Court: Hanging noose in yard not protected by 1st Amendment

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Student journalists at a Vermont high school who were asked by the principal to remove a story they broke about unprofessional conduct charges against a guidance director can now repost the article.

On some college campuses, students and outsiders are allowed to protest and distribute fliers only in so-called "free speech zones." Supporters say it's a way to protect against disruptions to school operations, but opponents call it censorship.

NEW YORK (AP) — Whenever Donald Trump fumes about "fake news" or labels the press "the enemy of the people," First Amendment scholar David L. Hudson Jr. hears echoes of other presidents — but a breadth and tone that are entirely new.

NAZARETH, Pa. (AP) — A Northampton County town has settled a federal lawsuit with three men who allege the town's police department violated their free speech rights after they protested law enforcement practices.

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Fans and foes agree that Milo Yiannopoulos specializes in controversy. The polarizing editor from Breitbart News is a self-proclaimed internet troll who has been criticized as racist, misogynist and white supremacist.

HARRISBURG (AP) — Pennsylvania's highest court is reviewing the conviction of a Pittsburgh man for making threats against police in a rap song after he was charged with drug offenses.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — University of Kansas students are being offered buttons through the school's library system meant to make their preferred gender pronouns clear.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of a man who was sentenced to six months in jail for hanging a black-faced dummy in his front yard.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is taking up a First Amendment clash over the government's refusal to register offensive trademarks, a case that could affect the Washington Redskins in their legal fight over the team name.

HACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) — A judge is allowing a lawsuit alleging a Roman Catholic school in New Jersey fired an employee because she's married to a woman to move forward.

NEW YORK (AP) — An editor of a Turkish daily newspaper who was sentenced to nearly six years in prison after reporting allegations that Turkey sought to supply weapons to Syrian opposition groups is among the recipients of the 2016 International Press Freedom Awards.

WASHINGTON (TNS) — Under pressure, the Obama administration reversed course Monday and released full transcripts of the 911 calls made by the Orlando, Fla., shooter to police during his June 12 shooting rampage at a gay nightclub.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday quizzed attorneys for North Carolina's largest public university why constitutional free-speech protections allow the school to require students who want to engage others in extended debate or proselytizing to secure a permit.

AMITE, La. (AP) — A Louisiana chapter of the NAACP wants a school superintendent and three school board members to resign after a high school valedictorian was blocked from participating in graduation for refusing to shave his beard.

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's term-limited Gov. Nathan Deal took a stand against his own party and averted threatened boycotts by major corporations on Monday by announcing his veto of a "religious freedom" bill.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union is challenging a ban on letters, magazines and other mail sent to inmates at a Kentucky prison that contains material with gay-related content.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Donald Trump’s presidential campaign will add security to larger events so campaign staffers don’t assist in removing protesters, as boisterous confrontations between the Republican front-runner’s supporters and detractors escalate.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker is defending his comments that free speech rights on Tennessee college campuses should apply to everyone — even recruiters for the Islamic State group.

NEW YORK (AP) — Nico Deyo, a 33-year-old e-commerce specialist from Milwaukee, used to enjoy mixing it up with players from around the world in the popular online fantasy game "World of Warcraft." Then a stalker began harassing her on the game's forums, impersonating her in the game and, lat…

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont lawmakers are looking to expand the anti-stalking statute to cover instances in which a person "observes" or "monitors" another. But some see the changes as impinging on constitutionally protected free expression.

PHOENIX (AP) — The House is set to debate two measures protecting students' rights to free speech on college campuses.

When a group of armed men took over a wildlife refuge in Oregon on Jan. 2, the story was broken by a right-wing YouTube talk show host named Peter Santilli.

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) — Springfield motorists could face a $50 fine for paying panhandlers, which members of the America Civil Liberties Union say may be unlawful.

CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former investigator for Chicago's Independent Police Review Authority, which investigates police shootings.

WASHINGTON — When the U.S. Supreme Court last summer gave same-sex couples the right to marry, Republican Rep. Raul Labrador of Idaho said Congress should move quickly to protect the religious liberty of citizens who believe in traditional marriage.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti's outgoing president has released a brash pop song jeering at his critics and aiming sexually suggestive lyrics at his main target, an award-winning female journalist.