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Officers, residents upset with removal of 'God' from police oath
Honolulu Police Department deleted phrase 'so help me God' after receiving complaint from Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church.
09.30.02
N.J. poet laureate scoffs at governor's call to step down
Amiri Baraka demands apology from official, schedules news conference to discuss controversy surrounding poem, 'Somebody Blew Up America.'
09.30.02
British broadcast journalist believed killed
Roddy Scott, 31, went to cover high-risk Chechen war because he felt it was not getting enough press attention.
09.30.02
Confessed killer's lawyers demand access to reporter's notes, tapes
Jailhouse interview earlier this month marks second time Quawn Franklin has told the Orlando Sentinel about a slaying.
09.30.02
FOI, victims' advocates debate prison interview ban
Death-row inmate's lawsuit has divided those who say prisoners are using reporters for their own ends — and those who say wardens are doing the same.
09.30.02
Robert MacNeil decries decline of news judgment
Veteran broadcast journalist delivers dedication address for John Seigenthaler Center.
09.30.02
California restricts access to complete birth, death records
First Amendment advocate calls law designed to combat identity theft a ' terrible precedent,' says, '[t]here was no demonstrated harm.'
09.29.02
California agency makes U-turn on highway banners
Transportation officials decide to ban all signs, flags after previously saying they would allow any that didn't pose a safety hazard.
09.28.02
Veterans renew call for flag-protection amendment
U.S. flag is a sacred symbol, and 'we think it's even more special after 9-11 than ever in the history of the country,' says South Carolina veteran.
09.28.02
Pennsylvania high court upholds student's expulsion over Web site
Court said that while it didn't appear that 14-year-old intended to hurt teacher, the site disrupted school environment, which justified the expulsion.
09.27.02
FEC frees tax-exempt groups from campaign law's ad ban
Commission also exempts programming that broadcasters aren't paid to air, but refuses to excuse interest groups that urge voters to contact lawmakers about political issues.
09.27.02
California appeals court: Group trashing governor doesn't have to list backers
Panel finds American Taxpayers Alliance needn't register as political committee, ads criticizing Gray Davis are protected speech.
09.27.02
Federal appeals court releases Torricelli memo
3rd Circuit grants news media request to make letter public immediately.
09.27.02
Georgia district OKs teaching competing theories on origin of life
Opponents say decision opens back door to letting religion into classrooms; vote won't end debate.
09.27.02
Video slot backers lose last-ditch effort to get measure on Nebraska ballot
Federal judge refuses to suspend state court ruling but notes that state high court could still order amendment on ballot for future election.
09.26.02
Justice Department sets hearing for Islamic charity co-founder
But agency plans to appeal federal judge's order to hold hearing or release Rabih Haddad, arguing that it's an unwarranted intrusion into immigration procedures.
09.26.02
Federal appeals court backs district's expulsion of student over letter
Full 8th Circuit votes 6-4 to reverse three-judge panel, which had ruled that Arkansas teenager's letter wasn't a true threat.
09.26.02
Dreadlocks lock student out of class
Officials at Whitefish High School in Montana say Kisteesha Lanegan can't return until she gets rid of her 'outlandish' hairstyle.
09.26.02
NYPD seeks more leeway to monitor political groups
Citing a climate altered by terrorist threats, department asks federal court to sharply curtail powers of three-member panel that oversees its surveillance of domestic activists.
09.26.02
Ole Miss repeals 1962 censure of campus journalist
Sidna Brower had spoken out against violence surrounding admission of black student.
09.26.02
Attorney: JonBenet Ramsey detective should have been allowed to speak to press
But city's lawyer asks 10th Circuit panel not to revive lawsuit, saying officer's desire to defend her reputation could have jeopardized investigation.
09.25.02
Torricelli files motion to block immediate release of memo
Move follows news media request that 3rd Circuit — which ruled that letter should be disclosed — bypass court rules that could keep document sealed for at least 45 days.
09.25.02
Federal appeals panel upholds Montana's campaign-donor limits
9th Circuit rejects claims that restrictions violate free-speech rights of those who want to contribute more to candidates.
09.25.02
Librarians report fewer challenges to books
American Library Association marks 21st annual Banned Books Week by highlighting works challenged as inappropriate for schools, libraries.
09.25.02
California high school pulls plug on student newspaper
Novato spokeswoman says there isn't enough interest to continue The Buzz, a publication embroiled in controversy last fall over a student essay.
09.25.02
ABC-CNN news merger discussed
No deal imminent, parent companies say, but move would cut costs.
09.25.02
S.D. journalists check whether public records are really 'public'
Survey shows residents have good access to county tax records and school and city government documents; law enforcement data is another matter.
09.24.02
Missouri librarians latest to discover: Banning makes books popular
Meanwhile, ACLU reports 218 challenges to remove 134 books from school libraries across Texas last year.
09.24.02
California bans porn in prisons
Corrections officials say complaints from female guards have prompted change.
09.24.02
Rutgers to pay ACLU's attorneys fees in battle over magazine ad
N.J. appeals panel decided last month that alumni magazine discriminated against group critical of school's focus on Division I athletics.
09.24.02
Panelists question news media's role in stock market rise, fall
'The press … turned from observer to participant in this process,' critic says during Newseum/National Press Club program.
09.24.02
Diversity Institute welcomes 2nd group of 9 new fellows
News release Freedom Forum program on Vanderbilt University campus trains non-traditional candidates for newspaper careers.
09.24.02
Federal appeals court dismisses privacy lawsuit against ABC News
9th Circuit says public interest in news gathered for 'PrimeTime Live' segment outweighed any offense that occurred when reporters secretly videotaped discussions at Arizona lab.
09.24.02
ACLU questions legality of religious structure on Colorado campus
Jewish university students, community group erect sukkah on public university grounds to celebrate the harvest-season holiday of Sukkot.
09.23.02
Newspaper editors worry about access to public records
Panel discusses concerns about war on terrorism's effect on records access at Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas conference.
09.23.02
Court lifts order blocking news reports on allegation against cop
Alabama judge said he initially issued order because officer's attorney claimed that local TV station was about to report the wrong reason for the internal affairs investigation.
09.23.02
Federal judge bars enforcement of California campaign-disclosure rule
Court grants preliminary injunction sought by publishers of slate mailers — brochures sent to voters advocating positions on candidates or ballot measures.
09.23.02
Jewish inmate sues state over refusal to provide kosher meals
Convicted murderer claims Florida prison officials are depriving him of the right to live according to teachings of his faith.
09.22.02
Arizona ruling allows lawsuits over hiring, licensing of church pastors
'Resolution of these claims does not require the interpretation of religious doctrine or ecclesiastical law,' state appeals court says in reviving woman's case.
09.21.02
S.C. official: 'Choose Life' is government, not private, speech
Attorney general makes claim in documents filed in Planned Parenthood lawsuit challenging state's license plates.
09.21.02
Ruling: S.C. abortion law doesn't violate church-state separation
4th Circuit panel rejects clinics' claim that requiring them to make clergy available for counseling coerces participation in religion.
09.20.02
California agency complies with order to treat all highway banners alike
Caltrans agrees to leave up signs — including two women's protest banners — while pursuing appeal.
09.20.02
Government opposes request to release motions in Moussaoui case
News media argue that 'the press and public have both the constitutional and common-law right to access his pleadings except where compelling interests required otherwise.'
09.20.02
WorldCom ordered to block child-porn sites
Judge's ruling is first in Pennsylvania since new legislation lets law enforcement block child pornography from Internet providers.
09.20.02
Critics' message for Ohio town: Change sign laws
Plaintiffs claim Springboro regulations classify signs by content, sometimes require deposit for signs with political or noncommercial messages.
09.20.02
Al-Jazeera journalist faces scrutiny after Binalshibh interview
Al-Qaida terrorist suspect was captured two days after Yosri Fouda's report aired, prompting suspicions in Muslim world.
09.20.02
County commissioners warned they must register as lobbyists
Montana Association of Counties says its members must pay fee if they plan to argue for or against bills before the state Legislature.
09.19.02
Families challenge Maine's refusal to pay tuition at religious schools
Backed by the Institute for Justice, parents argue that 1981 state law barring use of publicly funded vouchers at religious schools is unconstitutional.
09.19.02
Court considers consequences of cussing at cops
Idaho Supreme Court to decide whether man's free-speech rights were violated when he was arrested for swearing at sheriff's detective.
09.19.02
Federal appeals court to take up JonBenet Ramsey detective's case
Judge had dismissed officer's lawsuit accusing her bosses of making her a scapegoat, preventing her from speaking to press to defend herself.
09.19.02
Ohio high court weighs newspaper's bid to view juror questionnaires
Prosecutor asks justices not to release forms or jury members' names, addresses, arguing the rights of the accused 'supersede the right of immediate access by the press.'
09.19.02
Al-Qaida militant identified as a killer of Daniel Pearl
Pakistani police official refuses to identify alleged murderer by name.
09.19.02
Sexual battery law is too vague, says Idaho appeals court
Judges rule statute 'is not sufficiently narrow to avoid criminalizing an intolerable range of constitutionally protected conduct.'
09.18.02
AFLAC loses round in bid to quash quacking campaign ads
Insurance company claims duck in Ohio gubernatorial candidate's ads looks too much like its duck, but federal judge says Tim Hagan's commercials are protected political speech.
09.18.02
6 years later, judge closes book on cattlemen's beef with Oprah
Ranchers said activist violated Texas' veggie-libel law during 1996 talk show appearance by saying U.S. beef could be at risk of spreading mad cow disease.
09.18.02
Oklahoma City's banner ordinance won't fly with federal judge
Decision striking down ordinance is victory for gay-pride group, which wanted to post banners to recognize Gay and Lesbian History Month.
09.18.02
Federal judge to government: Open detention hearing or let man go
Meanwhile, 3rd Circuit judges echo Justice Department concern that making proceedings public could help terrorists stage more attacks.
09.18.02
Arab TV station says cameraman held at Guantanamo
Al-Jazeera reports journalist Sami al-Haj, a Sudanese, was arrested in Afghanistan in December.
09.18.02
Colorado high court reverses false-light verdict against newspaper
Justices reject man's claim that Rocky Mountain News invaded his privacy by falsely portraying him as member of a crime family.
09.17.02
Lawsuit over L.A. riots footage gets go-ahead
Federal appeals panel rules that Los Angeles News Service, which copyrighted video recording of Reginald Denny's beating, may sue CBS for using images.
09.17.02
No cameras allowed for pretrial hearings in Runnion murder case
But judge doesn't rule on whether ban will also be in effect if man accused of kidnapping, killing 5-year-old stands trial.
09.17.02
News organizations seek Moussaoui's court filings
Media groups argue judge's order sealing some of accused Sept. 11 conspirator's pleadings is too broad, violates First Amendment.
09.17.02
Military can prohibit on-base sales of sexually explicit materials
Federal appeals panel rejects challenge from magazine distributors who claim Military Honor and Decency Act of 1996 violates First Amendment.
09.17.02
AP fires reporter after source query
News service could not verify identities of more than a dozen people quoted in Christopher Newton's stories.
09.17.02
California court likely to dismiss suit accusing tobacco firms of targeting teens
Judge issues preliminary ruling, saying restrictions sought by plaintiffs are too 'onerous to pass constitutional muster.'
09.16.02
Guantanamo press restrictions increase
Military media escorts accompany journalists to most places on the base, including bathrooms, vending machines.
09.16.02
Georgia high court considers online libel suit
Decision in hog farmer's case could set precedent for the way state courts consider defamation claims in the Internet age.
09.16.02
Effort to ban 'exploitive child modeling' raises thorny legal issues
Calling pictures of preteen girls posing in bikinis, halter tops a 'fix for pedophiles,' congressman sponsors bill to rid Web of such photos.
09.16.02
Johnny Cash receives 2002 'Spirit of Americana' free-speech award
News release First Amendment Center, Americana Music Association honor legendary performer for lifelong commitment to free expression in music.
09.16.02
Anti-immigrant groups can't be held liable for attack
Federal judge in New York finds organizations didn't violate Mexican day laborers' civil rights by making anti-immigrant statements.
09.16.02
Arizona school district trying to halt opening of adult store
Officials consider condemning Castle Boutique Megastore, buying land where it is to be built, less than a mile from two schools.
09.15.02
Constitution Party challenges Wisconsin election regulation
Lawsuit says statute prohibiting certain people from circulating nominating petitions for political candidates violates free speech.
09.14.02
Environmental group protests soliciting rules
Michigan town officials adopt ordinance limiting solicitors to 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., or sunset, whichever comes first.
09.14.02
Courage of emergency medical techs increases people's odds of surviving
Article and photos by 2002 Diversity Institute Fellow Shiloh Crawford III.
09.13.02
Newspapers ask for retesting of executed killer's DNA
Attorney says Virginia high court has 'a historic opportunity, perhaps a one-time opportunity' to expand public access to evidence in court cases.
09.13.02
Video slot supporters down to last chance to get measure on Nebraska ballot
Judge refuses to stay earlier ruling that found measure violates state constitutional amendment limiting initiatives to one subject.
09.13.02
Kansas high court: Jury selection in serial murder trial should be open
Justices overturn lower court ruling barring public, news media from proceedings; meanwhile, ban on cameras in courtroom remains intact.
09.13.02
ACLU asks court to throw out Jerry Falwell's Web site lawsuit
Pastor's lawyers claim in Virginia action that Illinois man's sites are libelous, illegally use Falwell's trademark.
09.13.02
State judge unseals documents in Missouri drug-tampering case
Records release comes in case of Kansas City pharmacist who has pleaded guilty to federal charges of diluting chemotherapy medications.
09.13.02
TV cameraman killed in crash was 'consummate pro'
Larry Greene, 50, was aboard Navy helicopter that went down in the North Arabian Gulf.
09.13.02
Open-records advocates knock state agency for restricting access
Critics say Public Service Commission's informal policy may violate West Virginia's FOIA; agency official acknowledges that it stretches the law's limits.
09.12.02
Lawyers: Settlement near in challenge to school's Rebel flag ban
Pending agreement announced just before trial is to begin in case of Kentucky teen suspended for wearing Confederate flag shirt.
09.12.02
Texas school superintendent allows Wiccan student to wear pentacle
Rebecca Moreno, 15, twice had been suspended from Waxahachie High for wearing religious symbol.
09.12.02
FCC votes to review media-ownership rules
Chairman says agency has failed to keep up with changes in technology and media marketplace, overhaul of guidelines 'is long overdue.'
09.12.02
Religious group accuses Missouri city of blocking Sept. 11 service
Lawsuit claims town's policy barring use of its community center for political or religious purposes violates First Amendment.
09.12.02
Fate of independent, family-owned newspapers discussed
At conference, some say corporate ownership weakens community reporting, others say it improves it.
09.12.02
News media ask appeals panel to release Torricelli memo
But senator argues that making report public would be unfair since he was never charged in investigation of his 1996 campaign.
09.11.02
Secret court meets to consider Justice Department appeal
U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review convenes for first time; civil libertarians denounce panel's secret nature.
09.11.02
Colorado church groups rap colleges for hosting Palestinian leader
Meanwhile, Gov. Bill Owens criticizes university for using student fees to pay Hanan Ashwari for her speech in Boulder, calling it a misuse of taxpayer money.
09.11.02
Ruling: N.J. postal worker can't run for House
Federal judge says U.S. Supreme Court has already rejected arguments that law barring federal employees from seeking partisan office violates free speech, association.
09.11.02
Court refuses to block prayer at Chicago's Sept. 11 ceremony
'The reading of the prayer, ringing of bells and location of the ceremony do not constitute excessive entanglement of government and religion,' federal judge rules.
09.11.02
USA TODAY's Tom Curley to receive USD Neuharth Award
News release Newspaper's president and publisher to be honored Oct. 8 on the University of South Dakota campus.
09.11.02
Florida newspaper posts murder confession transcript, audio
Prosecution, defense had wanted judge to force the Orlando Sentinel to hand over recording of suspect Quawn Franklin.
09.10.02
Lawsuit: Prison officials prevented Muslim detainee from practicing faith
Among Egyptian national's claims: Officials at federal prison in Louisiana ridiculed him while he prayed; served meals that contained pork without telling him.
09.10.02
Federal appeals panel sides with student Bible club leader
9th Circuit finds Washington school district violated former student's rights by refusing to give World Changers same status, benefits granted to other school groups.
09.10.02
City Council can't begin meetings with sectarian prayer
California appeals court sides with Jewish Defense League chairman, who sued city of Burbank after minister delivered prayer invoking name of Jesus Christ.
09.10.02
Virginia law firm sues over ad restrictions
Lawsuit claims State Bar committee's interpretation of limits on attorney advertising violates First Amendment.
09.09.02
S.D. federal jury: Oregon man threatened president
Meanwhile, Pennsylvanian says he'll fight disorderly conduct charges stemming from arrest during Bush visit to state last week.
09.09.02
State FOI official sides with governor's office in dispute over records
Connecticut newspaper seeks access to all communications between trash authority and John G. Rowland's office since January 1998.
09.09.02
Federal judge won't make juror names public in Abner Louima retrial
Meanwhile, critics say Wisconsin county's rule sealing juror names follows trend toward 'secret justice.'
09.09.02
Page last updated: 10/1/2013 4:21:29 AM
