked up thousands in medical bills.
Greetings from Mexico City, where these dogs ride a bus to and from school
Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international correspondents share snapshots of moments from their lives and work around the world.
Operation Rainbow Space Baby: An astronaut’s journey with IVF
Struggling to have a second child, astronaut Kellie Gerardi uses her social media presence to let others know they're not alone.
Making the case for housing as a human right
And Housing for All is an impressively comprehensive examination of homelessness in America by Maria Foscarinis, who has worked in homelessness advocacy for decades.
