Top eight today

Top eight stories for today including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday marked an about-face from her previous and public opposition to the idea of banning lawmakers from trading stocks in office, a second conspirator agreed to plead guilty for allegedly planning to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as the four remaining holdouts prepare for a trial scheduled to start in a few weeks, the United Nations’ highest judicial body ordered Uganda on Wednesday to pay the Democratic Republic of Congo $325 million in war damages, ending a 17-year legal battle and more.

National

Push to ban lawmakers from stock trading gets Pelosi’s nod

Calling on Democrats to study legislation that would ban lawmakers from trading stocks during their time in office, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday marked an about-face from her previous and public opposition to the idea.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference on Feb. 9, 2022. (Screenshot via Courthouse News)

What law is broken when you cheat on a college admissions test?

Moving past the ethical implications of cheating, a parent who paid to swap out answers on his son's college entrance exam fought on appeal Wednesday to draw the line well before criminal liability.

This March 12, 2019, file photo shows the University Village area of the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles. (Reed Saxon/AP)

Regional

Colorado grocery store reopens 11 months after mass shooting shook community

The Table Mesa King Soopers where 10 were killed in a shooting spree on March 22, 2021, reopened to the public on Wednesday, marking a day of progress for some and a trigger of trauma for others.

A new sign aligns the Table Mesa neighborhood with the Boulder King Soopers where 10 were killed in 2021, ahead of its reopening on Feb. 8, 2022. (Amanda Pampuro/Courthouse News)

Second conspirator to kidnap Michigan governor pleads guilty

A second conspirator agreed to plead guilty for allegedly planning to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as the four remaining holdouts prepare for a trial scheduled to start in a few weeks.

In a photo provided by the Kent County Sheriff, Kaleb Franks is shown in a booking photo. Franks is one of several people charged with plotting to kidnap Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, authorities said Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, in announcing charges in an alleged scheme that involved months of planning and even rehearsals to snatch Whitmer from her vacation home. (Kent County Sheriff via AP)

Seventh Circuit considers Wisconsin defamation law

What is defamation, and to what extent can news outlets be held liable for it under Wisconsin law? These are the questions at the heart of a defamation case that came before the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday.

The Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago, home of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. (U.S. General Services Administration)

Retired cornerback gouged on commissions may not get his day in court

Darrelle Revis, one of the greatest shutdown cornerbacks to play football, is on the precipice of having his legal challenge against his former sports agents shut down by New York’s high court.

Darrelle Revis in uniform for the New England Patriots during the 2014-15 season. (Andrew Campbell/Flickr via Courthouse News)

International

Lack of independence hamstrings Polish competition bureau, EU court rules

The EU’s second-highest court ruled for the first time Wednesday that systemic problems with rule of law in Poland may go beyond the country’s court system.

Supporters of Hungary's political opposition display a banner during a 2017 anti-government protest at Budapest University of Technology and Economics. (Balazs Mohai/MTI via AP)

UN high court orders millions in damages for Congo, well short of billions requested

The United Nations’ highest judicial body ordered Uganda on Wednesday to pay the Democratic Republic of Congo $325 million in war damages, ending a 17-year legal battle.

Members of the Delegation of the Democratic Republic of Congo listen as the International Court of Justice delivers its judgment regarding reparations for Uganda’s role in a conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. on Feb. 9, 2022, in The Hague. (Frank van Beek/UN Photo/ICJ-CIJ)

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