annetyree

From the page: "Legal proceedings against a black teenager from Jena, who was among a group whose prosecution in the beating of a white classmate led to a huge civil rights protest, must be open to the public, a judge ruled."

Gee. I can't imagine why they wouldn't want the proceedings open to the public, can you?

From the page: "Under the rule rejected today, the average fuel economy of light trucks was to rise to 23.5 miles per gallon in 2010, up from the current standard of 22.5 miles per gallon, but still well below the standard for passenger cars of 27.5 miles per gallon.

The ruling, which is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court, represents a major setback for both the auto industry and the White House at a time of growing public concern over the rising price of gasoline and the issue of climate change.

Lawyers specializing in environmental issues said the decision had implications beyond the automobile industry's struggles over fuel-economy standards. It was the third major federal court ruling in seven months pressing federal and state regulators to take the risk of climate change into consideration as they regulate industries that emit carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases produced when oil, coal and natural gas are burned to produce energy."

HOLY SHITAKE MUSHROOMS, LOOKS LIKE THE TIDE IS TURNING.

From the page: "Andrew reached into his shirt pocket and pushed a button on a black device the size of a cigarette pack. It sent out a powerful radio signal that cut off the chatterer's cellphone transmission and any others in a 30-foot radius."

Want want want

States unwilling to pay the huge costs of defending people charged in capital cases may be unable to conduct executions.

For Brian Nichols, accused of killing four in the courthouse shooting in March 2005, the costs have already reached $1.2 million. That, together with legislative cuts, has left the state public defender system with no money. Until the bills are paid, the judge has delayed the trial, saying that it is unconstitutional not to pay the defense and thus pointless to proceed. In turn, lawmakers have accused him of conspiring to end the death penalty in Georgia.

The state could avoid the multimillion-dollar trial by dropping the death penalty option. Mr. Nichols has offered to plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of life without parole, but the district attorney, Paul L. Howard Jr., has declined.