By Jessica Gresko
The Supreme Court said Monday it won't review North Carolina's decision to stop issuing specialty license plates with the Confederate flag.
As is typical, the court did not comment in declining to hear the case, which challenged the state's decision. The dispute was one of many the court said Monday it would not hear. It was similar to a case originating in Texas that the court heard in 2015, when it ruled the license plates are state property.
The current dispute stems from North Carolina's 2021 decision to stop issuing specialty license plates bearing the insignia of the North Carolina chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The chapter sued, claiming that the state's decision violated state and federal law. A lower court dismissed the case, and a federal appeals court agreed with that decision.
North Carolina offers three standard license plates and more than 200 specialty plates. Civic clubs including the Sons of Confederate Veterans can create specialty plates by meeting specific requirements.
In 2021, however, the state Department of Transportation sent the group a letter saying it would "no longer issue or renew specialty license plates bearing the Confederate battle flag or any variation of that flag" because the plates "have the potential to offend those who view them."
The state said it would consider alternate artwork for the plates' design if it does not contain the Confederate flag.
The organization unsuccessfully argued that the state's decision violated its free speech rights under the Constitution's First Amendment and state law governing specialty license plates.
In 2015, the Sons of Confederate Veterans’ Texas chapter claimed Texas was wrong not to issue a specialty license plate with the group's insignia. But the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Texas could limit the content of license plates because they are state property.
A full transcript of President Trump's statement from the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House on Monday morning addressing the mass shootings that took place over the weekend.
President Trump denounced white supremacy and called for a bipartisan effort to combat gun violence on Monday, two days after back-to-back mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio killed nearly 30 people and shocked the nation. He did not propose any major overhaul to gun control legislation.
President Trump announced a deal with the European Union on Friday that will nearly triple the amount of U.S. beef exported to Europe in the coming years. The hike in U.S. beef exports to the EU will boost the industry’s sales in Europe from $150 million to an estimated $420 million annually.
From Wall Street to Silicon Valley, these are the top stories that moved markets and had investors, business leaders, and entrepreneurs talking this week on Cheddar.
Stock markets worldwide tumbled on Friday following President Trump’s announcement that the U.S. will impose tariffs on $300 billion worth of Chinese imports. Trade groups across industries also came out in fierce opposition to the move, which is the latest escalation in the now years-long trade dispute between the U.S. and China.
The U.S. is escalating the enduring trade war with China with a new round of 10 percent tariffs that will be imposed on $300 billion worth of Chinese imports, President Trump announced Thursday.
The candidate from Hawaii doubled-down on her criticism of the California Senator regarding her record on criminal justice policies like the death penalty and marijuana prosecution.
On Thursday, four major progressive groups announced they will team up this month to use their collective force to put more pressure on lawmakers to open formal impeachment proceedings against President Trump.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Thursday, August 1, 2019.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Thursday, August 1, 2019.
