Morning NewsTaco
Tuesday July 24, 2012
Voting Rights Act petitions reach Supreme Court (Reuters): Two legal challenges to the Voting Rights Act, a landmark law adopted in 1965 that barred racial discrimination in voting practices, reached the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday. The appeals target a part of the law, known as pre-clearance, that says that states with a history of discrimination must get permission from the federal government before changing election procedures.
Justice Department probes Pennsylvania voter ID law (Reuters/Chicago Tribune): The Department of Justice is investigating whether Pennsylvania’s new voter identification law discriminates against minorities, according to a letter released on Monday. In a step toward a possible federal lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department sent a letter to Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele asking for data on the state’s registered voters.
Sheriff Arpaio armed with huge war chest as he faces challenges, controversy in re-election bid (Fox News Latino): Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio is as embattled as ever – facing multiple lawsuits, Hollywood and a field of challengers vying to unseat him in November. But the sheriff whose tough stances on illegal immigration and criminal punishment have sparked nationwide controversy has one big advantage in his re-election bid — a nearly $7 million war chest.
USA Today: Hispanics in Alabama feel threatened by immigration law (al.com): A story in USA Today says Hispanics who live in Alabama live in fear of harassment by police and other officials due to the state’s strong immigration laws. According to the story, there have been more than 6,000 complaints to a civil rights hotline about treatment received at the hands of state officials.
Mexico’s reverse immigration (The Washington Post): Spurred by monetary success in the United States, an emerging Mexican middle class is returning home to reinvest in its home nation.
Pickup truck carrying illegal immigrants crashes, kills 14 (Associated Press/NECN): A pickup truck overloaded with illegal immigrants veered off a highway and crashed into trees in rural South Texas, killing at least 14 people and leaving nine injured, authorities said Monday.
