News in brief

By The Associated Press

Arkansas sued over critical race theory ban

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. | A high school teacher and two students are suing Arkansas over the state’s ban on critical race theory in public schools. The lawsuit was filed Monday by the teacher and students from Little Rock Central High School.

That’s the site of the historic 1957 racial desegregation case. The legal challenge stems from the state’s decision last year that an Advanced Placement course on African American Studies would not count toward state credit. The lawsuit asks a federal judge to strike down the law as unconstitutional.

The restrictions were part of an education law that Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed last year.

New York police officer fatally shot during traffic stop

NEW YORK | A New York City police officer was shot and killed Monday during a traffic stop, the city’s mayor said.

The shooting happened just before 5:50 p.m. in the Far Rockaway section of Queens, police said. The officer was approaching the vehicle when he was shot beneath his bullet-resistant vest.

Court official resigns amid probe of alleged jury tampering

WALTERBORO, S.C. | A South Carolina court official under investigation amid allegations of tampering with the jury in the Alex Murdaugh trial announced her resignation on Monday.

Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill said that her resignation would take effect immediately during a news conference in front of the courthouse. Serving as clerk since 2020 was an honor, she said, citing the office’s work and its management of the high-profile Murdaugh trial last year.

“Managing a trial with such importance to the people of South Carolina, as well as of the national and international media interest and public scrutiny, it has caused me to reflect upon decisions involving my stay in the office of the clerk of court,” Hill said. “And so after much reflection, I have decided that it is best not to run again for reelection.”

—From AP reports