CNN news 2013-06-01 加文本

cnn news 2013-06-01

CARL AZUZ, cnn ACNHOR: A rising rate, a tagging tourist and a rollicking roll - all coming up in today`s show.

We`ll start with the branches of the U.S. government. The legislative branch, Congress, makes the laws, but it`s the judicial branch`s job to interpret those laws and decide if they violate the Constitution. U.S. Supreme Court sessions start in October. Over several months, the nine justices hear arguments in dozens of cases. They do legal research, vote on the cases and write up their opinions. When all of that`s finished, the Supreme Court makes its rulings public. Usually around this time every year. Athena Jones gives us a preview of the possible rulings for some of these sessions cases.

ATHENA JONES, cnn CORRESPONDENT: From now until the end of June, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on big issues: affirmative action and same sex marriage.

TOM GOLDSTEIN, CO-FOUNDER, SCOTUS BLOG: It`s almost unimaginable, the number of things the Supreme Court is going to decide that affects all Americans in the next months.

JONES: First up could be whether public schools can consider race when admitting students. Abigail Fisher sued the University of Texas arguing she was rejected because she is white.

ABIGAIL FISHER, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAINTIFF: I hope the court rules that a student`s race and ethnicity should not be considered when applying to the University of Texas.

JONES: The school says race is one of many factors it uses to achieve diversity on campus. Court watchers say Anthony Kennedy could side with conservative justices to overturn or limit a major Supreme Court decision from ten years ago that allowed affirmative action.

The justices are also dealing with another hot-button issue: same sex marriage.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From the (inaudible), the marriage is between one man and one woman. And you guys don`t want to accept it.

JONES: Considering whether California`s Proposition 8 ban is constitutional and in a second case, if the Defense of Marriage Act can deny same sex couple the same federal benefits as heterosexual ones.

EDITH WINDSOR, DOMA PLAINTIFF: I think it`s going to be good.

JONES: That case was brought by Edith Windsor, a New York who had to pay higher estate taxes after her wife died than someone in a heterosexual marriage would have.

GOLDSTEIN: I think it`s likely in the Defense of Marriage Act case that the Supreme Court would invalidate the federal law that says we won`t recognize state same sex marriages. But in the California Proposition 8 case, the justices seem unlikely to require under the Constitution every state to recognize same sex marriage.

The ruling may not be a huge gay rights victory at all, but I doubt it`s going to be a significant loss either.

JONES: Another case involves the kind of genetic testing that led actress Angelina Jolie to undergo a double mastectomy. The court is considering whether human genes, so called products of nature, can be patented. Athena Jones, cnn, Washington.

AZUZ: Our next story today, there are different ways to pay for college. One is to take out a student loan. Those come with interests, the fee that you have to pay back with the loan, interest rates telling you how much that fee is.

7 million or one third of U.S. college students who have loans have subsidized loans. That means that government pays some of their interest. Six years ago, the interest rate on federal loans was 6.8 percent, then Congress cut that in half. So these borrowers wouldn`t have to pay as much interest. But on July First, the interest rate on those subsidized loans is set to go back to where it was before. Congress and the president don`t want that to happen, but they can`t agree on a new plan. If nothing happens, the rate for these loans will automatically go up and students who have them will owe more money when they get out of school.

When Chelesa Fearce starts college in the fall, she`ll technically be a junior. Her time in high school was all about achieving despite adversity.

CHELESA FEARCE, HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORIAN: I would just open my book in the back and just (inaudible) just told myself, don`t worry about that. Think about now. If you (inaudible).

AZUZ: Most of her high school years, Chelesa and her family were homeless. They lived in shelters, sometimes they lived in their car. Chelesa stayed focused on her education. Her SAT score made her a star student at her school, her GPA made her valedictorian. And a high school graduate has some advice for anyone else who might be facing challenges.

FEARCE: Don`t give up, do what you have to do right now so that you can have the future that you want.

AZUZ: Chelesa`s story is great example of the power of perseverance, we want to hear yours. Go to our blog at cnnstudentnews.com, tell us about a time when you`ve overcome a challenge. We`re looking forward to your posts, but remember, we`re only looking for your first names.