From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

The U.S. Supreme Court and reverse discrimination.

Hello again. I'm Warren Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues, Americans care about most. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that white firefighters in New Haven, Connecticut, were unfairly denied promotions because of their race.

The court split five to four, and dissenters said the white workers deserved sympathy, but that they had no vested right to promotion.

It's a one-vote majority decision that could alter employment practices nationwide.

Is it a case of judicial activism, conservative style? Will it have an impact on President

Obama's nominee to the court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who was effectively overruled by today's

action? Also today, Bernard Madoff got the maximum 150 years in federal prison.

First, here's the news.

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deserve the chance to live a healthy, productive life. Information at GatesFoundation.org.

Hello again. Warren-Aldly, back with To the Point. By a one-vote majority, the U.S. Supreme

Court has ruled in favor of white firefighters

who claimed they were victims of reverse discrimination. Will the decision clarify the rules

on race and employment or lead to future confusion? What will it mean for the nomination of Judge

Sonia Sotomayor? On reporter's notebook, Central America's first military coup in 16 years,

we'll hear what's happening in Honduras.

First, this news update. There was a burst of applause in a Manhattan courtroom today when federal

judge Denny Chin gave financial swindler Bernard Madoff the maximum 150 years in prison.

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