Your Wednesday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top CNS stories for today including the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that ambiguous contract terms do not pave the way to classwide arbitration; A federal judge declined to reconsider his ruling that bars the Trump administration from issuing offshore drilling permits without first conducting environmental review; Sea turtle populations in Pacific coral reefs are on the rise, and more.
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National
1.) In a new boost to corporate might, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Wednesday that ambiguous contract terms do not pave the way to classwide arbitration.
2.) A federal judge declined to reconsider his ruling that bars the Trump administration from issuing offshore drilling permits without first conducting environmental review, rejecting an oil company’s request for review.
3.) A former top staffer of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie convicted in the Bridgegate scandal was resentenced Wednesday to 13 months in federal prison.
Regional
4.) Facing an estimated 3.5 million-home shortage – equal to the deficit in the other 49 states combined – California lawmakers are pursuing dozens of housing related bills, including one that would wrestle control over some planning decisions from local governments.
5.) The Ohio Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday morning in a defamation lawsuit claiming a Columbus TV station wrongly named three siblings as robbers in an article about police asking the public for help identifying suspects in the crime.
6.) Florida Governor Ron DeSantis did not exceed his authority when he suspended a sheriff over his response to two mass shootings, the Florida Supreme Court ruled.
Science
7.) Sea turtle populations in Pacific coral reefs are increasing, according to a study that reveals the positive results of environmental protection efforts around the world and gives researchers information to protect these turtles from the effects of global changes.
8.) Researchers studying wild tomato plants in Peru have found understanding the plants’ evolutionary defense mechanisms could reveal the key to reducing pesticide use worldwide.
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