The Supremes: The court today struck down a key part of The Voting Rights Act that designates which parts of the country must have changes in voting laws approved by the federal government. The 5-4 ruling held that “things have changed dramatically” in the South. Civil rights lawyers say this eviscerates a law that has assured voting rights since 1965.

• Yesterday the court dodged a decision on an affirmative action case when it sent it back to a lower court. A white woman denied admission to the University of Texas sued the school, claiming consideration of race violated her rights.

Waldo: Russia’s foreign minister rebuked the US saying fugitive Edward Snowden “Did not cross the Russian border.” Snowden could still be in the Moscow airport. The US is angry at both China and Russia over the Snowden affair. China let the national security leaker travel to Moscow and the Russians appear to be shielding him, much to the dismay of the US.

World: Taliban suicide bombers attacked the Afghan presidential palace, located in one of the most secure areas of Kabul. The fortified area also encloses the US embassy. At least four attackers were killed.

• The mysterious murder of a family traveling in the French Alps last September appears to have been solved with the arrest of the husband’s brother. British residents Saad al-Hilli, his wife Iqbal, and her mother all were shot in their car, along with a passing bicyclist. The couple’s daughters, aged 4 and 7, survived.
• Former Italian Prime Minster Silvio “Bunga Bunga” Berlusconi was convicted of paying for sex with an underage woman and sentenced to seven years in prison. Berlusconi, 76, was also barred form public office for life. The billionaire used to throw wild sex parties while he ran the country.

IRS: The NY Times reports that the non-profit division of the IRS accused of targeting conservative groups also screened organizations with a liberal bent. The Times says the IRS searched key words such as “progressive” and “occupy” as well as “patriot” and “Tea Party”. The IRS was hunting groups claiming to be non-profits while engaged in politics.

Score !!!: Boston was leading 2-1 with 1:16 on the clock when Chicago scored two goals in 17 seconds to take the Stanley Cup. It’s the second cup in four years for the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Obit Page: Sitcom creator Gary David Goldberg died of brain cancer at age 68 in Montecito, Ca. Goldberg created “Family Ties”, featuring a young Michael J. Fox, and “Spin City”, also starring Fox.

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