Top 8 today

Top eight stories for today including the Supreme Court declined to hear a dispute over a government-sponsored prayer vigil that followed a Florida shooting spree; Thirty-three mushers began their race to Nome in the 51st running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race; Estonia’s prime minister won reelection in a landslide, and more.

National

High court turns down city whose post-shooting prayer vigil inspired suit

Justice Clarence Thomas urged the Supreme Court to jump into another case examining the separation of church and state on Monday in a battle over a government-sponsored prayer vigil that followed a Florida shooting spree.

(Image by reenablack from Pixabay via Courthouse News)

Facing Senate disapproval, DC tries to reel in crime-reform bill

The chairman of the D.C. Council alerted lawmakers in the U.S. Senate on Monday that there is no need for them to consider the district's recent revisions to the D.C. criminal code since they have been withdrawn.

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks at a news conference March 13, 2020, in Washington as D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, right, looks on. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Twitter loses bid for appeal in First Amendment case over user info disclosure

A Ninth Circuit panel on Monday upheld summary judgment for the feds in Twitter's case over its desire to release its self-described "transparency report" without redactions the government said were necessary to protect national security.

The Twitter application is seen on a digital device on Monday, April 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

Regional

Michigan judge dismisses lawsuits against school district over mass shooting

A Michigan judge dismissed several lawsuits against the Oxford school district and staff members over a 2021 school shooting that left four students dead and several others injured, including a teacher.

A bouquet of roses sits on a sign outside of Oxford High School in Oxford, Mich., on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, the day after a school shooting. (Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP)

Iditarod sees smallest field of competitors on trek to Nome

Under a bright sunny sky and brisk temperatures, 33 mushers began their race to Nome on Sunday in the 51st running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race — dubbed the “last great race on earth.”

Veteran musher Richie Diehl from Aniak, Alaska gets ready to take the 11 mile run through downtown Anchorage during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (Julie St. Louis/Courthouse News)

Great Salt Lake gets some but not all the help needed from Utah Legislature

The Utah Legislature ended its annual session Friday by passing some laws aimed at putting more water into the Great Salt Lake, but some believe it's not enough to keep the lake from disappearing.

The Great Salt Lake recedes from Antelope Island on May 4, 2021, near Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

University of Iowa reaches $4 million settlement with Black athletes

The University of Iowa has agreed to pay $4.175 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed by 13 African-American student-athletes who accused the university’s football coaches of racism and bullying.

University of Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta answers questions during a news conference in Iowa City, Iowa, on June 15, 2020. (Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP, File)

International

Kallas, ‘Europe’s new Iron Lady,’ wins reelection in Estonia

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, a staunch supporter of Ukraine who's been dubbed Europe's new “Iron Lady,” won reelection on Sunday in a landslide.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas speaks at a news conference in Tallinn, Estonia, on Monday, March 6, 2023, after overwhelmingly winning the Baltic country's general election. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

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