Court again finds voter bias over IDs, maps in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — A Republican-drawn map setting the boundaries of Texas’ statehouse districts violates the U.S. Constitution by intentionally discriminating against minority voters, a federal court found Thursday — the third such ruling against the state’s voting laws in roughly a month.

The latest ruling means Texas’ voter ID law, congressional maps and state legislative maps — all of which were enacted in 2011 — have recently been found in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act.

For Texas, the losses carry the risk of a court punishing the state by demanding approval before changing voting laws. Minority rights groups and Democrats could press a three-judge panel in San Antonio over that possibility later this month, when they’re also expected to demand new maps in the 2018 elections.

Iran election: Iranian state TV said Thursday that the body charged with vetting candidates has disqualified former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from running in next month’s presidential election. Ahmadinejad, president from 2005 to 2013, remains a polarizing figure in Iran.

Chinese launch: China on Thursday launched its first unmanned cargo craft on a mission to dock with the country’s space station. China launched a Tiangong 2 precursor facility in September and the station’s 20-ton core module will be launched next year. The completed station is set to come into full service in 2022.