Nightly Brief

Sign up for CNS Nightly Briefing, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your email Monday through Friday.

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

1.) Standing Rock Sioux in a Standoff With Pipeline Company and Army

Sitting Bull would be proud. Two weeks ago, members of the Dakota, Lakota and Yankton Sioux set up tipis in camps on a tributary of the Missouri River — a Spiritual Camp and a Warrior Camp — to fight a crude oil pipeline they fear will poison the Missouri River. For the moment, they have stood off the pipeline company and the Army Corps of Engineers.

2.) Virginia's McAuliffe Defiantly Restores Felon's Voting Rights

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Monday restored the voting rights of more than 13,000 felons, refusing to back down after an earlier attempt to do so was blocked by the state Supreme Court at the urging of Republican lawmakers.

3.) CA High Court Stays Out of Teacher-Tenure Fight

The California Supreme Court handed teacher unions a major victory on Monday by refusing to review an appeals court finding that the Golden State's teacher-tenure laws do not violate students' rights.

4.) Freddie Mac Golden Parachute Up in Smoke

The Federal Circuit sided with the government for shredding an executive's golden parachute when it took over Freddie Mac as part of the 2008 bailout.

5.) PETA Snags Records on Exported Primates

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals scored a court win in its bid for government records on primate species imported to the United States for what it calls "painful and terrifying experiments."

6.) Judge Blocks U.S. Rules on Trans Bathrooms

A federal judge in Texas has enjoined the Obama administration from enforcing an order requiring public schools to let transgender students use the bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.

7.) Climate Change Messing With Sea Urchin Sperm

The impact of human-caused climate change on marine creatures has a new twist: acidifying oceans are wreaking havoc on the abilities of species to ejaculate and fertilize eggs.

8.) Navy Sonar Approved Despite Court Ruling

The Navy has received authorization to continue the use of sonar, despite a recent court finding that it is illegal.

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit