Voting Rights

case to be heard

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican attack on a core provision of the Voting Rights Act that’s designed to protect racial minorities comes to the Supreme Court this week, more than a decade after the justices knocked out another pillar of the 60-year-old law.

In arguments Wednesday, lawyers for Louisiana and the Trump administration will try to persuade the justices to wipe away the state’s second majority Black congressional district and make it much harder, if not impossible, to take account of race in redistricting. The conservative-dominated court could be receptive.

At the center of the fight is Chief Justice John Roberts, who has long had the landmark civil rights law in his sights.

North Carolina

eyes new map

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican legislative leaders say they will vote next week on redrawing the state’s U.S. House district map, with the likely aim of securing another GOP seat within already right-leaning boundaries.

The plan announced Monday comes amid an emerging mid-decade battle nationally between Republicans and Democrats seeking advantage in the way U.S. House districts are drawn in several states for the 2026 session.

North Carolina Republicans already created a map in 2023 that resulted in GOP candidates winning 10 of the state’s 14 U.S. House seats in 2024. That division compared to the 7-7 seat split between Democrats and the GOP under the map.

Dozens rescued

in Alaska storm

(AP) — Authorities say more than 30 people were rescued and three people remain unaccounted for in western Alaska after the remnants of Typhoon Halong brought hurricane-force winds and flooding strong enough to sweep away entire homes in coastal communities.

Alaska State Troopers say at least 18 people were rescued in Kwigillingok, where three people remain missing. In Kipnuk, at least 16 people were rescued.

Meanwhile, forecasters say major coastal flooding was likely Monday in the mid-Atlantic, and many flights were delayed or canceled. Officials say a woman died in New York City after being struck by a solar panel.