NPR 2011-06-21

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

Wal-Mart is hailing the Supreme 1 Court’s decision today to block a class-action lawsuit 2 from going forward in its current form. The ruling is a big setback 3 for more than a million women who accused the nation's largest private employer of gender 4 discrimination. NPR's Carrie Johnson reports today's decision is drawing a lot of attention in the business world.

Writing for the majority, Justice Antonin Scalia says the women suing Wal-Mart can't prove their claims are similar enough to pack into one massive class-action case. Scalia says there isn't enough glue to hold together the claims of current and former female employees who worked all over the country. Had the Supreme Court ruled in other way, it would have forced Wal-Mart into a financial settlement worth billions of dollars. Other companies have been following the dispute closely for what it said about their ability to challenge employment discrimination cases. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

Proponents 5 of same-sex marriage burst into song in the halls of New York State Capitol, where Senate Republicans decide whether to vote on a gay marriage bill, and they're shouted down by members of those opposed to the measure. NPR's Margot Adler reports that after hours of close-door meetings today in Albany, Republicans have apparently 6 made no decision.

Demonstrators on both sides of the issue lined the halls outside the Senate chamber 7, chanting and singing. Republicans control the state Senate. Democrats 9 control the assembly where the marriage bill has already passed. Two Republican state senators told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity 10 that the legislation appeared to be tied to rent regulation legislation and a property tax cap. No decision yet by the Republican conference to send or not send the marriage bill to the Senate floor. It could be days. Meanwhile, Ruben Diaz, a minister from the Bronx, is the single Democrat 8 in the state Senate, who remains 11 opposed on religious principles to the bill, but Diaz has said he believes passage of the bill may be inevitable 12, given the powerful involvement of New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo. Margot Adler, NPR News, New York.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is pledging to consider political reforms as he fights to protect his own authority. In a 70-minute televised speech, Assad said reforms might include scaling back his Baath party's dominance. He also acknowledged lives lost on both sides of an uprising against his regime that began months ago.

"It was a huge loss to their families and loved ones. It was a loss to the country. To me personally, it was a grave and dire 13 loss."

Assad is heard through an interpreter broadcast on Al Jazeera. Today, thousands of anti-government activists 14 again staged protests, while Assad says he will push still for a national dialog.

Before the close, the Dow was up 76 points at 12080.

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Authorities are trying to determine how many homes and businesses have been destroyed by an aggressive wildfire that's burning near Arizona's border with New Mexico. Arizona Public Media's Steve Shadley reports the Monument Fire is among six big wildfires racing 15 across desert, brush and pine trees in the state.

Gusty 16 winds spread the fire to nearly 27000 acres near the city of Sierra Vista 17. Officials say a total of 10000 people had been evacuated 18 since the blaze started more than a week ago. Initial reports indicate at least 44 homes have burned. Fire management spokesman Diane Drobka says the evacuees 19 are getting tired, sleeping in emergency shelters.

"There are a few people that are getting frustrated 20 because of course they want to get back in. Some people have livestock 21 that they left behind, and they're concerned because the power's off in some areas, and they want to be able to water their horses."

Drobka says military police from the nearby Fort Huachuca Army base have been called in to keep looters from entering the area. For NPR News, I'm Steve Shadley in Tucson.

Venus Williams advances in the opening round of Wimbledon matches, defeating the 97th-ranked Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan in a straight-set win today. The five-time champion says she relied on experience to get through her first Grand Slam match since injuring her hip 22 at the Australian Open in January.

"That's the beauty I think of being able to have a long career, is to be able to use the experience that you learn on the court. I think more and more players are starting to realize that it's an advantage to be able to play longer because then you actually understand the game."

And Rafael Nadal, the defending men's champion, defeated Michael Russell today — 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.