Top eight today

Top eight stories for today including Britain and France are opting to not impose strict curbs and lockdowns amid a surge in Covid-19 infections; A fourth judge upheld obstruction of an official proceeding charges against Capitol rioters; New York City schools are on track to reopen at full capacity with doubled testing capabilities, and more.

National

Judge rejects Proud Boys’ First Amendment claims

A federal judge rejected First Amendment claims brought by a group of Proud Boys on Tuesday, allowing criminal charges against the members of the far-right organization to proceed through federal court.

Supporters of President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Jan. 6 panel defers requests for some records at White House’s urging

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol has agreed to defer its requests for hundreds of documents from the Trump administration that the Biden White House has said are not relevant to the panel's investigation and could jeopardize national security if disclosed.

Insurrectionists loyal to President Donald Trump breach the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Riot Games ponies up $100 million to settle sexual harassment, discrimination

"League of Legends" video game maker Riot Games will pay $100 million to settle claims of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation against women employees.

Regional

Alabama judge orders sweeping reforms to protect prisoners’ mental health

A federal judge required Alabama prison officials to implement sweeping reforms to address the “sky-high rates of suicidality” and “scarce mental-health resources” plaguing the state’s correctional facilities.

A sign reading "HELP" is posted in the window of an inmate cell during a tour along with state officials at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama on Oct. 22, 2019. (Kim Chandler/AP)

Top NJ court vacates mom’s conviction for killing of preschool son

Michelle Lodzinski gave police conflicting explanations for the disappearance of her first-born son, Timothy Wiltsey, then failed two lie-detector tests, but the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that prosecutors just didn't have enough evidence to prove she killed the boy.

Combination photo shows Timothy Wiltsey, whose remains were found in 1992, about a year after his mother, Michelle Lodzinski (right), reported him missing. (image via Courthouse News)

NYC schools vie to keep doors open amid a new variant going nowhere in the new year

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday morning that New York City schools are on track to reopen at full capacity on Jan. 3 with doubled testing capacity as Covid-19 positivity rates from the omicron variant break records.

Outgoing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, that the city will double the Covid-19 testing capacity of the nation's largest public school system in order to safely reopen in-person for the 2022 spring semester on Jan. 3rd. (Image via Courthouse News Service)

International

France, UK confront omicron spread without lockdown orders

Despite massive waves of new coronavirus cases in both France and England, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron are opting to not impose strict curbs and lockdowns.

Shoppers in Britain, where the omicron variant has been dominant for days, pack Regent Street in London, Monday, Dec. 27, 2021. Britain's Conservative government said it could impose new restrictions after Christmas, but the largely voluntary restrictions in force so far are mild in comparison to those seen on the continent. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

Russian Supreme Court shuts down top human rights group Memorial

In a massive blow to Russian civil society, historical researchers and the families of Stalinist terror victims, Russia's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the liquidation of Memorial International, the country's oldest and most prominent human rights watchdog.

Police officers detain a demonstrator as people gather in front of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation in Moscow on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP Photo)