Top eight today

Top eight stories for today including civilians have been evacuated from a steel mill in Ukraine as the West keeps the pressure on Russia; The Supreme Court expanded the rights of citizens to engage in speech and other demonstrations on government property; The world's largest pow wow returned to New Mexico, and more.

National

Supreme Court expands free speech on government property

Once a government opens up a forum to the public, it might have to allow viewpoints it doesn’t agree with, the Supreme Court ruled Monday in a decision that scolds Boston for being selective about which flags citizens can fly outside city hall.

The appendix to a Supreme Court decision includes this photo of Boston City Hall, with exterior poles flying the American flag, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag, and the city flag. (Photo courtesy of the Boston Preservation Alliance via Courthouse News)

Ex-NYPD cop who assaulted police at Capitol riot found guilty on all counts

A federal jury deliberated for less than three hours Monday before returning with a unanimous verdict that finds a longtime former officer of the New York City Police Department guilty of all charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the Capitol.

This still frame from Metropolitan Police Department body worn camera video shows Thomas Webster, in red jacket, at a barricade line at on the west front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (Metropolitan Police Department via AP, File)

Witness says Heard op-ed created ‘cancel situation’ for Depp

An op-ed written by actress Amber Heard created a “cancel situation” with disastrous career results for actor Johnny Depp, her ex-husband, according to a witness testifying in a defamation case brought by the “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor.

Actor Johnny Depp arrives in the courtroom after lunch at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Va., on Monday May 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, Pool)

Regional

Gathering of Nations pow wow returns to New Mexico

After two years of virtual events, the world's largest pow wow took place this past weekend, blending tradition with new ideas.

Dancers from the In Tlanextli Tlacopan troupe perform at the 2022 Gathering of Nations pow wow in Albuquerque. (Victoria Prieskop/Courthouse News)

R. Kelly attorney seeks dismissal of sex abuse, child porn charges in Chicago

R. Kelly’s lead defense attorney challenged federal prosecutors’ due diligence Monday morning, filing a motion to dismiss 12 of the 13 federal charges the singer and convicted sex offender currently faces in Chicago.

R. Kelly arrives for the first day of jury selection in his child pornography trial at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse in Chicago on May 9, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Tennessee governor halts 2022 executions for lethal injection review

Executions in Tennessee have been put on hold for the remainder of the year after Governor Bill Lee on Monday announced plans to launch an independent review of the state’s lethal injection procedure.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee delivers his State of the State address in Nashville on Jan. 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File)

International

Civilians freed from Mariupol steel mill as EU moves toward Russian oil ban

The war in Ukraine on Monday headed into what may be a decisive week with Russian President Vladimir Putin expected to hold a major rally and speech on May 9, the date Russia celebrates Victory Day to commemorate its win over Nazi Germany.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center right, and U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi shake hands during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday, April 30, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Hearings begin in Google’s appeal of $1.6 billion EU antitrust fine

The European Union’s second-highest court opened three days of hearings Monday over a $1.6 billion fine levied against Google for abusing its near-monopoly in the internet search market to promote its targeted ad product.

In this Sept. 24, 2019, file photo, a sign is shown on a Google building at their campus in Mountain View, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

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