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Court decision as an invitation to challenge the constitutionality of Section 5.
• "Things have changed in the South," the chief justice wrote in 2009. "Voter turnout and registration rates now approach parity. Blatantly discriminatory evasions of federal decrees are rare. And minority candidates hold office at unprecedented levels." Roberts said the Voting Rights Act "imposes current burdens and must be justified by current needs."
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• OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- The economy remains strong in rural areas of 10 Midwest and Western states because of the health of agricultural businesses there, according to a new survey of banks serving rural areas.
• The overall economic index included in the monthly Rural Mainstreet survey rose to 58.5 in May from April's already healthy 57.1. Any score above 50 on the index, which ranges from 1 to 100, suggests growth in the months ahead.
• The survey covers parts of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, focusing on 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300.
• Jeff Bonnett, president of Havana National Bank in Havana, Ill., said farmers appear to be off to a good start this spring with early planting and great early growing

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