Obama to speak at opening of African-American Museum

The Smithsonian Institution says President Barack Obama will speak at the opening ceremony of the National Museum of African American History and Culture this month. First Lady Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will also be attending the Sept.

Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Reinstate North Carolina Voting Limits

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a bid by North Carolina to reinstate for November's elections several voting restrictions, including a requirement that people show identification at the polls. The court, divided in part 4-4, rejected a request made by Republican Governor Pat McCrory after an appeals court ruled last month that the 2013 law discriminates against minority voters.

North Carolina takes case for voter ID law to Supreme Court

North Carolina will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to allow a state law requiring voters to show identification to stand, after an appellate court struck it down a week ago, Republican Governor Pat McCrory said on Friday. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday refused the state's request to put its decision on hold while North Carolina asks the Supreme Court to overturn it ahead of the U.S. general election on Nov. 8. McCrory said the state will ask justices by early next week to stay the appeals court's ruling, which found that sweeping changes to the state's voting rules in 2013 intentionally discriminated against African-Americans.

The nation in brief

The U.S. Supreme Court said a Virginia school board can block a transgender male from using the boys bathroom at his school until the court decides whether to intervene in his case. On Wednesday, the high court agreed to allow the Gloucester County School Board to bar Gavin Grimm from the bathroom that matches his gender identity until the justices decide whether to review an appeals court ruling in his case.

A less cynical view of Comey’s decision on the Clinton emails

FBI Director James Comey made his announcement last week that there will be no criminal charges recommended for former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton A less cynical view of Comey's decision on the Clinton emails Clinton ad: Trump 'seems to be impressed' by dictators Poll: 56 percent disapprove of FBI's Clinton decision MORE Many have commented on the fact this action by an FBI director is unprecedented, and largely depending on which side of the political aisle one sits, you either cheered the decision or were outraged by it.

Supreme Court refuses to hear another case on contraceptives

Supreme Court refuses to hear another case on contraceptives Do pharmacies with religious objections have to dispense certain forms of birth control? Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/28XQ6Yn The Supreme Court denied a new case testing whether pharmacies must dispense forms of contraception despite religious objections. An earlier case involving the Little Sisters of the Poor was heard in March and decided in May. WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court disposed of a case testing religious objections to contraception in May. On Tuesday, the justices refused to hear another one.

Divided court draws plaudits and brickbats, but Kennedy’s role remains constant – for now

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, flanked by colleagues Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., has on occasion left his ideological mates on cases to join the other side to make a winning majority. The statement came from the president of the Ms.

Coal Firm to Pay Obama Mentor $435,000 to Fight Climate Plan

Peabody Energy Corp. is set to pay President Barack Obama's Harvard Law School mentor $435,000 this year to help the bankrupt coal producer challenge the administration's signature environmental law. The payments to Laurence Tribe, a constitutional law expert and legal icon -- spanning May to December this year -- were disclosed in a legal filing tied to Peabody's bankruptcy proceedings.