Nightly Brief

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The day's top stories from Courthouse News in short takes with links.

1.) Deadlocked Supreme Court Won't Restore N.C. Voter ID Law

A deadlocked Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected an emergency appeal by North Carolina Republicans to restore stricter state voting rules that required voters to show a photo ID prior to casting their ballots and greatly reduce the number of day set aside for early voting.

2.) 'Cebu-ish' Influence: Breakdancing, Hidden Rabbis and Tall Buildings in a Single Bound

The mysteries of Cebu, Philippines, explored by a Northeast Jew are recounted on the adamjrothblog. As a first-timer to Asia, our CNS project manager Adam Roth embraced this exciting frontier filled with Jeepneys and amazing "Cheap Eats," panhandlers and odd proposals, public breakdancing and nearly broken legs, even an "off-the radar" Rabbi!

3.) LA Settles Largest Disability-Access Case Ever

A federal judge approved a $1.4 billion settlement in which Los Angeles agrees to fix broken sidewalks and crosswalks to make them accessible to disabled people — the class attorney called it the largest disability access settlement in history.

4.) Second Circuit Wipes Away $665M PLO Fine

An "unquestionably horrific" spate of suicide bombings in Israel did not justify a New York court's $665 million fine against the Palestinian government, the Second Circuit ruled Wednesday.

5.) Torture Allegations Won't Derail Military Trial

The D.C. Circuit refused to block the trial by military commission of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the alleged "mastermind" of the U.S.S. Cole bombing, despite his claims of torture and waterboarding at CIA black sites.

6.) Dogs Found to Understand Owners' Words of Praise

Your dog may actually understand what you're saying when you call him "good boy."

7.) Nighttime Surgeries Twice as Likely to End in Death

If you have the choice — and often we don't — schedule your major surgery for day rather than night, because patients who go under the knife at night are more than twice as likely to die as those operated on during the day.

8.) 212 Musicians Have Pharrell's Back in 'Blurred' Lines Copyright Appeal

More than 200 songwriters, composers, musicians and producers are supporting Robin Thicke and Pharrell in their appeal of a $5.3 million award to Marvin Gaye's family for the resemblance of "Blurred Lines" to "Got to Give It Up."

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