National News Roundup for March 13 - March 31

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from CNN, Reuters, The Washington Post and Associated Press. Silver Chips Online posts this news summary to provide readers with a forum for discussion.

Washington, D.C.

March 28—The sex-discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reached the Supreme Court. The original lawsuit against the corporation was filed in 2001 by seven women who claimed that they were paid less and given fewer promotion offers because of their gender. Now that the case has reached the Supreme Court, Wal-Mart countered the class-action certification with the claim that the female employees held positions under different managers in their respective states. The case has not yet gone to trial.

Columbus, Ohio
March 31—Ohio legislature passed a law that would restrict the bargaining rights of 350,000 state employees. Republican governor John Kasich is expected to sign the Republican measure by Friday, which would also make it illegal for workers to form unions. Republicans have tried to pass similar measures in other states, such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Tennessee. In an effort to overturn the new law, Ohio Democrats hope to place the bill on the ballot for a referendum in November.

Washington, D.C.
March 15—The U.S. Department of Labor reported that new U.S. claims for unemployment fell to 385,000. This drop was expected and has moved to its lowest level in two and a half years. This low average can be attributed to a growing labor market. The Labor Department does not attribute this decrease to any factors that are out of the ordinary and the Federal Reserve claims the economy to be stable with an increasing labor market.

Los Angeles, CA
March 23—Two-time Oscar winner and Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor died in Cedars-Sinai Hospital at age 79. Taylor was brought to the hospital six weeks earlier and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure but doctors thought that she would eventually be able to return home. Taylor was not only remembered for her many roles and marriages but also for her charity work in the fight against AIDS. She founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS foundation in 1991, which raised $270 million over her lifetime.